Mitochondrial abnormalities in the postviral fatigue syndrome

We have examined the muscle biopsies of 50 patients who had postviral fatigue syndrome (PFS) for from 1 to 17 years. We found mild to severe atrophy of type II fibres in 39 biopsies, with a mild to moderate excess of lipid. On ultrastructural examination, 35 of these specimens showed branching and f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inActa neuropathologica Vol. 83; no. 1; p. 61
Main Authors Behan, W M, More, I A, Behan, P O
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Germany 01.01.1991
Subjects
Adolescent
Adult
Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic - pathology
Female
Humans
Male
Microscopy, Electron
Middle Aged
Mitochondria, Muscle - physiology
Mitochondria, Muscle - ultrastructure
Muscles - pathology
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Summary:We have examined the muscle biopsies of 50 patients who had postviral fatigue syndrome (PFS) for from 1 to 17 years. We found mild to severe atrophy of type II fibres in 39 biopsies, with a mild to moderate excess of lipid. On ultrastructural examination, 35 of these specimens showed branching and fusion of mitochondrial cristae. Mitochondrial degeneration was obvious in 40 of the biopsies with swelling, vacuolation, myelin figures and secondary lysosomes. These abnormalities were in obvious contrast to control biopsies, where even mild changes were rarely detected. The findings described here provide the first evidence that PFS may be due to a mitochondrial disorder precipitated by a virus infection.
ISSN:0001-6322
DOI:10.1007/BF00294431