New research ‘could be a breakthrough in ME treatment’

New research into a potential virus-related cause for myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) has been hailed as an "exciting" development by a research charity.

ME Research UK has welcomed a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences as potentially offering new treatment avenues against the condition, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome.

The paper stated that DNA from a xenotropic murine leukaemia-related virus is found in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the majority of ME patients.

According to Dr Neil Abbot, operations director of ME Research UK, this discovery could lead to the development of a diagnostic test for the presence of the virus, which in turn could result in the production of antiviral treatments.

He said the findings could also help combat the trend towards late diagnosis of the condition, which is frequently identified only after all other possible causes for symptoms have been ruled out.

"Lack of an early diagnosis is one of the major problems that ME patients face and many wait years to get a diagnosis," said Dr Abbot.