More than a million people in the U.S. suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but today researchers at the University of Miami report they may have found a physical cause. They are working on a medication that seems promising.
NBC's Diana Gonzalez reports.
"I had always been someone who was extremely active. I was in very good shape,
had more of a high power kind of a job. But slowly I could feel my health
declining. I was tired all the time. My brain wasn't functioning as well."
Jean Gaudreau had chronic fatigue syndrome. For years, she had tried all sorts of remedies and doctors.
Then she heard about a study at the University of Miami and came to participate.
Dr. Barry Hurwitz, PhD/University of Miami: "In Chronic Fatigue, about sixty to seventy percent of the individuals we found have a deficit in red blood cell production, and it's not picked up by normal medical tests. It's not generally known in the medical community that there is this problem with the red blood cell production."
Now Procrit, a drug used to treat anemia in cancer patients, is being tested in people with chronic fatigue.
Half are getting Procrit. Half are getting a placebo for four months.
Jean was in the group that received Procrit, and she sasys she could tell a difference right away.
Jean Gaudreau: "We had a party at our house for the first time in about four years. I felt
that good. We had a Christmas tree for the first time in a number of years. I
was able to clean the house. I was able to do functions. I could work. I was
able to work a forty hour week. It was just amazing, the changes."
The study is open to patients with persistent or relapsing fatigue for greater than six months, who have flu like symptoms, trouble concentrating, and unrefreshing sleep-- the symptoms of Chronic Fatigue.
There's also an age limit for that study-- you must be 18 to 55 years old.
May 13 2002
