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ME/CFS & Chronic Infection of the Gut – Notes on Dr. Kenny De Meirleir’s Presentation in Perthby Blake Graham, BSc, AACNEM*
ImmuneSupport.com
11-11-2007 In a recent presentation at the University of Western Australia, Dr. Kenny De Meirleir, MD, PhD, explored evidence suggesting that the gut of 80% to 90% of ME/CFS patients may be compromised by bacterial and/or viral pathogen infections, discussed how these may contribute to immune activation, and outlined a range of therapies that may support significant improvements in various ME/CFS symptoms. Dr. De Meirleir is Professor of Physiology, Pathophysiology, Internal Medicine and Sports Medicine at Vrije Universiteit, Brussels, and Clinical Professor, University of Nevada Medical School, USA.
Following is a summary of Dr. De Meirleir’s presentation by Clinical Nutritionist Blake Graham, director of the Nutritional Healing clinic in Perth. It is reproduced with permission from Blake’s November 8 posting on the Co-Cure Listserv.
* * * * *
Dr. Kenny De Meirleir's Lecture on ME/CFS - November 3, 2007
Dr. Kenny De Meirleir, MD, PhD, spoke in Perth, Western Australia on November 3, 2007 at a seminar sponsored by the ME/CFS Society (WA). Kenny has seen over 12,000 CFS patients and first became interested in CFS in 1989. His research team has performed over 4,000 in vitro experiments and published many peer reviewed articles on CFS. I attended both his talks to the general public and to health professionals, plus got the opportunity to ask a large number of questions after the professionals talk. The following is based on written notes and from memory, not directly quoting Kenny.
Gastrointestinal Problems
More than 80% to 90% of patients have gastrointestinal symptoms. Gastrointestinal abnormalities range from one end of the gastrointestinal tract to the other.
n Saliva pH is low (below 7 - acidic) which leads to both dental problems and disturbed oral flora.
n Patients display delayed gastric emptying.
n Biopsies of gastric mucosa on patients show all patients have atrophic gastritis [chronic inflammation of the stomach mucosa, or lining].
n When biopsy of the cecum is performed infiltration of lymphocytes is also found in all patients. [Lymphocytes are white blood cells with specialized immune functions. The cecum is a pouch where the small intestine transitions to the large intestine. Branching off from it is the small worm-like appendix.]
In Kenny's last 100 patients, a point [at] 2 cm right then 2 cm down from the umbilicus is tender after mild pressure. This is the point just above the cecum. Tenderness is a sign of imbalanced intestinal bacteria.
Intestinal Mucosal Health
Patients have a compromised gastrointestinal mucosal integrity which contributes to immune activation and is a major factor in CFS. The cause of intestinal barrier damage is multifactorial and complex. One factor is likely viruses (Epstein-Barr Virus and HHV-6). EBV attacks the immune system of the gut. Kenny has observed that a significant proportion of patients with CFS have relatives with Crohn's Disease. A genetic predisposition to gastrointestinal problems likely exists.
Intestinal Flora
Kenny routinely does a blood test for immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) [antibodies] for a range of intestinal bacteria - called the Immunobilan test.
He generally starts treatment with antibiotics to lower levels of problematic bacteria, then adds in probiotics. Kenny did a small study using the antibiotic ciprofloxacin and high quality probiotics. Patients reported a 58% improvement and elastase dropped 74%.
Kenny most commonly uses a high potency multi-strain probiotic called VSL#3 (http://www.vsl3.com), which contains 450 billion bacteria per serve. Normal probiotics contain 25 billion or less. It mimics the bacteria normally present in the bowel. He also uses MutaflorR, which is a supplement of healthy intestinal Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. At present this product is only available directly from Germany where it is it produced (http://www.metpharmacy.de).
Fructose Malabsorption and Lactose Intolerance
In a study of 143 patients, fructose malabsorption was found in 45.8% of patients. Lactose intolerance was found in 20.3%. Both can be measured via a simple hydrogen breath test:
n 25 grams of fructose or lactose is administered to a fasting patient.
n Breath hydrogen levels are measured before administration and at 30 minute intervals for 3.5 hours.
Sugar malabsorption contributes to intestinal dysbiosis (bacterial imbalance), among other issues. Fructose malabsorption is treated with a fructose poor diet, while lactose intolerance is treated with a lactose free diet. A high baseline hydrogen breath measurement indicates intestinal bacterial overgrowth.
Clinicians can buy the equipment to do the fructose and lactose breath testing in their offices. Kenny believes these intolerances were present before the illness onset, acting as a predisposing factor and may also get worse after illness onset. He observes these issues are often present in family members. Common associations with fructose malabsorption are:
Fatty liver. Most patients with fatty liver have fructose malabsorption.
Steatorrhea (fat in the stool/fat malabsorption).
Constipation. Whereas those with lactose intolerance are more likely to have diarrhea.
Hypoglycemia. Most patients with significant hypoglycemia have fructose malabsorption. [Hypoglycemia occurs when blood sugar drops too low to provide enough energy for the body’s activities.]
Sensitivity to tyramine. [A compound that is produced as the amino acid tyrosine breaks down and is found in many foods, especially aged cheese, all nuts, and dried, fermented, salted, smoked or pickled foods.]
Bloating.
Gluten Intolerance
Gluten intolerance is also found in a subset of patients. He uses immunoglobulin G (IgG) blood testing for testing gluten sensitivity. Sensitivity to gluten is a spectrum with celiac disease at one end and normal tolerance at the other, rather than tolerance being an all or nothing issue. A range of different levels of sensitivity exist.
Diet
Kenny's patients consult with his dietitian. A diet is created based on tolerance to fructose, lactose and gluten. He recommends patients drink 3 to 4 liters of water a day. [Slightly more than 3 to 4 quarts.]
Heavy Metals
Kenny uses the MelisaR metal reactivity test (http://www.melisa.org) to assess sensitivity to heavy metals. He also uses provoked urine testing using IV DMPS and EDTA [chelating drugs that bind to certain metals and “pull them out of the body” via the urine]. The two heavy metals most significant are mercury and nickel. Nickel is found in soil and enters our food supply.
Amalgam fillings are one source of mercury and Kenny suggests careful removal when patients are sensitive to mercury. Kenny presented in vitro evidence supporting greatly increased sensitivity to the toxic effects of mercury in CFS patients.
He has found palladium in some patients, and based on this elevation is able to predict where in Belgium patients live with a high degree of accuracy. Increased levels of heavy metals are likely due to increased intestinal uptake and genetic abnormalities in certain detoxification proteins, including multidrug-resistance protein 1 (MRP1).
The two options for treatment include pharmaceutical chelators (DMPS or DMSA) or combination products of herbs/nutrients (dose = 2x1/day) designed for detoxification. The names of the Belgium herbal/nutritional formulas are:
n TMD (Toxic Metal Detox – http://www.labosp.com/lib/compendium_an/INT_165.pdf).
n HMP (Heavy Metal Protect – http://www.labosp.com/lib/compendium_an/BE_165.pdf).
These products contain [as discussed in the pdfs]:
GSH (reduced glutathione)
Lipoic acid (tiotic)
SOD
Selenomethionine
Vitamin E (DL-alpha-tocopherol)
Pycnogenol (OPC extract of grape seed)
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
Mycelium shitake (atomized)
Willow extract
Glutathione
Glutathione is low in patients. It can be treated via taking LipoceuticalTM Glutathione made by ReadisorbTM (http://www.readisorb.com). Normal oral glutathione is ineffective as it is broken down in the gut, and transdermal glutathione has variable metabolism. The benefit of IV glutathione is relatively short lived.
N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) can also boost glutathione, but large doses are needed (1.8 grams).
Nutritional Supplements
The basic nutritional supplements Kenny recommends commonly to patients are:
Lipoceutical Glutathione
Vitamin C
Lipoic acid
Coenzyme Q10
Alkalizing agents (e.g., potassium bicarbonate).
Acetyl-L-carnitine.
Nexavir and Vitamin B12
Nexavir (KutapressinR) is used effectively in combination with subcutaneous vitamin B12. In one study of a general group of CFS patients, 63% of patients in the treatment group responded while only 17% of the placebo group responded.
In Kenny's experience around half of patients are pain free in 2 to 3 months and sleep often normalizes within a period of 3 days. Nexavir is a liver extract from pigs. It cuts immune activation and lowers elastase. 10 mg of vitamin B12 are used twice weekly in the form of methyl or hydroxy B12. (Most B12 shots contain 1 mg.) B12 scavenges nitric oxide (NO), often clearing up brain fog and helping with cold extremities. Nexavir can be ordered from countries other than the U.S. via a Texas pharmacy called Nexco Pharma (http://www.nexcopharma.com).
Isoprinosine and Inosine
When asked about the immune modulating medication Isoprinosine (which boosts natural killer cells), he mentioned that the basic amino acid version of inosine is as effective.
HHV-6
The role of HHV-6 is being actively debated. A subgroup of patients have a mild HHV-6 related encephalitis. HHV-6 can be treated with antivirals (e.g., ValcyteTM) and immune modulators. HHV-6 is associated with neurological symptoms with extreme fatigue and no pain. Patients with active HHV-6 are usually in the 15 to 35 age group. He doesn't think herpes viruses are the cause of CFS but rather become reactivated.
Mycoplasma
Mycoplasma (a genus of bacteria lacking cell walls) is active in the presence of low NK and T cell function. Mycoplasma releases antigens which further disrupt immune function. Antibiotics (e.g., doxycycline) for mycoplasma-positive patients have shown success, although it is unclear if this is due to antibiotics treating mycoplasma, Rickettsia (intracellular parasites contracted via bites of ticks or other arthropods) or intestinal bacteria.
Chlamydia Pneumoniae
Chlamydia pneumoniae is present in a subgroup of patients. It stimulates heat shock proteins leading to immune activation. It can be treated with azithromycin.
Rickettsia, Bartonella and Coxiella
8% to 10% of Kenny's patients have an active Rickettsia, Bartonella or Coxiella infection. Only 17% remember having a tick bite. These infections can come from ticks, dogs and cats. Ticks can carry many viruses and other infections. Australian research has found Rickettsia in a significant amount of Australian patients.
Candida
Candida (yeast) infection is found in some patients and is tested for via IgG. This is treated via diet and antifungals. Yeast is typically resistant to nystatin, so other antifungals are used. A recent study found 20% of patients have elevated bowel Candida levels.
Mycotoxins
Some patients are affected by mycotoxins - toxins produced by environmental mold. Kenny suspects mycotoxins when two people in the same house have CFS, or when symptoms significantly reduce when leaving your home for a period of days. It is more likely to be an issue in poorly ventilated houses and is known to act as an immune suppressor. Aspergillus Niger has been cultured in some homes of CFS patients. Mycotoxic patients have very low glutathione levels and glutathione helps the removal of mycotoxins from cells.
Thyroid Function
Thyroid dysfunction is present despite normal blood tests. There is both poor conversion of T4 to T3 and peripheral resistance to T3.
Peripheral resistance is present in all dys-immune diseases. An immune activation protein has a 98% homology with the T3 receptor, binding to it and competing with T3.
Kenny recommends treating with pure T3. He recommends starting low and titrating up. Patients appear to have destruction of T3 receptors over time - and after a long duration of CFS (e.g., 20 to 25 years) often do not lose weight on extremely low calorie diets (e.g., 800 calories) due to thyroid insensitivity.
Sleep
When asked about treating insomnia, Kenny said to take away the source of the problem. He stated that with NexavirR his patients often sleep normally after 3 days. If sleep cycle shift is present he treats with melatonin (6 mg) or an old anti-epileptic. (I did not catch the name.) He does sleep studies for sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome when indicated.
___
* Blake Graham, BSc, AACNEM, is a clinical nutritionist specializing in nutritional and environmental treatments for patients with ME/CFS, FM, and other chronic conditions. He is an Associate of the Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, directs the Nutritional Healing clinic in Perth (WA) http://www.nutritional-healing.com.au, and publishes a free Nutritional Healing e-Newsletter.
Note: This information has not been evaluated by the FDA. It is generic and is not meant to prevent, diagnose, mitigate, or cure any illness, condition, or disease. It is very important that you make no change in your healthcare plan or health support regimen without researching and discussing it in collaboration with your professional healthcare team.
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ME/CFS & Chronic Infection of the Gut – Dr. De Meirleir
Moderator: Moderators
Dag Nana,
Ik heb onlangs ook die theorie van een virus in maag/darmen gelezen.
Het virus kon geïsoleerd worden in spierweefsel, hartweefsel en hersenweefsel, toevallig de plaatsen waar zich de pijn en de geheugen -en concentratieproblemen voor doen.
Hopelijk zitten de onderzoekers op het juiste pad, maar in het verleden is al vaker gebleken dat ze dachten dat ze het gevonden hadden terwijl achteraf bleek dat het loos alarm was.
Hoop doet leven.
Bedankt voor je bijdrage.
Groetjes,
Bert
Ik heb onlangs ook die theorie van een virus in maag/darmen gelezen.
Het virus kon geïsoleerd worden in spierweefsel, hartweefsel en hersenweefsel, toevallig de plaatsen waar zich de pijn en de geheugen -en concentratieproblemen voor doen.
Hopelijk zitten de onderzoekers op het juiste pad, maar in het verleden is al vaker gebleken dat ze dachten dat ze het gevonden hadden terwijl achteraf bleek dat het loos alarm was.
Hoop doet leven.
Bedankt voor je bijdrage.
Groetjes,
Bert