SUMMARY
Objectives: A subset of patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) have been found to be hypercoaguable in small previous studies. We wanted to analyze the incidence of a hypercoaguable state and assess hereditary hypercoaguable risk factors in a group of patients with known CFS and HHV-6 viremia.
Methods: Thirty patients diagnosed with CFS that had at least one prior positive blood culture for active HHV-6 by rapid culture method were studied. A hypercoaguable panel was obtained to assess activation of coagulation. Two or more positive tests were determined to represent activation of coagulation. Hereditary thrombosis risk panels were also performed which included eight different genetic tests to assess hereditary abnormalities.
Results: Twenty-four of thirty (80%) patients had a hypercoaguable state, thus activation of coagulation. Twenty-five of thirty (83%) of patients had a hereditary abnormality.
Conclusions: CFS patients with active HHV-6 infection (viremia) have activation of coagulation and are hypercoaguable. Hereditary thrombosis risk factors are very prevalent in these patients. These hereditary abnormalities increase the hypercoaguable tendencies. The hypercoaguable state associated with active HHV-6 infection may be a significant contributing factor to the symptoms seen in CFS patients.