Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treated With Antibiotics?
A recent medical study held by the Pain Research in Amsterdam, Netherlands, enrolling a group of 99 patients has explored the influence of antibiotics on the condition known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The results of the study where a big success, proving that some antibiotics may contribute to the improvement in cases of CFS.
A part of participants has reported an overall progress in their condition with no patients citing any worsening. The best result was approximately 80% improvement compared to the pre-CFS condition experienced by the patient, which is far superior to the results observed in the placebo group of the study. Although, none of the participants was considered as totally cured this is regarded as a major success if compared to other treatments used in previous CFS studies.
These results look very promising regarding the potential influence of antibiotics on the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. But how can an antibiotic drug affect this condition? First of all, not any antibiotic has such ability. CFS is generally influenced by the patient’s high susceptibility to bacterial infections that affect the immune system and the overall performance of the organism. Thus an antibiotic should be able to both kill bacteria or prevent it from multiplying and stimulate the development of immune cells in the organism. Some specialists also tend to make a link between CFS and dysfunctions in the cellular energy productions, which can often be traced by a higher level of acetylcarnitine in the blood.
Previous clinical experiments regarding CFS have used other potential treatments, such as delivering more acetylcarnitine to the cells, which is believed to be involved in the process of oxidation (energy production). But none of the treatments was sufficiently effective. The patients taking part in the latest study with the use of antibiotics were also participants in these previous studies, looking for a way to improve their condition.
One of the antibiotics used in the experiment was Azithromycin, which manifested prominent results. This drug is known to influence both the bacteria multiplication and immune cell modulation, which as stated earlier can affect the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Azithromycin reduces the overall bacterial mass in the organism and alters the immune system that when chronically active leads to the constant state of mental and physical exhaust. The researchers where impressed by the results and there are likely to be new experiments held involving the use of drugs similar to Azithromycin. Taking into account that there were almost no side-effects this can possibly make it to the «recommended» list of CFS some time in the future. But until then, there are more studies to be made.
