Severely Affected ME Patients Respond to B-cell Depletion Therapy

Purpose: To highlight the groundbreaking research on B-cell depletion therapy for severely affected Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) patients, emphasizing the potential benefits, clinical findings, and future research directions.

Key Points:

1. Accidental Discovery:
   • Norwegian oncologists, Dr. Øystein Fluge and Professor Olav Mella, observed “major symptom relief” in a cancer patient with severe ME undergoing chemotherapy.
   • This led to a pilot study using Rituximab, a B-lymphocyte depletion agent, showing significant clinical response in ME patients.
2. Clinical Trials:
   • A small clinical trial with 30 ME patients found that 67% of those treated with Rituximab experienced major/moderate overall improvement compared to 13% in the placebo group.
   • Delayed responses suggest ME may involve autoimmune mechanisms, with autoantibody elimination correlating with symptom relief.
3. Key Insights from Researchers:
   • Plasma exchange may serve as a pre-treatment for non-responders.
   • Sustained clinical responses require repeated Rituximab treatments.
   • New studies approved focus on severe ME cases, using Canadian diagnostic criteria for patient selection.
4. Criticism of Existing Beliefs:
   • Improved health post-treatment was achieved without CBT or graded activity programs, undermining theories of ME patients’ deconditioning or psychological illness beliefs.
5. Reactions to Research:
   • Positive feedback from medical professionals and ME advocates, stressing the importance of objective, rigorous science.
   • Disappointment over the lack of recognition and support from the UK government and media.
   • Calls for replication of trials in other countries, noting Rituximab’s established use in rheumatology and transplant medicine.

Target Audience: Healthcare providers, researchers, ME patients, caregivers, and advocates seeking advanced treatments for severe ME.

Overall Outcome: The findings affirm the physical basis of ME, proposing B-cell depletion therapy as a promising avenue for treatment. Ongoing research and advocacy aim to improve global understanding and care for ME patients.