Cytokines in Gulf War Syndrome. For those not
Post# of 148300
For those not old enough to remember, a large percentage of 1991 First Gulf War came back with a disorder that persists today - 30 years later. It includes a lot of Long-hauler symptoms and there was a story about it on NPR this afternoon. The USA Government stills says it’s all in their heads and won’t let the VA cover it. Oil , pesticide, anti-nerve agent bromide pills the soldiers were required to take. Toxins, lots of inflammation style issues? Sounds a lot like LH or post viral syndromes generally.
A quick Google search...Wikipedia.
“Gulf War syndrome or Gulf War illness is a chronic and multi-symptomatic disorder affecting returning military veterans of the 1990–1991 Persian Gulf War.[4][5][6] A wide range of acute and chronic symptoms have been linked to it, including fatigue, muscle pain, cognitive problems, insomnia,[3] rashes and diarrhea.[7] Approximately 250,000[8] of the 697,000 U.S. veterans who served in the 1991 Gulf War are afflicted with enduring chronic multi-symptom illness, a condition with serious consequences.[9]“
Next...
“Symptoms
Vary somewhat among individuals and include fatigue, headaches, cognitive dysfunction, musculoskeletal pain, insomnia,[3] and respiratory, gastrointestinal, and dermatologic complaints
Causes
Toxic exposures during the 1990–91 Gulf War
Differential diagnosis
Chronic fatigue syndrome / myalgic encephalitis (CFS/ME); fibromyalgia; multiple sclerosis (MS)
Frequency
25% to 34% of the 697,000 U.S. troops of the 1990–91 Gulf War”
And there’s this from Wikipedia....under Pathobiology...
“Chronic inflammation
The 2008 VA report on Gulf War illness and the Health of Gulf War Veterans suggested a possible link between GWI and chronic, nonspecific inflammation of the central nervous system that cause pain, fatigue and memory issues, possibly due to pathologically persistent increases in cytokines and suggested further research be conducted on this issue.[51]“
And finally under Research on Wikipedia...
“A fuller understanding of immune function in ill Gulf War veterans is needed, particularly in veteran subgroups with different clinical characteristics and exposure histories. It is also important to determine the extent to which identified immune perturbations may be associated with altered neurological and endocrine processes that are associated with immune regulation.[63]”
Hmmmm....? Sounds familiar to me. Sure would be nice to help this sub-group and other toxin exposed people with compromised immune function.
Not a scientist, not a veteran. Am a Marine brat.
You know what they say, “Once a brat, always a brat.” GLTA