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ME sufferers have staged a protest at the Department of Health
23rd November 2010
ME sufferers staged a protest outside the Department of Health in Whitehall on the first day that their blood was banned from being used in blood transfusions (November 1st). According to NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), the body which oversees donations, the ban is to protect people with ME from possible relapses after they have given blood.
They say the move brings ME blood donation policy into line with other relapsing conditions or neurological conditions of unknown or uncertain origin, such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease.
But many ME patients believe that it is not to protect the donor but the recipient of their blood. Researchers at the Whittemore Peterson Institute in United States recently discovered an infectious virus in a significant percentage of people with ME. The virus, known as Xenotropic murine leukaemia virus-related virus (XMRV) is a retrovirus, which means it inserts its DNA right into your cell’s genetic makeup. Once infected, the virus remains permanently in the body and creates an immune deficiency that can leave people vulnerable to a wide range of diseases.
The UK is not unique in taking the step to ban blood from being taken from ME patients The American Association of Blood Banks put in place a similar blood ban in June of this year as an interim measure until the true risk of transfusion transmission of XMRV is known.
The ME Association's medical advisor, Dr Charles Shepherd, said this was a well-judged approach.
"In the current state of uncertainty about a possible viral link a ban is a perfectly sensible measure to take in case it is caused by a retrovirus”.
Currently there are 250,000 patients in the UK affected by this conditions. There is no cure or effective treatment.
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