Symptomatic Persian Gulf Veterans Protocol: An Analysis of Risk Factors with an Immunologic and Neuropsychiatric Assessment

摘要

Veterans returning from the Persian Gulf reported a myriad of complaints. Several hypothesis have been generated to account for these complaints and include exposure and infection with mycoplasma or related organisms and alterations in immunological responsiveness. To investigate these possibilities, we are studying Gulf War Veterans who have complaints referable to at least 2 organ systems that have been otherwise unexplained. Control groups include in theater veterans who are asymptomatic and non-theater veterans who are applying for disability. We have identified 177 symptomatic veterans, 193 asymptomatic controls, and 312 disability controls. To date, we have collected samples from 50 of the symptomatic controls, 28 asymptomatic controls, and 12 of the disability controls. Evaluation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, urine and throat cultures samples for the presence of mycoplasma or urea plasma organisms by culture and PCR revealed no discernable significant differences. Similarly, no significant differences have been detected in in-vitro responsiveness.