XMRV

XMRV: A Virus in Search of a Disease or A Novel Virus that Causes Prostate Cancer and/or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? - Download PDF

Update June 14, 2010 - Download PDF

Key Points

• Xenotropic Murine leukemia virus-Related Virus (XMRV) is a gammaretrovirus that was first described in 2006. It has been isolated from human biological samples.
• Several reports have associated the virus with familial and sporadic prostate cancer but other reports do not find a link.
• Similarly, a possible association with chronic fatigue syndrome has been reported but other studies find no evidence of an association.
• XMRV has not been established as a cause of either prostate cancer or chronic fatigue syndrome.
• XMRV may be transmitted sexually.
• Because XMRV may be a blood-borne pathogen, Canadian Blood Services and Australian Red Cross Blood Service indefinitely defer individuals with a history of chronic fatigue syndrome from donating blood.
• The real population prevalence remains unclear.

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