save this form

To get your vial(s) please e-mail Yvonne for details
 

To those with Gulf War Illnesses & their carers.

My work is based upon 2 observations which you will not find in textbooks.  Firstly, that contrary to the textbook concept that all red blood cells have the shape of biconcave discocytes, I have reported thatimmediately-fixed red cells from healthy animals and humans can be classified into 6 different shape classes.  Secondly, that when the red cell environment is changed, red cells respond by changing shape.  Thus the internal events which accompany exhausting exercise changes red cell shape in healthy subjects.

In chronic disorders where tiredness is a common symptom (ME, CFS, CFIDS, MS,AIDS,dengue haemorrhagic fever, bilharziasis) I have found changes in the shape populations of red cells.  In a healthy young man an injection of anti-hepatitis B, caused a quite dramatic change in red cell shape and I believe this would be true for all vaccinations and inoculations.

It is my belief that a major factor in the genesis of the Gulf War illnesses was the compressed timescale for the multiple vaccinations and injections given to servicemen and women of those countries where GWI is a health problem.  This could explain for example why France has no reported cases of GWI and it has been acknowledged that Frfench troops did not receive the vaccinations given to other troops. But if vaccinations/inoculations were the cause of the problem then why has only a relatively small proportion of the forces involved developed the health problems associated with GWI ? I believe that the factor which determines why not all people respond in the same way to events which will change their red cell shape is the size of the blood viessels in the microcirculation, where the rate of flow is directly related to the 4th power of the vessel radius.  The relevant parameter is "mean capillary diameter" and I proposed in 1992 that individuals whose mean capillary diameter fell in the first quartile of a size distribution.  Thus they have an anatomical feature which places them at risk of becoming symptomatic when some triggering event changes the shape of their red cells. Such individuals would function normally until the triggering event, but after the event the shape-changed, poorly-deformable red cells would impair passage through capillaries smaller in diameter than the cells. This could reduce the rate of delivery of oxygen and substrates to levels which were inadequate to sustain normal tissue function and lead to the development of symptoms.  So, what I am suggesting is that the primary factor in the development of symptoms is a problem of blood flow and for that reason treatment should be aimed at improving the flow properties of blood.

I have examined several thousands of blood samples from people with ME who live in NZ, Australia, South Africa, England, Ireland and Canada and found that they have similar red cell changes.  Currently I am exploring the situation in Fibromyalgia blood.  Because my work is unfunded it is necessary to charge for a blood test ( seventeen pounds sterling or $US22.50) and the charge includes a 12.5% Goods & Services Tax.I have assessed 19 English GWS samples, most of which had changed red cell shape populations, as well as blood samples from 8 relatives/spouses.  As some of these samples had abnormal values it is possible that this reflects the stresses to which the carers are exposed.

Because these numbers are so small they will make no impact and for that reason I seek at least another 200 blood samples from Gulf War Vets who are currently unwell.  How many of you who are reading this  are interested enough to support this study ?  In addition to the GWS samples I require as conrols another 50-100 blood samples from healthy friends of the same sex and about the same age, but not from relatives or carers.  Control samples will not incur a charge. In order to decide if this project is a runner, please register you interest.

Note