Research results provided to the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) and released in June 1997 by two of the VA's three Environmental Hazards Research Centers (EHRC) document the extensive prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), and multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) among Gulf War veterans. <1> The diagnosis of these syndromes in Gulf War veterans had been rejected for years by both VA and Department of Defense (DoD) officials, despite numerous recommendations from MCS Referral & Resources as far back as 1994 that they investigate the extent of these clearly overlapping disorders. <2>

Based on the random screening of 1,161 Gulf War veterans, the New Jersey EHRC reported <1>:

• 28.5% of Gulf vets meet criteria for CFS (CDC 1994 definition)
• 12.5% of Gulf vets meet criteria for MCS (unspecified "conservative" defn)
• 7.0% of Gulf vets meet criteria for both CFS and MCS.
  

And based on examination of 125 Gulf War vets from the northwest, the Oregon EHRC reported <1>:

• 27% of Gulf vets meet criteria for CFS (CDC 1994 definition)
• 18% of Gulf vets meet criteria for FMS (ACR 1990 definition)
• over 50% have either FMS or unexplained muscle and joint pain.
  

The DoD and VA, backed up by two IOM advisory committees and the Presidential Advisory Committee, have said repeatedly that they can find "no evidence of any new or unique syndrome" among the tens of thousands of vets examined in their registry programs.

Ironically, they're right! The many CFS, FMS and MCS cases that VA researchers have finally documented are neither *new* or *unique*. But these disorders have been long ignored by both VA and DoD, which still have not trained their own physicians in their diagnosis and treatment. Not until late 1996, for example, did the VA even start to ask veterans about MCS symptoms in its registry questionnaire.

The new prevalence data suggest there may be tens of thousands of CFS, FMS and MCS cases among Gulf War vets--virtually all of which have been overlooked by VA and DoD physicians, despite years of so-called "comprehensive clinical evaluation." Given the massive extent of these undiagnosed and untreated syndromes, it is not surprising that so many veterans are still sick despite years of VA and/or DoD "care."

Although the VA and DoD insist their treatment programs are working, they have resisted all efforts to study this. Despite over 125 federally funded studies of Gulf War veterans underway, not one has yet addressed the health outcomes of DoD and/or VA medical care.

MCS Referral & Resources recommends 1) informing all Gulf War veterans about the "warning signs" of these disorders and 2) independent training programs for VA and DoD physicians and researchers on the diagnosis, reporting and treatment of CFS, FMS and MCS disorders.

1. Dept. of Veterans Affairs. 1997. Environmental Hazards Research Centers' Annual Reports for 1996.

2. MCS Referral & Resources. 1994. Problems identified at May 12 meeting with DoD and VA officials. Memo to US Representatives Evans, Kennedy, Browder and Sanders.

See also:

MCS R&R , 1996. On the differential diagnosis of Gulf War Syndrome: Top 10 symptoms of Gulf War veterans suggest overlapping civilian syndromes of chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and multiple chemical sensitivity.

MCS R&R, 1997. Overlapping Disorders: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia Syndrome, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and Gulf War Syndrome.