Infectious Venulitis

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Infectious Venulitis or IVN was a name proposed by Dr. Erich Ryll in response to the patients he saw during the 1975 Sacramento outbreak in California, United States.[1] The outbreak would later come to be recognized as myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E.).

History[edit | edit source]

The outbreak began at Mercy San Juan Hospital, in late summer of 1975, and lasted several years. Over 200 patients and staff fell ill.[2]

Etiology[edit | edit source]

The name Infectious Venulitis refers to both the infectious nature of the illness Ryll observed,[1] as well as inflammation of the venules (small blood vessels)[3]. Dr Ryll believed it to be a vascular disease, most likely a virus, but his long-term follow-up of patients found that over time, symptoms were less vascular in nature; and the illness was in fact myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Presentation[edit | edit source]

Dr. Ryll describing infectious venulitis: "an influenza-like onset, often so severe in nature that I call it a flu-storm, with headaches, sore throat, fever, dizziness, runny nose, nausea and vomiting, muscle aching, extremity pain, and other features."[1]

See also[edit | edit source]

Learn more[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]