To the collective ACB Mailbase brain I have been contacted by one of our GPs this morning who has a patient being investigated at a private hospital for ?ME. They have perfomed a panel of tests - some of which neither the GP nor myself have heard of, or at least have no idea how to interpret. Can anyone help me out with indications and significance of any of the following? * Lymphocyte sensitivity test. The patient showed definite sensitivities to aluminium, formaldehyde and salicylate. Borderline sensitivity to petrol exhaust and metabisulphite. Intracellular calcium was high at 315 nmol/L * DNA Adducts (genomic DNA from leucocytes) investigation implicated aluminium (sulphate) and methyresorcinol. DNA-assocaited Zinc was normal * Cardiolipin studies in mitochondrial membranes showed some blocking of the manganese sites on CL-synthase by calcium but not significantly lowering CL synthesis. Mild reduction in ion-gating efficiency. I could go on. If anyone knows anything about these areas of biochemistry, or has any thought or feelings about their clinical utility, and is kind enough to get in touch with me directly, I may then pick your brain further about some of the other investigations performed on this patient. I hope the private hospital investigating this patient will write to her GP with a bit more clarity / direction when they have completed their investigations, but in the meantime, the GP has no idea what to say to / do with her patient. Any help greatly appreciated Alison Jones Principal Clinical Biochemist Kettering General Hospital 01536 493385 ------ACB discussion List Information-------- This is an open discussion list for the academic and clinical community working in clinical biochemistry. Please note, archived messages are public and can be viewed via the internet. Views expressed are those of the individual and they are responsible for all message content. ACB Web Site http://www.acb.org.uk List Archives http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ACB-CLIN-CHEM-GEN.html List Instructions (How to leave etc.) http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/