Gulf War Illness Study #475 being offered at 31 VA's across the country

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Subject: GWI Research Study
To: "GulfLinks@norwoodmall.com"
From: "Snead, Jean" <Jean.Snead@med.va.gov>
Date: Tue, 7 Sep 1999 10:55:33 -0500

I would like to know if you are aware of the VA Cooperative Research study
#475 being offered at 31 VA's across the country? Vets need to have served in
the Gulf between 8/90 and 8/91, have at least 2 of the 3 following symptoms:

3) Self reported problems with concentration, memory loss or attention span.

If the vet passes the initial screening criteria, then he/she is invited to come in for
an interview and to fill out a detailed questionnaire regarding their symptoms.

The answers are scored via a computerized scoring system and if they have less
than a certain score, we then draw their blood and have it tested for mycoplasma
fermentans. This is a bacteria which is thought to be a possible cause of chronic
multi-symptom illnesses, such as Gulf War Illness.

If they test positive for the mycoplasma they are then invited to join the study.

The study is a randomized, double blind study which consists of the vet
taking a medication (either Doxycyline or placebo) daily for one year. Neither
the vet or the study coordinator knows if the vet is taking the Doxycycline or
the placebo. This ensures randomization and keeps the study blind.

If the results of the trial prove positive and the vet was a participant who
received the placebo, the vet is guaranteed the antibiotic treatment.

Please pass on this info to the vets and have them contact their local VA to
see where the closest VA is to them that is conducting the study and see if
they qualify for enrollment.

If you have any question, please contact me at

Hines VA Hospital, Hines, IL
708-202-8387, ext 24509.

Thank you, Jean Snead,
RN Study Coordinator,
e-mail jmmris@hotmail.com

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