Gulf War veterans: The VA is seeking vets to study illness
The VA and National Institutes of Health began a five-year pair of studies Monday to better diagnose and potentially discover a treatment for an illness affecting roughly 175,000 to 210,000 veterans of the Gulf War, which included operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
The first veteran to participate in the studies arrived at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda Maryland this week, according to a release from the VA Monday.
Symptoms of the illness including respiratory complaints, sleep disturbances, forgetfulness and muscle and joint pain, according to NIH. Roughly one-third of the 700,000 veterans deployed to the Persian Gulf in the conflict are estimated to have the affliction, according to the VA.
Veterans interested in participating in the Gulf War Illness study must be veterans of the conflict, ages 48 to 70, have at least a 7th grade education and either have Gulf War Illness symptoms after deployment in the conflict between 1990 and 1991 or have no self-reported or documents Gulf War illness symptoms. The VA and NIH is encouraging veterans interested in participating or with more questions to email vhawas.indepth@va.gov.
“This is an important collaboration that we hope will lead to many answers to those suffering from Gulf War Illness,” said Dr. Walter Koroshetz, director of the NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in the Monday news release. “Taking advantage of the resources available only at NIH, this comprehensive study will take a new look at this illness and uncover biological mechanisms that may pave the way to treatments.”
Comprehensive testing will be at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda will last up to 14 days, with additional tests done at home with the participating veterans compiling a diary, among other tasks.
Required procedures for the study include an exercise test to trigger symptoms, interviews, memory tests, blood and urine collection, eating a special diet and X-rays, among others. Optional procedures include muscle and skin biopsies and brain MRI, among others, according to NIH.
“Effective treatments for Gulf War Illness have remained elusive, forcing health care providers to mostly focus on easing patient symptoms,” said Rachel Ramoni, VA chief research and development officer in the Monday news release. “VA and NIH’s collaboration will bring together experts who will meticulously investigate the underlying causes of Gulf War Illness symptoms.”
Ian Munro, 757-447-4097, ian.munro@virginiamedia.com
