Launching A New Study For Mystery Disease Morgellons

A major new study of the "mystery disease" known as Morgellons will be launched in Northern California, federal health officials said today.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Kaiser Permanente Northern California are teaming up to investigate the straight-out-of-science-fiction syndrome whose symptoms include itching, biting and crawling sensations and filaments or fibers reported to emerge from the skin.
The San Francisco Bay Area is one of the nation's hot spots for the malady, according to the Morgellons Research Foundation.

Researchers are divided about whether the syndrome represents a real, physical disease or is a manifestation of mental illness.

The study, which will begin immediately, will involve people who sought care for Morgellons-like symptoms at Kaiser Permanente's Northern California facilities between July 2006 and Dec. 31, 2007.

Kaiser's Northern California region serves 3.4 million patients, and 150 to 500 people may qualify for the study, said Dr. Joe Selby, director of Kaiser Permanente-Northern California's Division of Research.

Eligible patients will be contacted and asked to take a survey of their symptoms and other factors that may be related to the syndrome. Patients also may be asked to volunteer for comprehensive medical examinations, including skin biopsies. The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology also will assist with the study.

"The cause of this condition is unknown," said Dr. Michele Pearson, principal investigator with the CDC, said at a telephone news conference Wednesday. "Those who suffer from this condition, as well as their families and physicians, have questions, and we want to help them find meaningful answers."

Source: http://mercurynews.com