GULF-WAR SYNDROME - A MODEL FOR THE COMPLEXITY OF BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERACTION WITH HUMAN HEALTH

Since the end of the Gulf War, tens of thousands of American, Canadian and British soldiers who participated in that war have claimed to be suffering from a variety of incapacitating symptoms which are generall y termed as Gulf War Syndrome (GWS). The symptoms are multiple but mai nly consist of excessive tiredness, muscle and joint pain, loss of bal ance, sensory symptoms, neurobehavioural manifestations, diarrhoea, bl adder dysfunction, sweating disturbances, and respiratory, gastrointes tinal, musculoskeletal and skin manifestations. These veterans have be en exposed to a variety of damaging or potentially damaging risk facto rs including environmental adversities, pesticides such as organophosp hate chemicals, skin insect repellents, medical agents such as pyridos tigmine bromide (NAPS), possible low-levels of chemical warfare agents , multiple vaccinations in combinations, depleted uranium, and other f actors. A large number of basic research findings, clinical epidemiolo gical studies, and case control studies are reviewed to try and link t hem together to produce a coherent picture and to demonstrate the comp lexity of the interaction of biological systems, environmental and gen etic factors, combinations of drugs and toxins with human health. The findings of these studies so far have demonstrated that many of the pr evious assumptions made about the 'safety' of certain drugs and toxic substances or vaccines must be radically reviewed. Many of the finding s have far reaching implications not only in terms of explanation of w hat might have gone wrong during the Gulf War, but also have wider imp lications for many occupational groups who are exposed daily to some o f these risk factors. More open-mindedness and much less prejudice are required concerning the basic biology of interactions of the above fa ctors and their effects on cell functions and wider intelligent resear ch is urgently required with high priority. This review highlights the importance of intelligent research for answers for a new phenomenon, and demonstrates the necessity for a combination of this approach with high quality epidemiological research. The reader will notice an emer ging clear picture that the majority (if not all) of these advances ha ve been achieved from studies funded by independent or charity organiz ations rather than by the responsible authorities who are supposed and are duty bound to take on this task.