Infectious Venulitis

Infectious Venulitis or IVN was a name proposed by Dr. Erich Ryll in response to the patients he saw during the 1975 Sacramento outbreak in California, United States. The outbreak would later come to be recognized as myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E.).

History
The outbreak began at Mercy San Juan Hospital, in late summer of 1975, and lasted several years. Over 200 patients and staff fell ill.

Etiology
The name Infectious Venulitis refers to both the infectious nature of the illness Ryll observed, as well as inflammation of the venules (small blood vessels). Dr Ryll believed it to be a vascular disease, most likely a virus, but his long-term follow-up of patients found that over time, symptoms were less vascular in nature; and the illness was in fact myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Presentation
Dr. Ryll describing infectious venulitis: "an influenza-like onset, often so severe in nature that I call it a flu-storm, with headaches, sore throat, fever, dizziness, runny nose, nausea and vomiting, muscle aching, extremity pain, and other features."

Learn more

 * Infectious Venulitis - Dr Erich Ryll