Cardiovascular characteristics of chronic fatigue syndrome - Bozzini, Albergati, Capelli, et al

Andy

Andy

Retired committee member
  • Authors:
    • Sara Bozzini
    • Andrea Albergati
    • Enrica Capelli
    • Lorenzo Lorusso
    • Carmine Gazzaruso
    • Gabriele Pelissero
    • Colomba Falcone

Abstract

Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) commonly exhibit orthostatic intolerance. Abnormal sympathetic predominance in the autonomic cardiovascular response to gravitational stimuli was previously described in numerous studies. The aim of the current study was to describe cardiological and clinical characteristics of Italian patients with CFS. All of the patients were of Caucasian ethnicity and had been referred to our center, the Cardiology Department of the University Hospital of Pavia (Pavia, Italy) with suspected CFS.

A total of 44 patients with suspected CFS were included in the present study and the diagnosis was confirmed in 19 patients according to recent clinical guidelines. The characteristics at baseline of the population confirm findings from various previous reports regarding the prevalence in females with a female to male ratio of 4:1, the age of onset of the pathology and the presence of previous infection by the Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus and other human herpesviruses.

Despite the current data indicating that the majority of the cardiological parameters investigated are not significantly different in patients with and without CFS, a significant association between the disease and low levels of blood pressure was identified. Other pilot studies revealed a higher prevalence of hypotension and orthostatic intolerance in patients with CFS. Furthermore, many of the CFS symptoms, including fatigue, vertigo, decreased concentration, tremors and nausea, may be explained by hypotension.
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Abstract - https://www.spandidos-publications.com/10.3892/br.2017.1024
Full paper as a PDF download - https://www.spandidos-publications.com/br/8/1/26/download
 
I haven't looked at the entire paper, but one useful thing is that they provide actual evidence that ME is associated with hypotension.

From the abstract:
...The aim of the current study was to describe cardio- logical and clinical characteristics of Italian patients with CFS. All of the patients were of Caucasian ethnicity and had been referred to our center, the Cardiology Department of the University Hospital of Pavia (Pavia, Italy) with suspected CFS. A total of 44 patients with suspected CFS were included in the present study and the diagnosis was confirmed in 19 patients according to recent clinical guidelines. ...Despite the current data indicating that the majority of the cardiological parameters investigated are not significantly different in patients with and without CFS, a significant association between the disease and low levels of blood pressure was identified... many of the CFS symptoms, including
fatigue, vertigo, decreased concentration, tremors and nausea, may be explained by hypotension.
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I just skimmed through this, thinking it might be a bit interesting on why there seems to be a mix of null and positive findings for autonomic issues in CFS.

It looks like it was comparing those who fulfilled criteria for CFS, with those suspected to have CFS but did not fulfill the criteria.

A total of 44 patients with suspected CFS were included in the present study and the diagnosis was confirmed in 19 patients according to recent clinical guidelines.
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I'm not entirely clear what criteria they were using.

In 19 of the 44 patients with suspected CFS the diagnosis was confirmed according to recent clinical guidelines (9).

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[9] Turnbull N, Shaw EJ, Baker R, Dunsdon S, Costin N, Britton G, et al: Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy): diagnosis and management of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy) in adults and children. Royal College of General Practitioners, London, 2007.
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