Cardiovascular system

Numerous cardiac abnormalities have been documented in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients.

These include smaller than normal left ventricle of the heart and low cardiac output.

A 2016 study in the Netherlands was the first to use contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in assessing cardiac involvement in women who have CFS. Twelve women were recruited from a specialised CFS centre who had a diagnosis of CFS based on the Fukuda criteria. Thirty-six age- and gender-matched controls, also, were included. The conclusions were that in patients with CFS, cardiac magnetic resonance demonstrated lower left ventricle dimensions and a mildly reduced left ventricle function. Heart wall motion abnormalities and the presence of myocardial fibrosis were observed in some CFS patients.

Reduced cardiac volumes have been associated with blood volume, but not length of disease.

A study found that blood volume is a strong physiological correlate of peak oxygen consumption in patients with CFS.

Orthostatic intolerance is also common.

CFS patients have several risk factors for heart disease. The mean age of death from heart failure of CFS patients is 58.7 years as compared to 83.1 years for the general population.

Learn more

 * 2016, Chronic fatigue syndrome in women assessed with combined cardiac magnetic resonance imaging
 * 2016, The Blood Volume Paradox in ME/CFS and POTS
 * 2016, Reduced cardiac volumes in chronic fatigue syndrome associate with plasma volume but not length of disease: a cohort study
 * 2016, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: the Small Heart Disease
 * 2016, Getting to the heart of chronic fatigue syndrome