List of abnormal findings in chronic fatigue syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis

Myalgic encephalomyelitis is a multi-system disease. Numerous biological abnormalities have been found in multiple bodily system, however no common, central cause or mechanism has yet been elucidated.

Central nervous system

 * increased ventricular lactate
 * neuroinflammation
 * reduced grey and white matter





Autonomic nervous system

 * Orthostatic intolerance



Peripheral nervous system






Muscular system

 * mitochondrial abnormalities found via muscle biopsy including: mitochondrial degeneration, deletions of mitochondrial DNA , the reduction of mitochondrial activity
 * Increased urinary creatine excretion during relapses
 * Increased creatine kinase (postviral fatigue syndrome)
 * Persistence of enteroviruses in muscle tissue
 * abnormalities of AMPK activation and glucose uptake in cultured skeletal muscle cells

Immune system

 * Natural killer cell function is reduced
 * Cytokine dysregulation
 * Elevated regulatory T cells
 * increased mast cell populations

Chronic infection

 * Enterovirus: Persistence of enteroviruses in muscle tissue   ; brain ; and gut
 * Herpesvirus:

Lymphatic system




Heart

 * Smaller than normal left ventricle of the heart and low cardiac output.
 * Mean age of death from heart failure of CFS patients is 58.7 years as compared to 83.1 years for the general population.



Circulation

 * reduced blood flow to the brain and heart

Blood

 * reduced blood volume
 * abnormally shaped of red blood cells
 * reduced oxygen uptake in hemoglobin





Gastrointestinal tract

 * lower levels of Bifidobacteria, Escherichia coli and higher levels of aerobic bacteria., in particular Enterococcus and Streptococcus species
 * higher levels of enterococcus bacteria in CFS patients were associated with more severe neurological and cognitive dysfunction
 * Significantly increased proportions of Firmicutes and Bacteroides
 * CFS patients may suffer from small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) at high rates.
 * Higher levels of serum IgA and IgM against lipopolysaccharides (LPS), a major component of the outer membrane of gram negative bacteria, indicating translocation. Serum IgA was significantly correlated to the severity of illness.



Liver

 * Reduced liver volume

Nutrition

 * low red blood cell magnesium

Cellular respiration

 * errors in cellular respiration including a reduction in glycolysis, including impaired pyruvate dehydrogenase
 * increased lactic acid
 * reduction in metabolites reflecting a slowed metabolism.

Exercise

 * reduced pain threshold
 * translocation of bacteria
 * loss of capacity to recover from acidosis on repeat exercise.
 * increased expression of sensory, adrenergic and immune genes following muscle exertion
 * decreased oxygen utilization

Learn more

 * #MEAction ME/CFS Research Summary