Genetics of chronic fatigue syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome
There have been few studies of genetic factors in chronic fatigue syndrome and no evidence of a genetic predisposition has yet been found. One study showed that patients with mitochondrial DNA from certain haplogroups correlated with variations in gastrointestinal, neurological, and inflammatory symptoms.

Anecdotal reports suggest it can cluster in families (although it is not clear if this is for environmental or genetic reasons).

Notable Studies

 * 2016, Genome-wide association analysis identifies genetic variations in subjects with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (Schlauch KA, Khaiboullina SF, Kenny De Meirleir, Rawat S, Petereit J, Rizvanov AA, Blatt N, Mijatovic T, Kulick D, Palotás A, Vincent Lombardi). The study was criticised by George Davey Smith who said "surprised it was published with no replication sample or adequate details of controls".
 * 2016, Mitochondrial DNA variants correlate with symptoms in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (Maureen Hanson, January 20). See also Mitochondrial DNA and ME/CFS - A Guide to the Hanson Lab's 2016 JTM Publication.

Media Coverage

 * 2016 New study found SNPs for some symptoms (CFS Remission, January 23)