Abnormalities Demonstrated in ME/CFS

[Guest guest]

Some of the abnormalities that have been demonstrated in ME/CFS

by Eileen Marshall and Margaret , 31st March 2006

there is evidence of disrupted biology at cell membrane level

there is evidence of abnormal brain metabolism

there is evidence of widespread cerebral hypoperfusion

there is evidence of central nervous system immune dysfunction

there is evidence of central nervous system inflammation and

demyelination

there is evidence of hypomyelination

there is evidence that ME/CFS is a complex, serious multi-system

autoimmune disorder (in Belgium, the disorder has now been placed

between MS and lupus)

there is evidence of significant neutrophil apoptosis

there is evidence that the immune system is chronically activated 

(eg. the CD4:CD8 ratio may be grossly elevated)

there is evidence that NK cell activity is impaired (ie. diminished)

there is evidence of hair loss in ME/CFS

there is evidence that the vascular biology is abnormal, with disrupted

endothelial function

there is novel evidence of significantly elevated levels of isoprostanes

there is evidence of cardiac insufficiency and that patients are in a

form of cardiac failure

there is evidence of autonomic dysfunction (especially

thermodysregulation; frequency of micturition with nocturia; labile

blood pressure; pooling of blood in the lower limbs; reduced blood

volume (with  orthostatic tachycardia and orthostatic hypotension)

there is evidence of respiratory dysfunction, with reduced lung function

in all parameters tested

there is evidence of neuroendocrine dysfunction (notably HPA axis

dysfunction)

there is evidence of recovery rates for oxygen saturation that are 60%

lower than those in normal controls

there is evidence of delayed recovery of muscles after exercise (note:

there is no evidence of deconditioning)

there is evidence of a sensitive marker of muscle inflammation

there is evidence that the size of the adrenal glands is reduced by 50%,

with reduced cortisol levels

there is evidence that up to 92% of ME/CFS patients also have irritable

bowel syndrome (IBS)

there is evidence of at least 35 abnormal genes (acquired, not

hereditary), specifically those that are important in energy metabolism;

there are more abnormal genes in ME/CFS than there are in cancer

there is evidence of serious cognitive impairment (worse than occurs in

AIDS dementia)

there is evidence of adverse reactions to medicinal drugs, especially

those acting on the CNS

there is evidence that symptoms fluctuate from day to day and even from

hour to hour

there is no evidence that ME/CFS is a psychiatric or behavioural

disorder.

 

For references, see:

(i) ?Illustrations of Clinical Observations and International Research

Findings from 1955 to 2005 that demonstrate the organic aetiology of

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? by Professor

Malcolm Hooper, Eileen Marshall and Margaret , 12th December

2005 (submitted to the Gibson Parliamentary Inquiry into ME).  174

pages.

Available online:

http://www..meaction.uk.org.uk/Organic_evidence_for_Gibson.htm

(ii) ?What the Experts say about ME/CFS? by Margaret , 28th

March 2006.

Available online:

http://www.meactionuk.org.uk/What_the_

Experts_say_about_ME.htm