Red Blood Cells and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

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Red Blood Cells and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

By Jule Klotter (Townsend Letter, issue: November 2001)

According to an article by ann Spurgin, Ph.D., New Zealand researcher Dr.

L.O. Simpson has theorized that myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as

Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome (CFIDS), results from

" insufficient oxygen availability

due to impaired capillary blood flow. "

Simpson attributes the impaired capillary blood flow to smaller-than-usual

capillaries and to the presence of abnormal red blood cells (nondiscocytes).

In healthy people, most red blood cells are smooth-surfaced and concave-shaped

with a donut-like appearance. These discocytes have extra membranes in the

concave area that give them the flexibility needed to move through capillary

beds, delivering oxygen, nutrients, and chemical messengers to tissue and

removing metabolic waste, such as carbon dioxide and lactic acid.

Abnormal red blood cells lack flexibility that allow them to enter tiny

capillaries. These nondiscocytes are characterized by a variety of

irregularities, including surface bumps or ridges, a cup or basin shape, and

altered margins instead of the round shape found in discocytes.

When people become ill or physically stressed, a higher percentage of discocytes

transform into the less flexible nondiscocytes. Simpson says that the blood

samples of marathon runners show a higher percentage of cup-shaped nondiscocytes

(somatocytes) after a race. This higher percentage soon reverts to pre-race,

normally-low levels of abnormally-shaped cells. Similarly, researchers found

that the percentage of nondiscocytes in people with a viral head cold peaked on

the fifth day and declined by the tenth day.

Simpson found that people with ME/CFIDS have higher percentages of nondiscocytes

than people with other chronic illnesses, such as Lupus, multiple sclerosis,

Huntington's disease, malaria, and diabetes. In addition, the percentages of

cup-shaped somatocytes in ME/CFIDS patients can remain high for months,

inhibiting blood flow.

Simpson believes that, in ME/CFIDS, either the mechanism whereby red blood cells

revert to the discocyte form is hampered for some reason or that whatever

triggered the red blood cells to transform into nondiscocytes remains in effect,

albeit unidentified. Ms. Spurgin notes that red blood cell morphology is also

affected by toxic chemicals, providing a possible link between ME/CFIDS,

environmental illness and multiple chemical sensitivity, and Gulf War Syndrome.

Simpson found that vitamin B12 injections reduced nondiscocyte levels in some ME

patients. These patients also experienced symptomatic improvement. Patients

whose nondiscocyte levels remain unaffected by the B12 injections noticed no

improvement. Research with diabetic patients found that omega-3 fatty acids can

also reduce nondiscocyte levels and improve capillary flow; and omega-6, in the

form of evening primrose oil, has improved blood filterability in cigarette

smokers.

" The Role of Red Blood Cell Morphology in the Pathogenesis of ME/CFIDS " by

ann Spurgin, Ph.D., The CFIDS Chronicle, Summer 1995 discocytes have extra

membranes in the concave area that give them the flexibility needed to move

through capillary, beds, delivering oxygen, nutrients, and chemical messengers

to tissue and removing metabolic waste, such as carbon dioxide and lactic acid.

Abnormal red blood cells lack flexibility that allow them to enter tiny

capillaries. These nondiscocytes are characterized by a variety of

irregularities, including surface bumps or ridges, a cup or basin shape, and

altered margins instead of the round shape found in discocytes.

When people become ill or physically stressed, a higher percentage of discocytes

transform into the less flexible nondiscocytes. Simpson says that the blood

samples of marathon runners show a higher percentage of cup-shaped nondiscocytes

(somatocytes) after a race. This higher percentage soon reverts to pre-race,

normally-low levels 'of abnormally-shaped cells. Similarly, researchers found

that the percentage of nondiscocytes in people with a viral head cold' peaked on

the fifth day and declined by the tenth day.

Simpson found that people with ME/CFIDS have higher percentages of nondiscocytes

than people' with other chronic illnesses, such as Lupus, multiple sclerosis,

Huntington's disease, malaria, and diabetes. In addition, the percentages of

cup-shaped somatocytes in ME/CFIDS patients can remain high for months,

inhibiting blood flow.

Simpson believes that, in ME/CFIDS, either the mechanism whereby red blood cells

revert to the discocyte form is hampered for some reason or that whatever

triggered the red blood cells to transform into nondiscocytes remains in effect,

albeit unidentified. Ms. Spurgin notes that red blood cell morphology is also

affected by toxic chemicals, providing a possible link between ME/CFIDS,

environmental illness and multiple chemical sensitivity, and Gulf War Syndrome.

Simpson found that vitamin B12 injections reduced nondiscocyte levels in some ME

patients. These patients also experienced symptomatic improvement. Patients

whose nondiscocyte levels remain unaffected by' the B12 injections noticed no

improvement. Research with diabetic patients found that omega-3 fatty acids can

also reduce nondiscocyte levels and improve capillary flow; and omega-6, in the

form of evening primrose oil, has improved blood filterability in cigarette

smokers.

Reprinted with Permission

Reference: " The Role of Red Blood Cell Morphology in the Pathogenesis of

ME/CFIDS " by ann Spurgin, PhD, The CFIDS Chronicle, Summer 1995