QJM, Vol 91, Issue 7 475-481, Copyright © 1998 by Oxford University Press
F De Lorenzo, H Xiao, M Mukherjee, J Harcup, S Suleiman, Z Kadziola and VV Kakkar
We investigated whether chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients have
physical and/or cardiovascular de-conditioning, in 273 CFS patients and 72
healthy controls. We used laboratory tests to assess haematological,
biochemical, endocrinological and immunological systems. The cardiovascular
system was assessed by echocardiography and carotid echography. Body
composition was determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). CFS
patients had smaller left ventricular end systolic (p < 0.001) and
diastolic (p = 0.008) dimensions but thinner posterior walls (p = 0.02)
than corresponding values in healthy controls. Left ventricular mass was
also reduced in CFS patients (p = 0.006). Both maximum (p < 0.001) and
minimum (p < 0.008) diameter of the carotid artery were smaller in CFS
patients. The laboratory screening tests showed significant differences in
serum albumin (p = 0.05), phosphate (p = 0.02), HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.03),
HDL:total cholesterol ratio (p = 0.01), triglycerides (p = 0.02),
neutrophils (p = 0.01) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (p = 0.04) between
CFS patients and controls. Male CFS patients had an increased percentage of
fat mass compared with healthy male subjects (p = 0.02). This large group
of CFS patients had evidence of physical and cardiovascular
de-conditioning, suggesting that in these patients a graded exercise
programme could lead to physical reconditioning and could increase their
ability to perform physical activities.
ORIGINAL PAPERS
Chronic fatigue syndrome: physical and cardiovascular deconditioning
Thrombosis Research Institute, London, UK.
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