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The Role of Cytokines in Muscle Fatigue in Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).
Author(s) -
Earl Kate,
Sakellariou Giorgos,
Owens Daniel,
Sinclair Melanie,
Fenech Manuel,
Close Graeme,
Lawton Clare,
Dye Louise,
Beadsworth Micheal,
McArdle Anne
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.1055.34
Subject(s) - chronic fatigue syndrome , medicine , muscle fatigue , inflammation , chronic fatigue , gastroenterology , physical medicine and rehabilitation , electromyography
CFS is characterized by profound levels of persistent/recurrent fatigue. It is proposed that chronic, low level inflammation may play a role in this fatigue. We recruited 100 untreated patients with CFS (average age 33±12) and 100 age and sex matched healthy controls (HCs). Serum levels of TNF‐α were assessed using ELISA. Subjective fatigue was determined by questionnaire and muscle function tests were undertaken in subgroups in which maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), electrically stimulated muscle force generation and rate of fatigue were assessed in the quadriceps muscle. Subjective fatigue was higher in patients with CFS compared with HCs. Preliminary analyses showed that serum TNF‐α was undetectable in 97% of HCs, whereas 15% of patients with CFS had detectable (4.4+/‐0.18pg/ml) serum TNF‐α. MVC was significantly reduced in subjects with CFS compared with HCs. No difference was seen in stimulated muscle fatigue between groups. This preliminary data suggests that a sub‐group of patients with CFS may have low level inflammation and analyses are underway to further characterise other inflammatory markers in serum and muscle of these patients and to determine whether such changes could affect indices of muscle function or central fatigue. Funded by MRC, BBSRC and the ME Association.