Despite hemodynamic abnormalities being well documented in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), it remains unclear the nature of the underlying autonomic nervous system problems that underpin these findings. Studies performed in subgroups of those with CFS suggest cardiac sympathetic denervation.
Meta-iodo-benzylguanidine (MIBG) imaging provides a quantitative measure of cardiac sympathetic innervation. Clinically, cardiac MIBG scanning is used to estimate local myocardial sympathetic nerve damage in heart disease and dysautonomia, particularly abnormalities arising due to sympathetic innervation [1,2]. In this study, we explored potential mechanisms that underpin the autonomic abnormalities seen in CFS using I125 MIBG participants that fulfilled Fukuda diagnostic criteria for CFS [3]. Participants were excluded if screened positive for a major depressive episode (Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders). Fatigue was measured using the Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS).
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Source: Petrides G, Zalewski P, McCulloch D, Maclachlan L, Finkelmeyer A, Hodgson T, Blamire A, Newton JL. Cardiac sympathetic innervation associates with autonomic dysfunction in chronic fatigue syndrome – a pilot study. Fatigue. 2017 May 4;5(3):184-186. doi: 10.1080/21641846.2017.1322235. eCollection 2017. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5942146/ (Full article)