Epstein-Barr virus infection associated with interstitial nephritis and chronic fatigue

Abstract:

Severe renal disease in the setting of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is exceedingly rare. We report here the case of a 22-year-old man with acute EBV infection associated with severe interstitial nephritis. The patient developed chronic fatigue and chronic renal failure with a serological profile typical of primary EBV infection. Clinical improvement with anti-EBNA seroconversion occurred after acyclovir therapy. Our patient illustrates that chronic fatigue with major organ dysfunction and a serological profile of primary infection can be seen in chronic EBV infection. In such a case, acyclovir may prove beneficial.

 

Source: López-Navidad A, Domingo P, López-Talavera JC, Rabella N, Verger G. Epstein-Barr virus infection associated with interstitial nephritis and chronic fatigue. Scand J Infect Dis. 1996;28(2):185-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8792488

 

Use of exercise for treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a condition that results in moderate to severe disability, the primary feature of which is fatigue of unknown origin. There is a lot of interest in classifying, characterising and treating patients with CFS. Currently, the two major theories of a medical cause of CFS are viral infection and immune dysregulation.

Patients report critical reductions in levels of physical activity, and many experience ‘relapses’ of severe symptoms following even moderate levels of exertion. Despite this, most studies report CFS patients to have normal muscle strength and either normal or slightly reduced muscle endurance.

Histological and metabolic studies report mixed results: CFS patients have either no impairment or mild impairment of mitochondria and oxidative metabolism compared with sedentary controls.

Current treatments for CFS are symptom-based, with psychological, pharmacological and rehabilitation treatments providing some relief but no cure. Immunological and nutritional treatments have been tried but have not provided reproducible benefits. Exercise training programmes are thought to be beneficial (if ‘relapses’ can be avoided), although few controlled studies have been performed.

CFS is a long-lasting disorder that can slowly improve with time, but often does not. Further studies are needed to better understand the multiple factors that can cause chronic fatigue illness, as well as the effect that exercise training has on the symptoms of CFS.

 

Source: McCully KK, Sisto SA, Natelson BH. Use of exercise for treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome. Sports Med. 1996 Jan;21(1):35-48. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8771284

 

A comparison of the characteristics of chronic fatigue syndrome in primary and tertiary care

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: To evaluated the characteristics of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) in primary and tertiary care.

METHOD: A comparison of subjects fulfilling criteria for CFS, identified as part of a prospective cohort study in primary care, compared to 79 adults fulfilling the same criteria referred for treatment to a specialist CFS clinic.

RESULTS: Hospital cases were more likely to belong to upper socio-economic groups, and to have physical illness attributions. They had higher levels of fatigue and more somatic symptoms, and were more impaired functionally, but had less overt psychological morbidity. Women were over-represented in both primary care and hospital groups. Nearly half of those referred to a specialist clinic did not fulfil operational criteria for CFS.

CONCLUSION:The high rates of psychiatric morbidity and female excess that characterise CFS in specialist settings are not due to selection bias. On the other hand higher social class and physical illness attributions may be the result of selection bias and not intrinsic to CFS.

 

Source: Euba R, Chalder T, Deale A, Wessely S. A comparison of the characteristics of chronic fatigue syndrome in primary and tertiary care. Br J Psychiatry. 1996 Jan;168(1):121-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8770441

 

Personality dimensions in the chronic fatigue syndrome: a comparison with multiple sclerosis and depression

Abstract:

This study investigated the relative rates of personality disturbance in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Individuals who met the CDC criteria for CFS were compared to two other fatiguing illness groups, mild multiple sclerosis and depression, as well as sedentary healthy controls.

Subjects were administered a structured psychiatric interview to determine Axis I psychiatric disorders and two self-report instruments to assess Axis II personality disorders and the personality trait of neuroticism.

The depressed group had significantly more personality disorders and elevated neuroticism scores compared with the other three groups. The CFS and MS subjects had intermediary personality scores which were significantly higher than healthy controls.

The CFS group with concurrent depressive disorder (34% of the CFS group) was found to account for most of the personality pathology in the CFS sample. The results are discussed in the context of the relationship between personality variables and fatiguing illness.

 

Source: Johnson SK, DeLuca J, Natelson BH. Personality dimensions in the chronic fatigue syndrome: a comparison with multiple sclerosis and depression. J Psychiatr Res. 1996 Jan-Feb;30(1):9-20. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8736462

 

MMPI profiles of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

Fifty-three patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and 43 healthy nonpatient controls completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). All subjects varied in their degree of seropositivity to active Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) as measured by their anti-early antigen titers. EBV titers were higher among CFS patients and were associated with being more symptomatic.

Differences in patient status were associated with statistically significant elevations on 8 of 9 clinical scales, 4 of which also showed clinically significant elevations (T scores > or = 70): scales 1, 2, 3, and 8. These results are discussed in terms of their implications for intervention strategies associated with MMPI-based CFS subtypes.

 

Source: Schmaling KB, Jones JF. MMPI profiles of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. J Psychosom Res. 1996 Jan;40(1):67-74. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8730646

 

Assessing somatization disorder in the chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

This study was conducted to examine the rates of somatization disorder (SD) in the chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) relative to other fatiguing illness groups. It further addressed the arbitrary nature of the judgments made in assigning psychiatric vs. physical etiology to symptoms in controversial illnesses such as CFS.

Patients with CFS (N = 42), multiple sclerosis (MS) (N = 18), and depression (N = 21) were compared with healthy individuals (N = 32) on a structured psychiatric interview. The SD section of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) III-R was reanalyzed using different criteria sets to diagnose SD. All subjects received a thorough medical history, physical examination, and DIS interview. CFS patients received diagnostic laboratory testing to rule out other causes of fatigue.

This study revealed that changing the attribution of SD symptoms from psychiatric to physical dramatically affected the rates of diagnosing SD in the CFS group. Both the CFS and depressed subjects endorsed a higher percentage of SD symptoms than either the MS or healthy groups, but very few met the strict DSM-III-R criteria for SD. The present study illustrates that the terminology used to interpret the symptoms (ie, psychiatric or physical) will determine which category CFS falls into. The diagnosis of SD is of limited use in populations in which the etiology of the illness has not been established.

 

Source: Johnson SK, DeLuca J, Natelson BH. Assessing somatization disorder in the chronic fatigue syndrome. Psychosom Med. 1996 Jan-Feb;58(1):50-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8677289

 

A controlled comparison of multiple chemical sensitivities and chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

The present study had two objectives: 1) to determine the characteristics that differentiated subjects with multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS), chemical sensitivities (CS), and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS); and 2) to evaluate the psychiatric and neuropsychological complaints of these groups relative to normal controls.

A cross-sectional comparison was made of the following groups matched for age, sex, and education: 1) patients whose sensitivities to multiple low level chemical exposures began with a defined exposure (MCS; N = 23); 2) patients with sensitivities to multiple chemicals without a clear date of onset (CS; N = 13); 3) patients meeting CDC criteria for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS; N = 18); and 4) normal controls (N = 18).

Subjects with sensitivities to chemicals (MCS and CS) reported significantly more lifestyle changes due to chemical sensitivities and significantly more chemical substances that made them ill compared with chronic fatigue and normal controls. MCS, CS, and CFS patients had significantly higher rates of current psychiatric disorders than normal controls and reported significantly more physical symptoms with no medical explanation.

Seventy-four percent of MCS and 61% of CFS did not qualify for any current Axis I psychiatric diagnosis. Chemically sensitive subjects without a defined date of onset (CS) had the highest rate of Axis I psychiatric disorders (69%). On the MMPI-2, 44% of MCS, 42% of CS, 53% of CFS, and none of the controls achieved clinically significant elevations on scales associated with somatoform disorders.

With the exception of one complex test of visual memory, no significant differences were noted among the groups on tests of neuropsychological function. Standardized measures of psychiatric and neuropsychological function did not differentiate subjects with sensitivities to chemicals from those with chronic fatigue. Subjects with sensitivities to chemicals and no clear date of onset had the highest rate of psychiatric morbidity. Standardized neuropsychological tests did not substantiate the cognitive impairment reported symptomatically. Cognitive deficits may become apparent under controlled exposure conditions.

 

Source: Fiedler N, Kipen HM, DeLuca J, Kelly-McNeil K, Natelson B. A controlled comparison of multiple chemical sensitivities and chronic fatigue syndrome. Psychosom Med. 1996 Jan-Feb;58(1):38-49. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8677287

 

alpha-Interferon treatment of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

Thirty patients who fulfilled clinical criteria defined by the CDC for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome were treated with alfa 2a interferon or placebo in a double-blind crossover study. Outcome was evaluated by Natural Killer (NK) cell function, lymphocyte proliferation to mitogens and soluble antigens, CD4/CD8 counts and a 10 item Quality of Life (QOL) survey.

Although mean NK function rose from 87.8 +/- 19.6 to 129.3 +/- 20.7 lytic untis (LU; p < .05) with 12 weeks of interferon therapy, there was no significant change in the other immunologic parameters or QOL scores. When the 26 patients who completed the study were stratified according to their baseline NK function and lymphocyte proliferation, 4 groups were identified: 3 patients had normal NK cell function and lymphocyte proliferation when compared to normal, healthy controls, 9 had isolated deficiency in lymphocyte proliferation, 7 had diminished NK function only, and 7 had abnormalities for both parameters.

QOL scores were not significantly different for the four groups at baseline. After 12 weeks of interferon therapy, QOL score significantly improved in each of the seven patients with isolated NK cell dysfunction (mean score, 16.3 +/- 7.9) compared to baseline (39.7 +/- 12.1; p < .05). In these patients the mean NK function increased from 35.1 +/- 11.7 to 91.5 +/- 22.7 LU (p < .01). Significant improvement was not recorded for QOL in the other three groups. Thus, therapy with alpha interferon has a significant effect on the QOL of that subgroup of patients with CFS manifesting an isolated decrease in NK function.

 

Source: See DM, Tilles JG. alpha-Interferon treatment of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Immunol Invest. 1996 Jan-Mar;25(1-2):153-64. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8675231

 

Chronic fatigue complaints in primary care: incidence and diagnostic patterns

Abstract:

The complaint of chronic fatigue is ubiquitous in the primary care setting. Because of the nonspecific nature of chronic fatigue, practitioners do not focus on this complaint. Furthermore, most physicians use a problem-based approach. Such a prematurely narrowed focus could overlook the chronic fatigue complaint. Omissions in the data collection process would prove this oversight.

Therefore, we postulated that a retrospective review of evaluations for chronic fatigue would demonstrate significant categorical deficiencies. These deficiencies would indicate a problem focus different than the chronic fatigue complaint itself.

The authors reviewed the current literature to establish historical, physical, and laboratory findings pertinent to the evaluation of chronic fatigue. Six major categories and the associated data elements were identified for use in analyzing patient records. The patient records from the preceding 6 months were reviewed to find those containing a complaint of chronic fatigue. These records were analyzed to determine if a complete data set had been sought and if an associated diagnosis was made.

A total of 425 consecutive charts from an academic family practice clinic were retrospectively reviewed; 9.9% (42) mentioned chronic fatigue. Physicians were lax in performing the mental status and physical examinations; taking the patient’s psychiatric and sleep history, as well as the history of chief complaint; and ordering laboratory evaluations. The physician diagnoses included: depression (40.4%), nonspecific fatigue (35.7%), general medical disorders (16.6%), chronic fatigue syndrome (2.4%), fibromyalgia (2.4%), and sleep apnea (2.4%).

From these data, the investigators conclude that the workup for chronic fatigue is often incomplete or lacks documentation. This oversight is likely due to a problem focus not directed at the chronic fatigue complaints. Also complicating the evaluation process are the multiple associated disorders, the prevalence of the complaint, and cost/benefit issues facing the primary care physician.

 

Source: Ward MH, DeLisle H, Shores JH, Slocum PC, Foresman BH. Chronic fatigue complaints in primary care: incidence and diagnostic patterns. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 1996 Jan;96(1):34-46, 41. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8626230

 

An examination of the working case definition of chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

PURPOSE: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) currently is defined by a working case definition developed under the leadership of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) based on a consensus among experienced clinicians. We analyzed the experience from one large center to examine the adequacy of the case definition.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Predefined clinical and laboratory data were collected prospectively from 369 patients with debilitating fatigue, of whom 281 (76%) met the major criteria of the original CDC case definition for CFS: (1) fatigue of at least 6 months’ duration, seriously interfering with the patient’s life; and (2) without evidence of various organic or psychiatric illnesses that can produce chronic fatigue. The same clinical data were obtained from 311 healthy control subjects and two comparison groups with diseases that can present in a similar fashion; relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (n = 25) and major depression (n = 19).

RESULTS: All of the minor criteria symptoms from the original CDC case definition distinguished patients with debilitating chronic fatigue from healthy control subjects, and many distinguished the patients with chronic fatigue from the comparison groups with multiple sclerosis and depression: myalgias, postexertional malaise, headaches, and a group of infectious-type symptoms (ie, chronic fever and chills, sore throat, swollen glands in the neck or underarm areas). In addition, two other symptoms not currently part of the case definition discriminated the chronic fatigue patients from the control/comparison groups: anorexia and nausea. Physical examination criteria only infrequently contributed to the diagnosis. Patients meeting the CDC major criteria for CFS also met the minor criteria in 91% of cases.

CONCLUSION: Patients meeting the major criteria of the current CDC working case definition of CFS reported symptoms that were clearly distinguishable from the experience of healthy control subjects and from disease comparison groups with multiple sclerosis and depression. Eliminating three symptoms (ie, muscle weakness, arthralgias, and sleep disturbance) and adding two others (ie, anorexia and nausea) would appear to strengthen the CDC case definition of CFS.

 

Source: Komaroff AL, Fagioli LR, Geiger AM, Doolittle TH, Lee J, Kornish RJ, Gleit MA, Guerriero RT. An examination of the working case definition of chronic fatigue syndrome. Am J Med. 1996 Jan;100(1):56-64. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8579088