Tag: PEM

Symptom-based clusters in people with ME/CFS: an illustration of clinical variety in a cross-sectional cohort

Abstract:

Background: Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)/chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complex, heterogenous disease. It has been suggested that subgroups of people with ME/CFS exist, displaying a specific cluster of symptoms. Investigating symptom-based clusters may provide a better understanding of ME/CFS. Therefore, this study aimed to identify clusters in people with ME/CFS based on the frequency and severity of symptoms.

Methods: Members of the Dutch ME/CFS Foundation completed an online version of the DePaul Symptom Questionnaire version 2. Self-organizing maps (SOM) were used to generate symptom-based clusters using severity and frequency scores of the 79 measured symptoms. An extra dataset (n = 252) was used to assess the reproducibility of the symptom-based clusters.

Results: Data of 337 participants were analyzed (82% female; median (IQR) age: 55 (44–63) years). 45 clusters were identified, of which 13 clusters included ≥ 10 patients. Fatigue and PEM were reported across all of the symptom-based clusters, but the clusters were defined by a distinct pattern of symptom severity and frequency, as well as differences in clinical characteristics. 11% of the patients could not be classified into one of the 13 largest clusters. Applying the trained SOM to validation sample, resulted in a similar symptom pattern compared the Dutch dataset.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that in ME/CFS there are subgroups of patients displaying a similar pattern of symptoms. These symptom-based clusters were confirmed in an independent ME/CFS sample. Classification of ME/CFS patients according to severity and symptom patterns might be useful to develop tailored treatment options.

Source: Vaes, A.W., Van Herck, M., Deng, Q. et al. Symptom-based clusters in people with ME/CFS: an illustration of clinical variety in a cross-sectional cohort. J Transl Med 21, 112 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-023-03946-6 https://translational-medicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12967-023-03946-6 (Full text)

Stress-Induced Transcriptomic Changes in Females with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Reveal Disrupted Immune Signatures

Abstract:

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a chronic, complex multi-organ illness characterized by unexplained debilitating fatigue and post-exertional malaise (PEM), which is defined as a worsening of symptoms following even minor physical or mental exertion. Our study aimed to evaluate transcriptomic changes in ME/CFS female patients undergoing an exercise challenge intended to precipitate PEM.
Our time points (baseline before exercise challenge, the point of maximal exertion, and after an exercise challenge) allowed for the exploration of the transcriptomic response to exercise and recovery in female patients with ME/CFS, as compared to healthy controls (HCs). Under maximal exertion, ME/CFS patients did not show significant changes in gene expression, while HCs demonstrated altered functional gene networks related to signaling and integral functions of their immune cells.
During the recovery period (commonly during onset of PEM), female ME/CFS patients showed dysregulated immune signaling pathways and dysfunctional cellular responses to stress. The unique functional pathways identified provide a foundation for future research efforts into the disease, as well as for potential targeted treatment options.
Source: Van Booven DJ, Gamer J, Joseph A, Perez M, Zarnowski O, Pandya M, Collado F, Klimas N, Oltra E, Nathanson L. Stress-Induced Transcriptomic Changes in Females with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Reveal Disrupted Immune Signatures. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2023; 24(3):2698. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24032698 https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/3/2698 (Full text)

ME/CFS and Post-Exertional Malaise among Patients with Long COVID

Abstract:

This study sought to ascertain the prevalence of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) among a sample of 465 patients with Long COVID. The participants completed three questionnaires: (1) a new questionnaire measuring both the frequency and severity of 38 common symptoms of COVID and Long COVID, (2) a validated short form questionnaire assessing ME/CFS, and (3) a validated questionnaire measuring post-exertional malaise.
The population was predominantly white, female, and living in North America. The mean duration since the onset of COVID-19 symptoms was 70.5 weeks. Among the 465 participants, 58% met a ME/CFS case definition. Of respondents who reported that they had ME/CFS only 70.57% met criteria for ME/CFS and of those who did not report they had ME/CFS, 29.43% nevertheless did meet criteria for the disease: both over-diagnosis and under-diagnosis were evident on self-report. This study supports prior findings that ME/CFS occurs with high prevalence among those who have persistent COVID-19 symptoms.
Source: Jason LA, Dorri JA. ME/CFS and Post-Exertional Malaise among Patients with Long COVID. Neurology International. 2023; 15(1):1-11. https://doi.org/10.3390/neurolint15010001 https://www.mdpi.com/2035-8377/15/1/1 (Full text)

The Prevalence, Severity, and Impact of Post-COVID Persistent Fatigue, Post-Exertional Malaise, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Background: Fatigue is common after viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2.1 Our purpose was to report the prevalence and impact of persistent fatigue 6 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection, considering post-exertional malaise2 and criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome.3

Methods: Since March 2020, individuals tested for SARS-CoV-2 at the Geneva University Hospitals outpatient testing center benefit from remote ambulatory follow-up (COVICARE). This study included all individuals tested between March 2020 and December 2020 and whose follow-up was at 6 months or more after their test date.

Follow-up included questions about the prevalence of symptoms (yes/no) and their severity using a Likert scale (mild, moderate, or severe). Fatigue was assessed using the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scale and the Chalder fatigue scale. The Chalder fatigue scale was scored using the 4-item Likert and the bimodal scoring schemes. A score of ≥ 4 on bimodal scoring indicated severe fatigue.

The DePaul brief questionnaire was used to identify post-exertional malaise and criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Sheehan Disability Scale was used to assess functional impairment. Reduced work capacity was defined as missing days off work or having a reduced productivity on the Sheehan disability scale.

Comorbidities were considered present if pre-existing prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Statistical analysis included descriptive comparisons of percentages using chi-square tests and Student’s t test.

Results: Overall, 5515 individuals participated in this study (response rate 70.7%), with 5406 participants at 6 months or more after their test date. A total of 1497 (27.7%) participants had a documented positive SARS-CoV-2 test and were ultimately included in the study. The median time for follow-up was 225 days (interquartile range 207–398). Respectively, fatigue was reported by 17.2%, post-exertional malaise by 8.2%, and the presence of criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome by 1.1% of SARS-CoV-2-positive individuals, compared to 8.9%, 3.5%, and 0.5% of SARS-CoV-2-negative individuals. Characteristics are presented in Table 1.

Out of SARS-CoV-2-positive participants with fatigue (n = 258), 35.3% had moderate to severe limitations on the ECOG scale, and 83.0% had a score ≥ 4 on the Chalder fatigue scale. The Chalder fatigue scale revealed a mean score of 19 out of 33, SD 5.4, and a mean score of 6.7 out of 11, SD 3.3 using bimodal scoring. After adjusting for age and sex, 47.7% of SARS-CoV-2-positive individuals with fatigue at 6 months or more had the frequency and severity criteria for post-exertional malaise, and 6.2% had criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Individuals had a higher prevalence of insomnia, cognitive impairment, headaches, generalized pain, functional impairment, reduced work capacity, and decreased physical activity, after SARS-CoV-2 infection. The prevalence of these sequelae was adjusted for age and sex and was increasingly higher with severe fatigue, with post-exertional malaise, or when criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome were present (Fig. 1).

Discussion: Fatigue is the most common and persistent post-COVID symptom. The spectrum of fatigue severity in post-COVID individuals ranges from feeling tired to having severe fatigue, post-exertional malaise, or criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome with an increasing impact on health, functional capacity, and physical activity.

Almost half of individuals experiencing fatigue at 6 months after the infection had post-exertional malaise, and 6.2% had criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome, prompting physicians to consider pacing as a management option, in the absence of other treatment options at this stage. SARS-CoV-2 infection was positively associated with fatigue and post-exertional malaise.

Results showed that individuals with fatigue were more likely to be vaccinated. This was partially explained by the baseline distribution as older individuals and those with more comorbidities were more likely to get vaccinated.

Results compare to recent reviews showing an overlap between post-COVID condition and chronic fatigue syndrome. Our study graded post-COVID fatigue by severity in correlation with functional capacity, and showed the high prevalence of post-exertional malaise.

Limitations include the self-reported nature of this follow-up with individuals infected in 2020 and follow-up in 2021, lacking comparisons to individuals infected with other variants. Additionally, this study considered having received at least 2 doses as full vaccination, a concept that continues to evolve with time.

Physicians, employers, and insurance companies should address fatigue on a spectrum, accounting for the correlated functional impairment, decreased activity levels, and potentially poorer quality of life.

Source: Nehme M, Chappuis F, Kaiser L, Assal F, Guessous I. The Prevalence, Severity, and Impact of Post-COVID Persistent Fatigue, Post-Exertional Malaise, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. J Gen Intern Med. 2022 Nov 10:1–5. doi: 10.1007/s11606-022-07882-x. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36357723; PMCID: PMC9648889. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9648889/ (Full text)

 

Single-cell transcriptomics of the immune system in ME/CFS at baseline and following symptom provocation

Summary:

ME/CFS is a serious and poorly understood disease. To understand immune dysregulation in ME/CFS, we used single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) to examine immune cells in cohorts of patients and controls. Post-exertional malaise (PEM), an exacerbation of symptoms following strenuous exercise, is a characteristic symptom of ME/CFS. Thus, to detect changes coincident with PEM, we also performed scRNA-seq on the same cohorts following exercise. At baseline, ME/CFS patients displayed dysregulation of classical monocytes suggestive of inappropriate differentiation and migration to tissue. We were able to identify both diseased and more normal monocytes within patients, and the fraction of diseased cells correlated with metrics of disease severity. Comparing the transcriptome at baseline and post-exercise challenge, we discovered patterns indicative of improper platelet activation in patients, with minimal changes elsewhere in the immune system. Taken together, these data identify immunological defects present at baseline in patients and an additional layer of dysregulation following exercise.

Highlights ME/CFS is a debilitating disease with unknown causes. Here, we provide, for the first time, an extensive single cell resolution dataset detailing the gene expression programs of circulating immune cells of ME/CFS cases at baseline and after symptom provocation. We were able to detect robust dysregulation in certain immune cells from patients, with dysregulation of classical monocytes manifesting the strongest signal. Indeed, the fraction of aberrant monocytes in ME/CFS patients correlated with the degree of disease severity. Surprisingly, platelet transcriptomes were also altered in ME/CFS, and they were the only component of the immune system that showed large-scale changes following symptom provocation.

Source: Faraz Ahmed, Luyen Tien Vu, Hongya Zhu, David Shing Huk Iu, Elizabeth A. Fogarty, Yeonui Kwak, Weizhong Chen, Carl J. Franconi, Paul R. Munn, Susan M. Levine, Jared Stevens, Xiangling Mao, Dikoma C. Shungu, Geoffrey E. Moore, Betsy A. Keller, Maureen R. Hanson, Jennifer K. Grenier, Andrew Grimson. Single-cell transcriptomics of the immune system in ME/CFS at baseline and following symptom provocation. bioRxiv 2022.10.13.512091; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.10.13.512091 https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-medicine/fulltext/S2666-3791(23)00602-X (Full text)

Diminished Cardiopulmonary Capacity During Post-Exertional Malaise

Abstract:

Reduced functional capacity and post-exertional malaise following physical activity are hallmark symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). That these symptoms are often delayed may explain the equivocal results for clinical cardiopulmonary exercise testing with CFS patients. The reproducibility of VO2 max in healthy subjects is well documented. This may not be the case with CFS due to delayed recovery symptoms.

Purpose: To compare results from repeated exercise tests as indicators of post-exertional malaise in CFS.

Methods: Peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak), percentage of predicted peak heart rate (HR%), and VO2 at anaerobic threshold (AT), were compared between six CFS patients and six control subjects for two maximal exercise tests separated by 24 hours.

Results: Multivariate analysis showed no significant differences between control and CFS, respectively, for test 1: VO2 peak (28.4 ± 7.2 ml/ kg/min; 26.2 ± 4.9 ml/kg/min), AT (17.5 ± 4.8 ml/kg/min; 15.0 ± 4.9 ml/ kg/min) or HR% (87.0 ± 25.4%; 94.8 ± 8.8%). However, for test 2 the CFS patients achieved significantly lower values for both VO2 peak (28.9 ± 8.0 ml/kg/min; 20.5 ± 1.8 ml/kg/min, p = 0.031) and AT (18.0 ± 5.2 ml/kg/min; 11.0 ± 3.4 ml/kg/min, p = 0.021). HR% was not significantly different (97.6 ± 27.2%; 87.8 ± 9.3%, p = 0.07). A follow-up classification analysis differentiated between CFS patients and controls with an overall accuracy of 92%.

Conclusion: In the absence of a second exercise test, the lack of any significant differences for the first test would appear to suggest no functional impairment in CFS patients. However, the results from the second test indicate the presence of a CFS related post-exertional malaise. It might be concluded then that a single exercise test is insufficient to demonstrate functional impairment in CFS patients. A second test may be necessary to document the atypical recovery response and protracted malaise unique to CFS.

Source: J. Mark Vanness, Christopher R. Snell & Staci R. Stevens (2007) Diminished Cardiopulmonary Capacity During Post-Exertional Malaise, Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, 14:2, 77-85, DOI: 10.1300/J092v14n02_07

Post-COVID syndrome with fatigue and exercise intolerance: myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

in English, German

Background: A sizable part of post-COVID syndrome meets the diagnostic criteria for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). A doubling of cases of ME/CFS within the next years is therefore projected.

Objectives: Presentation of the current state of knowledge on ME/CFS.

Materials and methods: Unsystematic review of the literature and of own contributions in research and patient care.

Results and conclusions: ME/CFS is a neuroimmunological disease, mostly infection-induced, usually persisting throughout life. Clinically it is characterized by fatigue lasting at least 6 months and the defining core feature of exercise intolerance (post-exertional malaise, PEM). Exercise intolerance is defined as a worsening of symptoms after (even mild) everyday exertion, which usually begins after several hours or on the following day, is still noticeable at least 14 h after exertion, and often lasts for several days (up to weeks or longer). Furthermore, ME/CFS is characterized by pain, disturbances of sleep, thinking and memory, and dysregulation of the circulatory, endocrine, and immune systems.

As a separate clinical entity, ME/CFS should be distinguished from chronic fatigue, which occurs as a symptom of a range of very different diseases. The diagnosis of ME/CFS is made clinically using established international diagnostic criteria and requires careful stepwise diagnosis to exclude other diagnoses. A causal therapy for ME/CFS has not been established; the focus is on symptoms relief, treatment of the often accompanying orthostatic intolerance, and assistance with anticipatory energy management (pacing).

Source: Renz-Polster H, Scheibenbogen C. Post-COVID-Syndrom mit Fatigue und Belastungsintoleranz: Myalgische Enzephalomyelitis bzw. Chronisches Fatigue-Syndrom [Post-COVID syndrome with fatigue and exercise intolerance: myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome]. Inn Med (Heidelb). 2022 Aug;63(8):830-839. German. doi: 10.1007/s00108-022-01369-x. Epub 2022 Jul 13. PMID: 35925074. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35925074/  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00108-022-01369-x (Full text in German)

Neurovascular Dysregulation and Acute Exercise Intolerance in ME/CFS: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Pyridostigmine

Abstract:

Background: Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is characterized by intractable fatigue, post-exertional malaise, and orthostatic intolerance, but its pathophysiology is poorly understood. Pharmacologic cholinergic stimulation was used to test the hypothesis that neurovascular dysregulation underlies exercise intolerance in ME/CFS.

Research Question: Does neurovascular dysregulation contribute to exercise intolerance in ME/CFS and can its treatment improve exercise capacity?

Methods: Forty-five subjects with ME/CFS were enrolled in a single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Subjects were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive a 60 mg dose of oral pyridostigmine or placebo after an invasive cardiopulmonary exercise test (iCPET). A second iCPET was performed 50 minutes later. The primary end point was the difference in peak exercise oxygen uptake (VO2). Secondary end points included exercise pulmonary and systemic hemodynamics and gas exchange.

Results: Twenty-three subjects were assigned to pyridostigmine and 22 to placebo. The peak VO2 increased after pyridostigmine but decreased after placebo (13.3 ± 13.4 mL/min vs. -40.2 ± 21.3 mL/min, P<0.05). The treatment effect of pyridostigmine was 53.6 mL/min (95% CI, -105.2 to -2.0). Peak versus rest VO2 (25.9 ± 15.3 mL/min vs. -60.8 ± 25.6 mL/min, P<0.01), cardiac output (-0.2 ± 0.6 L/min vs. -1.9 ± 0.6 L/min, P<0.05), and RAP (1.0 ± 0.5 mm Hg vs. -0.6 ± 0.5 mm Hg, P<0.05) were greater in the pyridostigmine group compared to placebo.

Interpretation: Pyridostigmine improves peak VO2 in ME/CFS by increasing cardiac output and right ventricular filling pressures. Worsening peak exercise VO2, Qc, and RAP after placebo may signal the onset of post-exertional malaise. We suggest treatable neurovascular dysregulation underlies acute exercise intolerance in ME/CFS.

Abbreviations List: Ca-vO2 (arterial-venous oxygen content difference), iCPET (Invasive cardiopulmonary exercise test), MAP (Mean arterial pressure), mPAP (Mean pulmonary artery pressure), ME/CFS (Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome), PASC (Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection), PAWP (Pulmonary arterial wedge pressure), POTS (Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), Qc (Cardiac output), RAP (Right atrial pressure), SE (Standard error), SFN (Small fiber neuropathy), VE/VCO2 (Ventilatory efficiency), VO2 (Oxygen uptake)

Source: Phillip Joseph, MD, Rosa Pari, MD, Sarah Miller, BS, Arabella Warren, BS, Mary Catherine Stovall, BS, Johanna Squires, MSc, Chia-Jung Chang, PhD, Wenzhong Xiao, PhD, Aaron B. Waxman, MD, PhD, David M. Systrom, MD. Neurovascular Dysregulation and Acute Exercise Intolerance in ME/CFS: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Pyridostigmine. Chest, Published: May 05, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2022.04.146

Acute effect of pyridostigmine in exertional intolerance in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial

Rationale: One third of patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) have evidence of small fiber neuropathy (SFN). Neurovascular dysregulation during upright exercise may be associated with impaired venoconstriction resulting in low biventricular filling pressures and impaired arteriolar constriction resulting in a mismatch between perfusion and skeletal muscle metabolism. We hypothesize that pyridostigmine, a reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, may improve vascular regulation and exercise tolerance in ME/CFS by increasing sympathetic outflow.

Methods: 45 subjects (39 women, 6 men) with ME/CFS were assessed. A baseline invasive cardiopulmonary exercise test (iCPET) was performed to confirm presence of low peak exercise RAP (<6.5mmHg). Eligible subjects were blindly administered placebo (n=22) or 60mg pyridostigmine (n=23) at a 1:1 ratio. A second iCPET was performed following a 50 minute combined rest and dosing period. Serial iCPET results were compared to assess changes in oxygen uptake at peak exercise (VO2 max). Secondary outcomes included subject ventilatory efficiency (VE/VCO2), peak hemodynamic response (RAP, PCWP, SV, Qt), systemic gas exchange (Ca-vO2/Hgb), and subjective reporting of dyspnea and fatigue. Results: 39 subjects (all women) were considered in data analysis. There was a significant increase in VO2 max between iCPET 1 and iCPET 2 in the treatment group when compared with the placebo group (p = 0.043).

There was a significant decrease in the placebo group and a significant increase in the treatment group in VO2 (p = 0.008), Qt (p = 0.039), and RAP (p = 0.045) when comparing iCPET 1 peak – rest and iCPET 2 peak – rest between groups. There were no significant differences in peak arteriovenous oxygen content difference (Ca-vO2/Hgb). 38% of subjects had objective evidence of SFN with no statistically significant difference between groups.

Conclusion: Using pyridostigmine as an investigative tool, this study suggests that neurovascular dysregulation underlies acute exercise intolerance in ME/CFS. Additionally, we have new evidence that worsening vascular dysregulation results from prior exercise, which sheds insight into the post exertional malaise that is a hallmark of this syndrome.

Source: M. Stovall, P. Joseph, R. Pari, A. Warren, S. Miller, J. Squires, W. Xiao, A.B. Waxman, D.M. Systrom. Acute effect of pyridostigmine in exertional intolerance in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. American Journal of Respiratory and Clinical Care Medicine, Vol 205, p A2063, May 2022. https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2022.205.1_MeetingAbstracts.A2063

Plasma metabolomics reveals disrupted response and recovery following maximal exercise in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Abstract:

Post-exertional malaise (PEM) is a hallmark symptom of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). We monitored the evolution of 1,157 plasma metabolites in 60 ME/CFS cases (45 females, 15 males) and in 45 matched healthy control subjects (30 females, 15 males) before and after two maximal Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test (CPET) challenges separated by 24 hours, with the intent of provoking PEM in patients. Four timepoints allowed exploration of the metabolic response to maximal energy-producing capacity and the recovery pattern of ME/CFS cases compared to the healthy control group.

Baseline comparison identified several significantly different metabolites, along with an enriched percentage of yet-to-be identified compounds. Additionally, temporal measures demonstrated an increased metabolic disparity between cohorts, including unknown metabolites. The effects of exertion in the ME/CFS cohort predominantly highlighted lipid- as well as energy-related pathways and chemical structure clusters, which were disparately affected by the first and second exercise sessions.

The 24-hour recovery period was distinct in the ME/CFS cohort, with over a quarter of the identified pathways statistically different. The pathways that are uniquely different 24 hours after an exercise challenge provide clues to metabolic disruptions that lead to PEM. Numerous altered pathways were observed to depend on glutamate metabolism, a crucial component to the homeostasis of many organs in the body, including the brain.

Source: Germain A, Giloteaux L, Moore GE, Levine SM, Chia JK, Keller BA, Stevens J, Franconi CJ, Mao X, Shungu DC, Grimson A, Hanson MR. Plasma metabolomics reveals disrupted response and recovery following maximal exercise in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. JCI Insight. 2022 Mar 31:e157621. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.157621. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35358096. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35358096/