Sex Differences in Hemodynamic Response to Exercise in Patients With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: Insights From Invasive Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing

Abstract:

Abstract available online: https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2023.207.1_MeetingAbstracts.A2995

Source: K. Wichmann Madsen, J. Squires, M.C. Stovall, S. Al-Zayer, C.-J. Chang, W. Xiao, R. Pari, P. Joseph, D.M. Systrom. Sex Differences in Hemodynamic Response to Exercise in Patients With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: Insights From Invasive Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 2023;207:A2995 https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2023.207.1_MeetingAbstracts.A2995

Reproducibility of Measurements Obtained During Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Individuals With Fatiguing Health Conditions – A Case Series

Abstract:

Purpose: Measurements obtained during maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) demonstrate high test–retest reliability, which indicates low error variance. However, measurements obtained from people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) may depart from typically observed high reproducibility, which could represent functionally relevant biological variability that is characteristic of the underlying pathophysiology. The purpose of this case series was to document individual experiences with test–retest variability in CPET measurements in individuals with ME/CFS compared with other fatiguing health conditions.

Methods: In this case series, 6 women matched for age and body mass index underwent 2 maximal CPETs spaced 24 hours apart. Clients comprised 1 sedentary individual without fatigue, 1 active individual without fatigue, 1 individual with multiple sclerosis (MS), 1 individual diagnosed with HIV, 1 individual with ME/CFS and low maximal volume of oxygen consumed (VO2max), and 1 high-functioning individual with ME/CFS and high VO2max. Percent change in CPET measurements between tests was calculated for each client.

Results: Nondisabled clients and clients with MS and HIV reproduced or improved in their volume of oxygen consumed (VO2), workload (WL), heart rate (HR), and minute ventilation (VE) at ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT) and at peak exercise (except peak WL and VE for the individual with HIV). Neither individual with ME/CFS reproduced VO2, WL, HR, or VE at VAT within literature estimates.

Conclusions: Measurements during CPET for individual patients may relate to potential condition-specific deficits in cardiac, pulmonary, and metabolic functioning.

Source: Larson, Benjamin PT, DPT1; Davenport, Todd E. PT, DPT, MPH, OCS2,3; Stevens, Staci R. MA3; Stevens, Jared BS3; Van Ness, J. Mark PhD3,4; Snell, Christopher R. PhD3. Reproducibility of Measurements Obtained During Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Individuals With Fatiguing Health Conditions: A Case Series. Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy Journal: October 2019 – Volume 30 – Issue 4 – p 145-152 doi: 10.1097/CPT.0000000000000100 https://journals.lww.com/cptj/Abstract/2019/10000/Reproducibility_of_Measurements_Obtained_D%20uring.4.aspx

Cardiopulmonary responses to exercise in an individual with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome during long-term treatment with intravenous saline: A case study

Abstract:

BACKGROUND:Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) causes significant impairment in daily activities, including the ability to pursue daily activities. Chronotropic intolerance is becoming better characterized in ME/CFS and may be the target of supportive treatment.

OBJECTIVE:To document the effect of repeated intravenous (IV) saline administration on cardiovascular functioning and symptoms in a 38-year old female with ME/CFS.

METHODS:The patient received 1 L of 0.9% IV saline through a central line for a total of 675 days. Single CPETs were completed periodically to assess the effect of treatment on cardiopulmonary function at peak exertion and ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT). An open-ended symptom questionnaire was used to assess subjective responses to CPET and self-reported recovery time.

RESULTS:Improvements were noted in volume of oxygen consumed (VO2), heart rate (HR), and systolic blood pressure (SBP) at peak and VAT. Self-reported recovery time from CPET reduced from 5 days to 1–2 days by the end of treatment. The patient reported improved quality of life related, improved capacity for activities of daily living, and reduced symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS:IV saline may promote beneficial effects for cardiopulmonary function and symptoms in people with ME/CFS, which should be the focus of formal study.

Source: Davenport, Todd E., Ward, Michael K., Stevens, Staci R., Stevens, Jared, Snell, Christopher R., VanNess, J. Mark. Cardiopulmonary responses to exercise in an individual with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome during long-term treatment with intravenous saline: A case study. Work, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-7, 2020 https://content.iospress.com/articles/work/wor203214

Physical Activity Measures in Patients With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Correlations Between Peak Oxygen Consumption, the Physical Functioning Scale of the SF-36 Questionnaire, and the Number of Steps From an Activity Meter

Abstract:

Background: Most studies to assess effort intolerance in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) have used questionnaires. Few studies have compared questionnaires with objective measures like an actometer or an exercise test. This study compared three measures of physical activity in ME/CFS patients: the physical functioning scale (PFS) of the SF-36, the number of steps/day (Steps) using an actometer, and the %peak VO2 of a cardiopulmonary stress test.

Methods: Female ME/CFS patients were selected from a clinical database if the three types of measurements were available, and the interval between measurements was ≤ 3 months. Data from the three measures were compared by linear regression.

Results: In 99 female patients the three different measures were linearly, significantly, and positively correlated (PFS vs Steps, PFS vs %peak VO2 and Steps vs %peak VO2: all P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that the relations between the three measures were not different in patients with versus without fibromyalgia and with versus without a maximal exercise effort (RER ≥ 1.1). In 20 patients re-evaluated for symptom worsening, the mean of all three measures was significantly lower (P < 0.0001), strengthening the observation of the relations between them. Despite the close correlation, we observed a large variation between the three measures in individual patients.

Conclusions: Given the large variation in ME/CFS patients, the use of only one type of measurement is inadequate. Integrating the three modalities may be useful for patient care by detecting overt discrepancies in activity and may inform studies that compare methods of improving exercise capacity.

Source: van Campen CMC, Rowe PC, Verheugt FWA, Visser FC. Physical activity measures in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: correlations between peak oxygen consumption, the physical functioning scale of the SF-36 questionnaire, and the number of steps from an activity meter. J Transl Med. 2020;18(1):228. Published 2020 Jun 8. doi:10.1186/s12967-020-02397-7 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32513266/

Abnormal blood lactate accumulation during repeated exercise testing in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

Post-exertional malaise and delayed recovery are hallmark symptoms of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Studies on repeated cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) show that previous exercise negatively affects oxygen uptake (VO2 ) and power output (PO) in ME/CFS. Whether this affects arterial lactate concentrations ([Laa ]) is unknown.

We studied 18 female patients (18-50 years) fulfilling the Canadian Consensus Criteria for ME/CFS and 15 healthy females (18-50 years) who underwent repeated CPETs 24 h apart (CPET1 and CPET2 ) with [Laa ] measured every 30th second. VO2 at peak exercise (VO2 peak) was lower in patients than in controls on CPET1 (P < 0.001) and decreased in patients on CPET2 (P < 0.001).

However, the difference in VO2peak between CPETs did not differ significantly between groups. [Laa ] per PO was higher in patients during both CPETs (Pinteraction < 0.001), but increased in patients and decreased in controls from CPET1 to CPET2 (Pinteraction < 0.001). Patients had lower VO2 (P = 0.02) and PO (P = 0.002) at the gas exchange threshold (GET, the point where CO2 production increases relative to VO2 ), but relative intensity (%VO2peak ) and [Laa ] at GET did not differ significantly from controls on CPET1 .

Patients had a reduction in VO2 (P = 0.02) and PO (P = 0.01) at GET on CPET2 , but no significant differences in %VO2peak and [Laa ] at GET between CPETs. Controls had no significant differences in VO2 , PO or %VO2peak at GET between CPETs, but [Laa ] at GET was reduced on CPET2 (P = 0.008).

In conclusion, previous exercise deteriorates physical performance and increases [Laa ] during exercise in patients with ME/CFS while it lowers [Laa ] in healthy subjects.

© 2019 The Authors. Physiological Reports published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The Physiological Society and the American Physiological Society.

Source: Lien K, Johansen B, Veierød MB, Haslestad AS, Bøhn SK, Melsom MN, Kardel KR, Iversen PO. Abnormal blood lactate accumulation during repeated exercise testing in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Physiol Rep. 2019 Jun;7(11):e14138. doi: 10.14814/phy2.14138. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6546966/ (Full article)

Can submaximal exercise variables predict peak exercise performance in women with chronic fatigue syndrome?

Abstract:

This study aimed at examining whether physiological exercise variables at the submaximal level, defined as 75% of the age-predicted target heart rate, are able to predict peak exercise performance in women with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) (n=222). Subjects performed a bicycle ergometric test against a graded increase in workload until exhaustion with continuous monitoring of electrocardiographic and ventilatory variables. Oxygen uptake at the submaximal level (VO2SUBMAX) correlated strongly with peak oxygen uptake (VO2PEAK) (r=0.70). For the prediction of VO2PEAK, linear regression analysis determined the line of best fit as: VO2PEAK=0.95xVO2SUBMAX+372.3. Using this equation, the mean error in the prediction was 14.6+/-11.2% (range 0.1-63.7%). It is concluded that the prediction of VO2PEAK based on VO2SUBMAX might be useful for analyzing group differences or treatment effects but not for individual (clinical) purposes.

Source: Nijs J, Demol S, Wallman K. Can submaximal exercise variables predict peak exercise performance in women with chronic fatigue syndrome? Arch Med Res. 2007 Apr;38(3):350-3. Epub 2007 Jan 30. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17350488

Chronic fatigue syndrome: assessment of increased oxidative stress and altered muscle excitability in response to incremental exercise

Abstract:

OBJECTIVES: Because the muscle response to incremental exercise is not well documented in patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome(CFS), we combined electrophysiological (compound-evoked muscle action potential, M wave), and biochemical (lactic acid production, oxidative stress) measurements to assess any muscle dysfunction in response to a routine cycling exercise.

DESIGN: This case-control study compared 15 CFS patients to a gender-, age- and weight-matched control group (n=11) of healthy subjects.

INTERVENTIONS: All subjects performed an incremental cycling exercise continued until exhaustion.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We measured the oxygen uptake (VO2), heart rate (HR), systemic blood pressure, percutaneous O2 saturation (SpO2), M-wave recording from vastus lateralis, and venous blood sampling allowing measurements of pH (pHv), PO2 (PvO2), lactic acid (LA), and three markers of the oxidative stress (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, TBARS, reduced glutathione, GSH, and ascorbic acid, RAA).

RESULTS: Compared with control, in CFS patients (i) the slope of VO2 versus work load relationship did not differ from control subjects and there was a tendency for an accentuated PvO2 fall at the same exercise intensity, indicating an increased oxygen uptake by the exercising muscles; (ii) the HR and blood pressure responses to exercise did not vary; (iii) the anaerobic pathways were not accentuated; (iv) the exercise-induced oxidative stress was enhanced with early changes in TBARS and RAA and enhanced maximal RAA consumption; and (v) the M-wave duration markedly increased during the recovery period.

CONCLUSIONS: The response of CFS patients to incremental exercise associates a lengthened and accentuated oxidative stress together with marked alterations of the muscle membrane excitability. These two objective signs of muscle dysfunction are sufficient to explain muscle pain and postexertional malaise reported by our patients.

 

Source: Jammes Y, Steinberg JG, Mambrini O, Brégeon F, Delliaux S. Chronic fatigue syndrome: assessment of increased oxidative stress and altered muscle excitability in response to incremental exercise. J Intern Med. 2005 Mar;257(3):299-310. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2796.2005.01452.x/full (Full article)