MAGICAL MEDICINE: HOW TO MAKE AN ILLNESS ... - Invest in ME

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page 381: “Arrhythmias are frequently noted in the first few weeks of illness, then decrease in frequency, only to
return in a chronic form 20 years later”
page 433 (Chapter 49 / Ismael Mena): referring to the need for SPECT scans in ME/CFS patients, Mena states:
ʺThe accuracy and reproducibility of these measurements are justification to evaluate cerebral perfusion
abnormalities in patients with ME/CFS. Most probably, temporal lobe perfusion defects may fingerprint
primary inflammatory changes or secondary vascular impairment in these patients”
page 437: “the diminished uptake of this oxime can be interpreted as due to a) diminished rCBF (regional cerebral
blood flow), b) inflammatory regional changes (present in 71% of patients studied)”
page 598 (Chapter 65 / LO Simpson): ʺif the stasis did not resolve, focal lesions of ischaemic necrosis would developʺ
page 673 (Chapter 75 / J Russell): Dr Jon Russell is a world expert on fibromyalgia (which may be a
comorbidity with ME/CFS: “Fibromyalgia appears to represent an additional burden of suffering amongst those
with ME/CFS”. Buchwald D et al. Rheum Dis Clin N Am 1996:22:2:219‐243) and says about the prevalence of
vasculitis: ʺIt is apparent that some patients with fibromyalgia also exhibit vasculitis with a frequency that has caught
the attention of cliniciansʺ.
Since its publication in 1992, this major medical textbook on ME/CFS has been resolutely ignored by the
Wessely School and by those Government agencies which they advise.
Other references in the literature to cardiovascular problems in ME/CFS
1976
From the earliest reports of ME/CFS, autonomic vasomotor instability has been noted (AM Ramsay, Update:
September 1976:539‐541).
1984
There have been many reports of impaired blood flow in the microcirculation (LO Simpson, NZMJ:1984:698‐
699).
1988
“Evidence of cardiac involvement may be seen: palpitations, severe tachycardia with multiple ectopic beats
and occasional dyspnoea may occur and are quite distressing. It is of great interest that some patients have
evidence of myocarditis” (Behan P. Crit Rev Neurobiol 1988:4:2:157‐178).
1989
“The data are compatible with latent viral effects on cardiac pacemaker cells, or their autonomic control, and skeletal
muscle, that are unmasked by the stress of exercise” (Montague TJ et al. Chest 1989:95:779‐784).
1989
“Persistent viral infections impair the specialised functions of cells. Evidence of persistent enterovirus infection
has been found in both dilated cardiomyopathy and in myalgic encephalomyelitis. Immunological and
metabolic disturbances in ME may result from chronic infection, usually with enteroviruses, providing the organic