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

2001
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“As a group, the ME/CFS patients demonstrated significantly lower cardiovascular as well as ventilatory
values compared with the control group. These results indicate either cardiac or peripheral insufficiency
embedded in the pathology of ME/CFS” (Inbar O et al. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2001:33:9:1463‐1470).
2001
“The haemodynamic instability score differed significantly between ME/CFS and other groups” (Naschitz JE
et al. Semin Arthritis Rheum 2001:31:3:199‐208).
2002
According to Peter Rowe, Professor of Paediatrics at Johns Hopkins and an ME/CFS specialist: “Several
groups have shown that ME/CFS patients have abnormal regulation of heart rate and blood pressure, as
well as high rates of allergic disease. About a third of ME/CFS studies have identified low urinary and serum
levels of cortisol” (Co‐Cure MED: 3 rd May 2002; see also Peter C Rowe, Journal of Paediatrics 2002:140:387‐
388).
2003
“The main symptom of the ME/CFS patient, i.e. chronic fatigue that is greatly exacerbated by even minor
effort, is similar to that of a patient with left ventricular dysfunction. We performed nuclear ventriculography
(MUGA / radioisotopic multiple gated acquisition used to perform a series of dynamic studies of the heart to assess for
evidence of abnormalities with myocardial function) stress tests in ME/CFS patients and controls. During maximal
exercise, ejection fraction (EF) increased in controls but declined in ME/CFS patients. The decreases tended
to be greater in patients with more severe symptoms. These data support the hypothesis that some cases of
ME/CFS may be explained and potentially treated as a problem with left ventricular function” (A
Peckerman B Natelson et al. FASEB 2003:17:5 Suppl: Part 2: A853).
This study was summarised by Donna Krupa, APS Newsroom, 10 th April 2003: “Growing evidence points to a
possible problem with circulation. Studies have found that ME/CFS patients may have reduced blood flow in
exercising muscles. A new study provides indication of reduced cardiac function in some patients with ME/CFS. It
raises the possibility that some ME/CFS patients may have cardiac disorders that are subtle enough to escape the
current net of clinical cardiological diagnoses, but may be significant enough in some patients to lead to the clinical
syndrome of ME/CFS”.
2003
“Cardiovascular reactivity is defined as the change on blood pressure, heart rate, or other haemodynamic parameters in
response to physical or mental stimuli. 13 variables showed significant differences between ME/CFS patients
and controls. The degree of arterial stiffness of the large arteries affects both the cardiovascular reactivity and the
pulse wave velocity. The FRAS (Fractal & Recurrence Analysis‐based Score) differs between the groups of healthy
persons, hypertensives, and ME/CFS patients. The HIS (haemodynamic instability score) distinguished ME/CFS
from healthy subjects with 97% sensitivity and 97% specificity. Based on these data, it appears that the HIS can
provide objective criteria (in) the assessment of ME/CFS” (JE Naschitz et al. Journal of Human Hypertension
2003:17:111‐118).
2003
“Accumulating evidence points to a problem with circulation in ME/CFS. Although abnormalities in single
systems may be insufficient to cause a circulatory dysfunction, cumulatively they could produce significant
deficiencies in organ blood flow and symptoms. We hypothesised that patients with ME/CFS have reduced