Chronic Fatique Syndrome

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Chronic Fatique Syndrome

, 1999; Fukuda, 1994). Depression is a common symptom reported by CFS patients. Studies have indicated that the depression described may be due to CFS rather than a psychiatric disorder (Evengard et al.). CFS patients have reported that their symptoms seriously affect all levels of functioning. Everyday tasks were described as requiring excessive effort. Also reported were sleep disturbances and fatigue resulting in a decreased quality of life (Wagner-Raphael, Jason & Ferrari, 1999).

No pathognomonic signs or diagnostic tests for CFS have been validated in scientific studies and no definitive treatment exists. Many illnesses however, are characterized by chronic fatigue as a major symptom, one of which is chronic depression. Biochemical imbalances have been identified as potential causal factors in diseases such as depression and long-term autoimmune diseases (Gimenez, Cash, Laing & Douglas, 1999; Wilson et al., 1996). This raises the possibility that an imbalance may lead to the identification of a CFS causing mechanism such as C-1 esterase inhibitor.

C-1 esterase inhibitor deficiency has been identified as resulting in hereditary and acquired angio-neurotic edema (HANE, AANE). C-1 esterase inhibitor deficiency results in unchecked classical complement

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Hartz, Kuhn, Bentler, Levine, and London (1999) studied patient characteristics of 199 subjects with chronic fatigue. Subjects were at least 18 years of age and suffered from fatigue for at least 6 months. Idiopathic chronic fatigue was distinguished from CFS; patients with baseline characteristics that were similar to CFS demonstrated less fatigue improvement. Patients with less unclear thinking, less somatoform symptoms, and infrequent awakening showed more fatigue improvement.

Research (Jeffcoate, 1999) has not reached a consensus regarding fatigue found in patients with myalgic encephalitis (ME) and CFS. Because those with ME or CFS may suffer from cortisol deficiency, resulting in fatigue and other symptoms, hydrocortisone has been used for treatment of both. In a study of 32 CFS patients, scores for fatigue levels fell to normal levels in nine subjects (Jeffcoate). Research studies using Chalder et al.�s Fatigue Scale were not found. Studies regarding chronic fatigue agreed that the type of fatigue associated with CSF was unique to this disease. Brain abnormalities have been demonstrated for CFS patients and other sources of fatigue are ruled out for a CFS diagnosos. Confusion still exists, however, regarding differences in fatigue for ME and CFS.

Davis (1989) stated that the C-1 esterase inhibitor was the only plasma protease inhibitor of activated C-1r and C-1s, the serine protease subcomponents of the first complement component. Davis indicated that the C-1 esterase inhibitor was also the major inhibitor of plasma kallikrein and of coagulation factor XIIa. The C-1 esterase inhibitor consists of a single polypeptide chain of 478 amino acid residues, and is the most heavily glycosylated plasma protein.

Beck, A. T., & Beck, R. W. (1972 December). Screening depressed patients in family practice: A rapid technique. Postgraduate Medicine, 81-85.

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		C-1 INH \| XI VIII \| Edema Acquired \| Imaging SPECT \| Fukuda Gantz \| Nursing Model \| Beck Beck \| Wuthrich Butler \| CFS Kurlowicz \| C1 INH \| c-1 esterase \| c-1 esterase inhibitor \| esterase inhibitor \| et al \| cfs patients \| chronic fatigue \| inhibitor deficiency \| esterase inhibitor deficiency \| hane patients \| c-1 inh \| fatigue syndrome \| chronic fatigue syndrome \| activities daily living \| fatigue depression \| et al 1999 \|