Cardiovascular characteristics of chronic fatigue syndrome

Bozzini,Sara; Albergati,Andrea; Capelli,Enrica; Lorusso,Lorenzo; Gazzaruso,Carmine; Pelissero,Gabriele; Falcone,Colomba

doi:10.3892/br.2017.1024

Cardiovascular characteristics of chronic fatigue syndrome

Authors:
- Sara Bozzini
- Andrea Albergati
- Enrica Capelli
- Lorenzo Lorusso
- Carmine Gazzaruso
- Gabriele Pelissero
- Colomba Falcone
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Affiliations: Interdepartmental Center for Research in Molecular Medicine (CIRMC), University of Pavia, I-27100 Pavia, Italy, Department of Neurology, Istituti Clinici di Pavia e Vigevano, University Hospital, I-27100 Pavia, Italy, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, I-27100 Pavia, Italy, Department of Neurology, Mellino Mellini Hospital, I-25082 Chiari BS, Italy, IRCCS San Donato Hospital, San Donato Milanese, I-20097 Milan, Italy
Published online on: November 28, 2017 https://doi.org/10.3892/br.2017.1024
Pages: 26-30

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Abstract

Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) commonly exhibit orthostatic intolerance. Abnormal sympathetic predominance in the autonomic cardiovascular response to gravitational stimuli was previously described in numerous studies. The aim of the current study was to describe cardiological and clinical characteristics of Italian patients with CFS. All of the patients were of Caucasian ethnicity and had been referred to our center, the Cardiology Department of the University Hospital of Pavia (Pavia, Italy) with suspected CFS. A total of 44 patients with suspected CFS were included in the present study and the diagnosis was confirmed in 19 patients according to recent clinical guidelines. The characteristics at baseline of the population confirm findings from various previous reports regarding the prevalence in females with a female to male ratio of 4:1, the age of onset of the pathology and the presence of previous infection by the Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus and other human herpesviruses. Despite the current data indicating that the majority of the cardiological parameters investigated are not significantly different in patients with and without CFS, a significant association between the disease and low levels of blood pressure was identified. Other pilot studies revealed a higher prevalence of hypotension and orthostatic intolerance in patients with CFS. Furthermore, many of the CFS symptoms, including fatigue, vertigo, decreased concentration, tremors and nausea, may be explained by hypotension.

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