shoutoutaboutme blog post, by Russell Logan, 31 July 2016: 9 potential diagnostic tests for ME/CFS: Highlights of the IACFS submission to NIH RFI on new research strategies
Though there are as yet no readily available, well-accepted, objective diagnostic tests for ME and CFS, work is ongoing in several key areas to develop one.
One objective measure, the 2-day CPET, is gaining acceptance and has been used with success in legal presentations. A drawback to this measure is its potential for harming patients.
And there are good subjective or self-reported diagnostic measures, though these are of limited value in clinical diagnosis.
In its response to the recent NIH solicitation for input into new research strategies for ME/CFS, the International Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (IACFS/ME) documented emerging opportunities, research needs, and continuing challenges, but in particular highlighted promising work on developing a diagostic test or biological marker for the illness.
The IACFS/ME authors — Lily Chu, Fred Friedberg, Staci Stevens, Steve Krafchick, and Jon Kaiser — noted: “Some tests might not be suitable for clinical use but might provide a gold standard test for research purposes [and] may also provide clues to the pathophysiology of this disease and even to future treatments.”
“They identified 9 key areas of investigation requiring urgent need of government support and funding.”
Read more about these key areas of investigation into testing for ME and CFS.
- LOW NATURAL KILLER CELL ACTIVITY
- 2-DAY REPEATED CARDIOPULMONARY EXERCISE TESTING
- NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING RELATED TO INFORMATION PROCESSING
- TILT TABLE TESTING
- NEUROINFLAMMATION
- UNREFRESHING SLEEP, HEART RATE VARIABILITY, AND SYMPATHETIC PREDOMINANCE
- FAMILIAL STUDIES
- ENERGY METABOLISM ISSUES AND LACTATE PROCESSING IN MUSCLE AND BRAIN
- POST-INFECTIOUS TRIGGERS
Great. We really need some way to identify ME but of course, if these are not conclusive it wll leave the person is a worse place, ill but being told, yet again, the tests say you are ok. The exercise one is very difficult, of course! But with most people the first attempt to do it could show that they can’t, but some people, unfamiliar with their own condition and not linked into the information could go into the exercise with great effort in order to determine their condition and end up making themselves much worse. If one had to perform even for 5 minutes, and physically managed to do so, they could have a serious reaction. It would maybe prove their condition but seriously damage their health in the process.