Research abstract:

In this study we analyzed the clinical features of a population of Italian patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) diagnosed according to the CDC-1994 criteria. The aim was to investigate CFS patients and their relatives, in order to search for events related to the onset of the disease and to identify correlations with other diseases.

The analysis was carried out by examining medical records belonging to 82 patients suffering from the syndrome. The documentation was collected between 2008 and 2011 and provided by the non-profit Italian organization AMCFS (Associazione Malati di CFS).

The influence of gender on the age of onset and association with potential risk factors were investigated in patients and in their relatives. From the results a significant correlation between the age of onset and autoimmunity was observed.

Excerpt from results:

  • the age of onset is not affected by gender
  • 45.7% suffered from allergies and/or food intolerance
  • 14.6% with autoimmune diseases.
  • 22% of CFS patients have relatives with autoimmune diseases
  • autoimmune conditions in CFS population are: thyroiditis, SLE, diabetes type 1, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and sicca syndrome
  • autoimmune conditions in the relatives’ population are: thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes type 1, myasthenia gravis, thrombocytopenia, and narcolepsy.
  • Depression is present only in CFS patients, with a prevalence of 44%.
  • Hepatitis markers (HBV and HCV) are present in 14 patients, HHV6 markers in 19 patients, Enterovirus in six patients, Borna virus in three patients, and Lyme disease markers in six patients.

Chronic fatigue syndrome: features of a population of patients from northern Italy, by E Capelli, L Lorusso L, M Ghitti, L Venturini, C Cusa, G Ricevuti in International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology Vol. 28, no.1, pp 53-59, March 28, 2015

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