In this third study by researchers from New York using neuroimaging they investigated a pathophysiological model which postulated that elevations of CSF lactate in patients with CFS might be caused by increased oxidative stress, cerebral hypoperfusion and/or secondary mitochondrial dysfunction.
In exploratory correlation analyses, they found that levels of ventricular lactate and cortical glutathione (GSH) were inversely correlated, and significantly associated with several key indices of physical health and disability.
In two previous studies they had found significantly higher levels of ventricular cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lactate in patients with CFS.
Collectively, the results of this third independent study support a pathophysiological model of CFS in which increased oxidative stress may play a key role in CFS etiopathophysiology
