Research abstract:
Are current chronic fatigue syndrome criteria diagnosing different disease phenotypes? by Laura Maclachlan, Stuart Watson, Peter Gallagher, Andreas Finkelmeyer, Leonard A. Jason, Madison Sunnquist, Julia L. Newton, in PLoS ONE 12(10) [Published: October 20, 2017]
Importance:
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is characterised by a constellation of symptoms diagnosed with a number of different polythetic criteria. Heterogeneity across these diagnostic criteria is likely to be confounding research into the as-yet-unknown pathophysiology underlying this stigmatised and debilitating condition and may diagnose a disease spectrum with significant implications for clinical management. No studies to date have objectively investigated this possibility using a validated measure of CFS symptoms–the DePaul Symptom Questionnaire (DSQ).
Objective:
To examine whether current CFS diagnostic criteria are identifying different disease phenotypes using the DSQ.
Design:
Case control study.
Setting:
Clinical Research Facility of the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Participants:
49 CFS subjects and ten matched, sedentary community controls, excluded for co-morbid depression.
Main outcomes and measures:
Self-reported autonomic and cognitive features were assessed with the Composite Autonomic Symptom Score (COMPASS) and Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (COGFAIL) respectively.
Objective autonomic cardiovascular parameters were examined using the Task Force® Monitor and a battery of neuropsychological tests administered for objective cognitive assessment.
Results:
Self-reported autonomic and cognitive symptoms were significantly greater in CFS subjects compared to controls. There were no statistically significant differences in objective autonomic measures between CFS and controls. There were clinically significant differences between DSQ subgroups on objective autonomic testing.
Visuospatial memory, verbal memory and psychomotor speed were significantly different between DSQ subgroups.
Conclusions and relevance:
The finding of no significant differences in objective autonomic testing between CFS and control subjects may reflect the inclusion of sedentary controls or exclusion for co-morbid depression. Consistent exclusion criteria would enable better delineation of these two conditions and their presenting symptoms.
Findings across CFS subgroups suggest subjects have a different disease burden on subjective and objective measures of function, autonomic parameters and cognitive impairment when categorised using the DSQ. Different CFS criteria may at best be diagnosing a spectrum of disease severities and at worst different CFS phenotypes or even different diseases. This complicates research and disease management and may contribute to the significant stigma associated with the condition.
Times, 17 October 2017: 
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Action for M.E. is inviting PhD proposals for high-quality biomedical research pilot projects that will address the biology of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.)/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). This call builds on priorities identified by people affected by M.E. through an Action for M.E. survey and is targeted at supporting a PhD studentship for up to three years with up to £46,500, with 50% funding to be matched by the applicant’s university.
