FATIGUE

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Evaluation of aberrant mitochondrial function and cytokine production in skeletal muscle of patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

• IRAS ID

  115612

• Contact name

  Anne McArdle

• Contact email

  mdcr02@liverpool.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Liverpool

• Research summary

  Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating illness characterised by prolonged, disabling fatigue trigged by minimal activity. At least six months of persistent fatigue that greatly reduces the person’s level of activity is required for CFS to be diagnosed. Other symptoms are also associated with CFS including painful muscles and joints, un-refreshing sleep, cognitive impairment including short term memory and concentration and is often associated with depression. As a result individuals can become housebound making education and employment difficult.

  Diagnosis of CFS can be difficult due to other conditions that share the symptoms seen with CFS patients therefore, increasing the time taken for diagnosis. CFS affects people of all ages but, is diagnosed in women more often than men. It is estimated that 250,000 people have CFS in the UK alone. Treatment of CFS is individual to each patient and will depend on the individual patient assessment however; treatments can be grouped into general categories, including:

  a. Cognitive behaviour therapy
  b. Activity and exercise
  c. Drug therapies including antiviral and antidepressants
  d. Dietary supplements

  Cognitive behaviour therapy and graded exercise are the only intervention with evidence of benefiting the effects observed in CFS patients. These therapies are used to tackle the effects of CFS and not at understanding the mechanism that causes it.

  The initiating factors and underlying mechanisms leading to muscle fatigue in CFS are unknown. Due to the time taken for diagnosis, the factors involved in disease initiation are difficult to determine. There is a growing body of research directed toward understanding the biology of fatigue including identifying biomarkers for faster diagnosis, investigating the possibility of a genetic link and the link between immune dysregulation in CFS. This study wishes to address the mechanism underlying skeletal muscle fatigue.

• REC name

  North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  13/NW/0666

• Date of REC Opinion

  12 Nov 2013

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion