Eight molecules identified that could improve diagnosis of chronic fatigue
This is an important breakthrough for treating this disease, which nowadays affects an estimated one in 1,000 people in Spain.
By Biocat
Researchers at the IrsiCaixa Institute for AIDS Research and the Health Sciences Research Institute of the Germans Trias i Pujol Foundation have identified eight molecules that could be used to perfect detection of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The study shows that there are alterations in these proteins associated with decreased immune response. This breakthrough "could lead to faster, more reliable diagnosis of this pathology that is currently poorly defined on a molecular level," explains Dr. Julià Blanco, coordinator of the study and head of the Health Sciences Research Institute of the Germans Trias i Pujol Cell Virology and Immunology Group.
Chronic fatigue is a highly complex disease that affects the immune, neurological, cardiovascular and endocrine systems. In addition to causing constant tiredness that isn’t helped by resting, it also makes it difficult to concentrate and leads to increased sensitivity to light, emotional stress and physical exercise. Patients tend to become more inactive, as CFS can also cause muscle and joint pain, insomnia, headaches and constant flu-like symptoms. Doctors currently diagnose this syndrome by evaluating these symptoms and only after ruling out other possibilities. In Spain, this disease affects an estimated one in 1,000 people, but global figures are between 2.4 and 4.2 in 1,000, according to an article in Population Health Metrics (PHM).
To carry out this research, published in the Journal of Translational Medicine, researchers analyzed and compared more than 100 immunological traits. In patients with CFS, they found that these eight molecules showed alterations, which means they can serve as biomarkers to detect the syndrome. Although the causes are currently unknown, Julià Blanco highlights the importance of this discovery saying that the "connection between CFS and the immune system is key to moving forward towards a complete description of the clinical profile of those suffering from this disease." Dr. Blanco urges researchers to delve deeper into the role other biological systems play and points out that the results obtained must be confirmed in additional studies.
Others that have collaborated on this work include the Chronic Fatigue group at the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) and the Tarragona CFS Clinic, as well as various patients’ associations.
Original article:
- Screening NK-, B- and T-cell phenotype and function in patients suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Authors: Marta Curriu, Jorge Carrillo, Marta Massanella, Josepa Rigau, José Alegre, Jordi Puig, Ana M Garcia-Quintana, Jesus Castro-Marrero, Eugènia Negredo, Bonaventura Clotet, Cecilia Cabrera and Julià Blanco. Journal of Translational Medicine. 20 mar 2013.
Related articles:
- Prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome in metropolitan, urban, and rural Georgia. Authors: William C Reeves, James F Jones, Elizabeth Maloney, Christine Heim, David C Hoaglin, Roumiana S Boneva, Marjorie Morrissey, Rebecca Devlin. Population Health Metrics. 8 Jun 2007.
- Cognitive Dysfunction related to Subjective reports of mental fatigue in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndome. Authors: Lucile Capuron, Leonie Welberg, Christine Heim, Dieter Wagner, Laura Solomon, Dimitris A Papanicolaou, R Cameron Craddock, Andrew H Miller and William C Reeves. Neuropsychopharmacology (Nature). 4 Gen 2006.