Category Ranking

98%

Total Visits

921

Avg Visit Duration

2 minutes

Citations

20

Article Abstract

Background: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is defined according to subjective symptoms only, and several conflicting case definition exist. Previous research has discovered certain biological alterations. The aim of the present study was to explore possible subgroups based on biological markers within a widely defined cohort of adolescent CFS patients and investigate to what extent eventual subgroups are associated with other variables.

Methods: The Norwegian Study of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Adolescents: Pathophysiology and Intervention Trial (NorCAPITAL) has previously performed detailed investigation of immunological, autonomic, neuroendocrine, cognitive and sensory processing functions in an adolescent group of CFS patients recruited according to wide diagnostic criteria. In the present study, hierarchical cluster analyses (Ward's method) were performed using representative variables from all these domains. Associations between clusters and constitutional factors (including candidate genetic markers), diagnostic criteria, subjective symptoms and prognosis were explored by standard statistical methods.

Results: A total of 116 patients (26.7% males, mean age 15.4 years) were included. The final cluster analyses revealed six clusters labelled pain tolerant & good cognitions, restored HPA dynamics, orthostatic intolerance, low-grade inflammation, pain intolerant & poor cognitions, and high vagal (parasympathetic) activity, respectively. There was substantial overlap between clusters. The pain intolerant & poor cognitions-cluster was associated with low functional abilities and quality of life, and adherence to the Canada 2003 diagnostic criteria for CFS. No other statistically significant cluster associations were discovered.

Conclusion: Within a widely defined cohort of adolescent CFS patients, clusters could be delineated, but no distinct subgroups could be identified. Associations between clusters and constitutional factors, subjective symptoms and prognosis were scarce. These results question the clinical usefulness of searching for CFS subgroups, as well as the validity of the most "narrow" CFS diagnostic criteria.

Trial Registration: Clinical Trials NCT01040429.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7847574PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12967-021-02713-9DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

chronic fatigue
12
subjective symptoms
12
cfs patients
12
diagnostic criteria
12
biological markers
8
fatigue syndrome
8
defined cohort
8
cohort adolescent
8
adolescent cfs
8
cluster analyses
8

Similar Publications

Do psycho-behavioural interventions improve mental and physical health in chronic kidney disease? A systematic review of randomised controlled trials.

J Nephrol

September 2025

Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Health Psychology Section, King's College London, 5th Floor Bermondsey Wing, Guy's Campus, London Bridge, London, SE1 9RT, UK.

Background: Depression and anxiety are common in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and worsen clinical outcomes. Psycho-behavioural interventions offer a promising, non-pharmacological approach. However, most evidence comes from people with kidney failure with distinct treatment needs, limiting relevance to earlier stages of CKD, where timely support may enhance self-management and slow progression.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Acupuncture and moxibustion (AM) are effective for pain relief and chronic disease management but carry risks of adverse events (AEs). Japan prioritizes AM safety, and Hiroshima University Hospital Kampo Clinical Center (HUHKCC) follows strict professional standards to ensure both safety and efficacy.

Objectives: The study analyzes AM-related AEs in Japan over the past decade, compares them with HUHKCC practices, and proposes risk mitigation strategies.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: In patients with moderate COPD, response to pulmonary rehabilitation including exercise training varies according to the presence of peripheral muscle fatigue (pMF) of quadriceps. This study investigates the role of pMF in predicting pulmonary rehabilitation outcomes in more severe COPD patients who have already developed chronic respiratory failure (COPD-CRF).

Methods: A analysis of a prospective randomised controlled trial was performed at Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri Lumezzane (Brescia, Italy), involving 30 COPD-CRF patients undergoing a pulmonary rehabilitation programme comprising 20 endurance training sessions.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and Gulf War Illness (GWI) have similar profiles of pain (nociception), visceral interoception, and tenderness (central sensitization) that may be due to dysfunction of midbrain and medulla descending antinociceptive and antiinteroceptive mechanisms. If so, then dolorimetry, a proxy for tenderness, may be correlated with subjective symptoms. The relationship with fatigue was assessed in Chronic Idiopathic Fatigue (CIF).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF