Clinical descriptions of chronic fatigue syndrome

The clinical descriptions of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) vary. Different agencies and scientific bodies have produced different guidelines to define the condition, with some overlap of symptoms between descriptions. Aspects of the condition are controversial, with disagreements over etiology, pathophysiology, treatment and naming between medical practitioners, researchers, patients and advocacy groups. Subgroup analysis suggests that, depending on the applied definition, the CFS population may represent a variety of conditions rather than a single disease entity.

Definitions

CDC 1994 criteria

The most widely used diagnostic criteria for CFS[1] are the 1994 research guidelines proposed by the "International Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Study Group", led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.[2][3] These criteria are sometimes called the "Fukuda definition" after the first author (Keiji Fukuda) of the publication. The 1994 CDC criteria specify the following conditions must be met:

Primary symptoms

Clinically evaluated, unexplained, persistent or relapsing chronic fatigue that is:

Additional requirements

The concurrent occurrence of four or more of the following symptoms, all of which must have persisted or recurred during six or more consecutive months of illness and must not have predated the fatigue:

  1. self-reported impairment in short-term memory or concentration severe enough to cause substantial reduction in previous levels of occupational, educational, social, or personal activities;
  2. sore throat;
  3. tender cervical or axillary lymph nodes;
  4. muscle pain;
  5. multi-joint pain without joint swelling or redness;
  6. headaches of a new type, pattern, or severity;
  7. unrefreshing sleep;
  8. post-exertional malaise lasting more than 24 hours.
Final requirement

All other known causes of chronic fatigue must have been ruled out, specifically clinical depression, side effects of medication, eating disorders and substance abuse.

The clinical evaluation should include:

  1. A thorough history that covers medical and psychosocial circumstances at the onset of fatigue; depression or other psychiatric disorders; episodes of medically unexplained symptoms; alcohol or other substance abuse; and current use of prescription and over-the-counter medications and food supplements;
  2. A mental status examination to identify abnormalities in mood, intellectual function, memory, and personality. Particular attention should be directed toward current symptoms of depression or anxiety, self-destructive thoughts, and observable signs such as psychomotor retardation. Evidence of a psychiatric or neurologic disorder requires that an appropriate psychiatric, psychological, or neurologic evaluation be done;
  3. A thorough physical examination;
  4. A minimum battery of laboratory screening tests, including complete blood count with leukocyte differential; erythrocyte sedimentation rate; serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, total protein, albumin, globulin, alkaline phosphatase, calcium, phosphorus, glucose, blood urea nitrogen, electrolytes, and creatinine; determination of thyroid-stimulating hormone; and urinalysis.

Other diagnostic tests have no recognized value unless indicated on an individual basis to confirm or exclude a differential diagnosis, such as multiple sclerosis.

CDC 1988 criteria

The initial chronic fatigue syndrome definition was published in 1988. It is also called the "Holmes definition", after the manuscript's first author.[4] Unlike the 1994 CDC criteria, the Holmes criteria exclude patients with psychiatric diagnoses and require the presence of eight secondary symptoms, not just four.

Oxford 1991 criteria

The Oxford criteria was published in 1991[5] and include both CFS of unknown etiology and a subtype of CFS called post-infectious fatigue syndrome (PIFS), which "either follows an infection or is associated with a current infection." Important differences are that the presence of mental fatigue is necessary to fulfill the criteria and symptoms are accepted that may suggest a psychiatric disorder.[1]

Canadian 2003 criteria

A clinical case definition for ME/CFS was initiated by Health Canada and published by an international group of researchers in 2003.[6] Diagnosis requires "two or more neurological/cognitive manifestations" and one or more symptoms from at least two of the categories of autonomic, neuroendocrine and immune manifestations, in addition to multiple major criteria of fatigue, post exertional malaise and/or fatigue, chronic pain and sleep dysfunction. The definition is also referred to as the Canadian consensus criteria.[7]

An important difference is that the Canadian definition excludes patients with symptoms of mental illness.[1] It was updated in 2010 to provide greater specification to the original. Functional impairment must be below defined thresholds in two of the three designated subscales of the Short Form 36 Health Survey i.e. Vitality, Social Functioning, and Role-Physical. Criterion symptoms which predate fatigue onset can now be counted towards diagnosis, and individuals "who do not meet the fatigue criterion may still obtain a Clinical ME/CFS diagnosis if they meet the other five criteria".[8]

London criteria

The London criteria were designed for research purposes and used by AFME in all the studies funded by them until the mid 90s. An incomplete version edited by Nick Anderson (CEO of AFME) was published in a 1994 report. These revised criteria require exercise-induced fatigue; memory and concentration impairment, normally accompanied by other neurological or psychological symptoms; and variability of symptoms, often brought on by mental or physical activity.[9] In light of the advances in understanding of ME and CFS, the criteria for ME as described by Ramsay and others were updated in 2009.[10] These have been cited in articles and are currently being evaluated, for example, in studies to ascertain differences between patients selected using different case definitions.[11]

2011 'international consensus criteria' for ME

Developed by a group of 26 individuals from 13 countries and consisting of clinicians, researchers, teaching faculty and an independent patient advocate. Based on the 2003 "Canadian" definition by Carruthers et al., chronic fatigue is no longer required and the six-month waiting period before diagnosis has been dropped. The main symptom is "post-exertional neuroimmune exhaustion" (PENE) i.e. low stamina, rapid fatigability, symptom exacerbation, and variable onset with prolonged recovery; which is also accompanied by symptoms from neurological, immune/gastro-intestinal/genitourinary, and energy metabolism/transport impairment categories, and at least a 50% reduction in activity which is described as "mild".[12]

National guidelines

National guidelines, based upon some or all of the above diagnostic criteria, have been produced by several national bodies, for example in Australia in 2002[13] and in the United Kingdom in 2007.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in England and Wales published a multidisciplinary clinical practice guideline in 2007 in which the following criteria are employed:[14]

The diagnosis should be reconsidered if none of the following symptoms remain: post-exertional fatigue or malaise, cognitive difficulties, sleep disturbance, chronic pain.[14]

The guideline requires fatigue to have been present for 4 months in an adult or 3 months in a child. It expects a diagnosis in a child to be made by a pediatrician. The guideline states that a referral to a CFS/ME specialist should be offered immediately to the severely ill.[14]

Testing

There is no generally accepted diagnostic test to reliably diagnose or exclude chronic fatigue syndrome.

The 1994 CDC criteria states diagnostic tests should be directed to confirm or exclude other causes for fatigue and other symptoms. Further tests may be individually necessary to identify underlying or contributing conditions that require treatment. The use of tests for diagnosing chronic fatigue syndrome should only be done in the context of protocol-based research. The following routine tests are recommended:[3]

The 2007 NICE guideline includes, in addition to panel recommended by the CDC, tests for C-reactive protein (a marker of inflammation), creatine kinase (a muscle-related enzyme), plasma viscosity (optional if ESR done) and serology for celiac disease. Ferritin determination may be performed in children and young people, and in adults only if other tests suggest iron deficiency. The guideline recommends clinical judgment in decisions to perform other tests in addition to the standard set. Testing for infections (e.g. Lyme disease, viral hepatitis, HIV, mononucleosis, toxoplasmosis or cytomegalovirus) is only recommended if the patient gives a specific history for this. The NICE guideline discourages routine performance of the head-up tilt test, auditory brainstem response and electrodermal conductivity for the purpose of diagnosis.[14]

Diagnostic complications and suggested improvements

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in England and Wales states that none of the existing case definitions are based on robust evidence, and no studies have confirmed any case definition to be superior to others.[15]

Some researchers say that subtypes of CFS may exist.[16][17]

CDC 1994

A 2003 international CFS study group for the CDC found ambiguities in the CDC 1994 CFS research case definition which contribute to inconsistent case identification.[18] Different self-reported causes of CFS are associated with significant differences in clinical measures and outcomes.[19]

An examination of the CDC 1994 criteria applied to several hundred patients found that the diagnosis could be strengthened by adding two new symptoms (anorexia and nausea) and eliminating three others (muscle weakness, joint pain, sleep disturbance).[20] Other suggested improvements to the diagnostic criteria include the use of severity ratings.[21]

CDC Empirical definition 2005

A new "empirical definition" of the CDC 1994 criteria was published in 2005.[22] A 2009 evaluation of the 2005 empirical definition compared 27 patients with a prior diagnosis of CFS with 37 patients diagnosed with a Major Depressive Disorder. The researchers reported that "38% of those with a diagnosis of a Major Depressive Disorder were misclassified as having CFS using the new CDC definition."[23]

HHS/IOM New Criteria Study

On 15 August the US Department of Health and Human Services issued a notice of intent to award a contract to the Institutes of Medicine for a Study on Diagnostic Criteria for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with the purpose of : "recommending clinical diagnostic criteria for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)".[24] The award of contract was halted due concern over "potential sole source requisition" although subsequently joint funding was agreed between The Office on Women’s Health and the HHS.[25][26] The IOM commenced work on the project in the Autumn of 2013 with its first public hearing listed for 27 January 2014.[27]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Wyller VB (2007). "The chronic fatigue syndrome--an update". Acta neurologica Scandinavica. Supplementum 187: 7–14. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0404.2007.00840.x. PMID 17419822.
  2. ↑ "About CFS: What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?". National Institutes of Health. Retrieved 2009-06-27.
  3. 1 2 Fukuda K, Straus S, Hickie I, Sharpe M, Dobbins J, Komaroff A; Straus; Hickie; Sharpe; Dobbins; Komaroff (15 December 1994). "The chronic fatigue syndrome: a comprehensive approach to its definition and study. International Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Study Group". Ann Intern Med 121 (12): 953–9. doi:10.1059/0003-4819-121-12-199412150-00009 (inactive 2015-01-09). PMID 7978722.
  4. ↑ Holmes GP; Kaplan JE; Gantz NM; et al. (March 1988). "Chronic fatigue syndrome: a working case definition". Ann. Intern. Med. 108 (3): 387–9. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-108-3-387. PMID 2829679. Details
  5. ↑ Sharpe MC; Archard LC; Banatvala JE; et al. (February 1991). "A report--chronic fatigue syndrome: guidelines for research". J R Soc Med 84 (2): 118–21. PMC 1293107. PMID 1999813. Synopsis by -476446699 at GPnotebook)
  6. ↑ Carruthers BM; et al. (2003). "Myalgic encephalomyalitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: Clinical working definition, diagnostic and treatment protocols" (PDF). Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 11 (1): 7–36. doi:10.1300/J092v11n01_02.
  7. ↑ Myhill S, Booth NE, McLaren-Howard J; Booth; McLaren-Howard (2009). "Chronic fatigue syndrome and mitochondrial dysfunction" (PDF). Int J Clin Exp Med 2 (1): 1–16. PMC 2680051. PMID 19436827.
  8. ↑ Jason,L.A., Evans,M., Porter,N., Brown,M., Brown,A., Hunnell,J., Anderson, V., Lerch, A., De Meirleir, K., & Friedberg, F. (2010). "The Development of a Revised Canadian Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Case Definition". American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology 6 (2): 120–135. doi:10.3844/ajbbsp.2010.120.135.
  9. ↑ Shepherd, Charles (2011-02-21). "London Criteria for M.E. – for website discussion".
  10. ↑ Howes S, Goudsmit E, Shepherd C. Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). Criteria and clinical guidelines 2014. Available from: http://www.axfordsabode.org.uk/me/mecrit2014.htm
  11. ↑ Jason, LA; Brown AA; Clyne E; Bartgis L; Evans M; Brown M. (December 2011). "Contrasting case definitions for chronic fatigue syndrome, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis". Evaluations & the Health Professions 35 (3): 1–25. doi:10.1177/016327871142481 (inactive 2015-01-09). PMC 3658447. PMID 22158691.
  12. ↑ Carruthers BM, van de Sande MI, De Meirleir KL, Klimas NG, Broderick G, Mitchell T, Staines D, Powles AC, Speight N, Vallings R, Bateman L, Baumgarten-Austrheim B, Bell DS, Carlo-Stella N, Chia J, Darragh A, Jo D, Lewis D, Light AR, Marshall-Gradisbik S, Mena I, Mikovits JA, Miwa K, Murovska M, Pall ML, Stevens S.; Van De Sande; De Meirleir; Klimas; Broderick; Mitchell; Staines; Powles; Speight; Vallings; Bateman; Baumgarten-Austrheim; Bell; Carlo-Stella; Chia; Darragh; Jo; Lewis; Light; Marshall-Gradisbik; Mena; Mikovits; Miwa; Murovska; Pall; Stevens (October 2011). "Myalgic encephalomyelitis: International Consensus Criteria". J Intern Med 270 (4): 327–38. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2796.2011.02428.x. PMC 3427890. PMID 21777306.
  13. ↑ Australian Guidelines (2002)
  14. 1 2 3 4 Turnbull N, Shaw EJ, Baker R, Dunsdon S, Costin N, Britton G, Kuntze S, Norman R (August 2007). "Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy):diagnosis and management of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy) in adults and children" (pdf). National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  15. ↑ Turnbull N; Shaw EJ, Baker R, Dunsdon S, Costin N, Britton G, Kuntze S and Norman R. © Royal College of General Practitioners (August 2007). Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy):diagnosis and management of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy) in adults and children (pdf). National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. p. 114. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  16. ↑ Jason LA, Corradi K, Torres-Harding S, Taylor RR, King C; Corradi; Torres-Harding; Taylor; King (March 2005). "Chronic fatigue syndrome: the need for subtypes". Neuropsychol Rev 15 (1): 29–58. doi:10.1007/s11065-005-3588-2. PMID 15929497.
  17. ↑ Jason LA, Taylor RR, Kennedy CL, Song S, Johnson D, Torres S; Taylor; Kennedy; Song; Johnson; Torres (September 2000). "Chronic fatigue syndrome: occupation, medical utilization, and subtypes in a community-based sample". J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. 188 (9): 568–76. doi:10.1097/00005053-200009000-00002. PMID 11009329.
  18. ↑ Reeves WC; Lloyd A; Vernon SD; et al. (December 2003). "Identification of ambiguities in the 1994 chronic fatigue syndrome research case definition and recommendations for resolution". BMC Health Serv Res 3 (1): 25. doi:10.1186/1472-6963-3-25. PMC 317472. PMID 14702202.
  19. ↑ Kennedy G, Abbot NC, Spence V, Underwood C, Belch JJ; Abbot; Spence; Underwood; Belch (February 2004). "The specificity of the CDC-1994 criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome: comparison of health status in three groups of patients who fulfill the criteria". Ann Epidemiol 14 (2): 95–100. doi:10.1016/j.annepidem.2003.10.004. PMID 15018881.
  20. ↑ Komaroff AL; Fagioli LR; Geiger AM; et al. (January 1996). "An examination of the working case definition of chronic fatigue syndrome". Am. J. Med. 100 (1): 56–64. doi:10.1016/S0002-9343(96)90012-1. PMID 8579088.
  21. ↑ King C, Jason LA; Jason (February 2005). "Improving the diagnostic criteria and procedures for chronic fatigue syndrome". Biol Psychol 68 (2): 87–106. doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2004.03.015. PMID 15450690.
  22. ↑ Reeves, William; Dieter Wagner; Rosane Nisenbaum; James Jones; Brian Gurbaxani; Laura Solomon; Dimitris Papanicolaou; Elizabeth Unger; Suzanne Vernon; Christine Heim (2005). "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – A clinically empirical approach to its definition and study". BMC Medicine 3: 19. doi:10.1186/1741-7015-3-19. ISSN 1741-7015. PMC 1334212. PMID 16356178. Retrieved 2009-10-14.
  23. ↑ Jason, Leonard A; Najar, Natasha; Porter, Nicole; Reh, Christy (2009). "Evaluating the Centers for Disease Control's Empirical Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Case Definition". Journal of Disability Policy Studies 20 (2): 93–100. doi:10.1177/1044207308325995.
  24. ↑ "Solicitation Number: 13-233-SOL-00686". Federal Business Opportunities. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  25. ↑ "Solicitation Number:13-233-SOL-00686". Federal Business Opportunities. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  26. ↑ CFSAC, Support Team. "Announcement on the IOM Study on Diagnostic Criteria for ME/CFS" (PDF). Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  27. ↑ The National Academies, Institutes of Medicine. "DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR MYALGIC ENCEPHALOMYELITIS/CHRONIC FATIGUE" (PDF). IOM. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
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