Cardiovascular dysfunction with low cardiac output due to a small heart in patients with CFS

Intern Med. 2009;48(21):1849-54. Epub 2009 Nov 2

Cardiovascular dysfunction with low cardiac output due to a small heart in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Miwa K, Fujita M. Department of Internal Medicine, Nanto Family and Community Medical Center, Nanto, Toyama, Japan. miwa.kunihisa@city.nanto.lg.jp

OBJECTIVE: Little attention has been paid to possible cardiovascular involvement in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), although many of their symptoms and signs suggest cardiovascular dysfunction. Possible cardiovascular symptoms and cardiac function were investigated in CFS patients.

METHODS: Cardiovascular symptoms were intensively investigated and cardiac function was evaluated echocardiographically.

PATIENTS: Fifty-three patients (23 men and 30 women, mean age: 31+/-7 years) with CFS under 50 years were studied.

RESULTS: Slender build (body mass index <20 kg/m(2)) was common (47%). Possible cardiovascular symptoms including shortness of breath (32%), dyspnea on effort (28%), rapid heartbeat (38%), chest pain (43%), fainting (43%), orthostatic dizziness (45%) and coldness of feet (42%), were all frequent complaints. Hypotension (28%) was occasionally noted. Electrocardiograms frequently revealed right axis deviation (21%) and severe sinus arrhythmia (34%) suggesting accentuated parasympathetic nervous activity. Small heart shadow (cardiothoracic ratio

CONCLUSION: Cardiovascular symptoms are common in CFS patients. Cardiac dysfunction with low cardiac output due to small left ventricular chamber may contribute to the development of chronic fatigue as a constitutional factor in a considerable number of CFS patients.

PMID: 19881233 [PubMed - in process]

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written by Maff, November 09, 2009

The findings of this study appear to be significant indeed - at least for a substantial subset of chronic fatigue syndrome patients (ME/CFS).

As the study authors note, little attention has been paid to cardiac dysfunction in ME/CFS in terms of the research community but a number of doctors specialising in the condition including Dr. Paul Cheney in the US and Dr. Sarah Myhill in the UK have written quite extensively about the possible connection and its ramifications. Read more in the following article:

The Heart of the Matter: CFS & Cardiac Issues - In depth discussion of Dr. Paul Cheney's theory