Longitudinal Associations of Lymphocyte Subsets with Clinical Outcomes in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Overview

Journal Fatigue

Date 2018 Aug 17

PMID 30112249

Citations 3

Authors

Melissa L Mehalick

Karen B Schmaling

Daniel E Sabath

Dedra S Buchwald

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is characterized by prolonged fatigue and other physical and neurocognitive symptoms. Some studies suggest that CFS is accompanied by disruptions in the number and function of various lymphocytes. However, it is not clear which lymphocytes might influence CFS symptoms.

Purpose: To determine if patient reported fatigue symptoms and physical functioning scores significantly changed across time with lymphocyte counts as evidence of a relation among chronic fatigue symptoms and the immune response.

Methods: The current longitudinal, naturalistic study assessed the cellular expression of three lymphocyte subtypes -- natural killer (NK) cells (CD3-CD16+ and CD3-CD56+) and naïve T cells (CD4+CD45RA+) -- to determine whether changes in lymphocytes at 4 time points across 18 months were associated with clinical outcomes, including CFS symptoms, physical functioning, and vitality, among patients with chronic fatigue.. Latent growth curve models were used to examine the longitudinal relationship between lymphocytes and clinical outcomes.

Results: Ninety-three patients with Fukuda-based CFS and seven with non-CFS fatigue provided study data. Results indicated that higher proportions of naïve T cells and lower proportions of NK cells were associated with worse physical functioning, whereas higher proportions of NK cells (CD3-CD16+) and lower proportions of naïve T cells were associated with fewer CFS symptoms.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that lymphocytes are modestly related to clinical outcomes over time.

Citing Articles

Associations Between Psychological and Immunological Variables in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A Systematic Review.

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Exercise alters brain activation in Gulf War Illness and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Washington S, Rayhan R, Garner R, Provenzano D, Zajur K, Addiego F Brain Commun. 2020; 2(2):fcaa070.

PMID: 32954325 PMC: 7425336. DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcaa070.

A systematic review of natural killer cells profile and cytotoxic function in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Eaton-Fitch N, Du Preez S, Cabanas H, Staines D, Marshall-Gradisnik S Syst Rev. 2019; 8(1):279.

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