Immune responses associated with chronic fatigue syndrome: a case-control study.
An exploratory case-control study was conducted to assess whether the many reported differences in the immune function of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients are detectable in rigorously defined cases of CFS. Although many studies have reported differences between cases and controls in various measures of immune function, none of these differences were found in all studies. In this study, no differences were found in white blood cell numbers; immune complex, complement, or serum immunoglobulin levels; delayed type hypersensitivity and allergic responses; NK cell function; and proliferative responses to mitogens and antigens. Marginal differences were detected in cytokine responses and in cell surface markers in the total CFS population. However, when the patients were subgrouped by type of disease onset (gradual or sudden) or by how well they were feeling on the day of testing, more pronounced differences were seen.
Mawle
A C
AC
Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
Nisenbaum
R
R
Dobbins
J G
JG
Gary
H E
HE
Stewart
J A
JA
Reyes
M
M
Steele
L
L
Schmid
D S
DS
Reeves
W C
WC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000097:blood; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D015703:Antigens, CD; D016207:Cytokines; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D003165:Complement System Proteins