title: Multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome (MCS)--suggestions for an extension of the U.S. MCS-case definition.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To validate and extend the US case definition for the Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome (MCS) from 1999 by a systematic literature-review.
  
  
  METHODS
  MEDLINE-research from 1997 to August 2003, research in the Cochrane-Library in August 2003, earlier reviews since 1997.
  
  
  METHODS
  Headings and abstracts were screened by one reviewer. All references dealing with multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS) which covered topics of interest such as symptom-profiles, differential diagnostic procedures, etc. were included in the analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Topic-specific data extraction and synthesis was done by one reviewer. Data interpretation was discussed by all other authors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 1429 references 36 publications proved to be suitable for the review. The results can be summarized as follows: exposure-related symptoms associated with self-reported multiple chemical sensitivities can be divided into non-specific complaints of the central nervous system--CNS (main characteristics) and functional disturbances in other organ systems (optional complaints). There is a significant overlap of MCS, CFS and fibromyalgie. At present no standards for a diagnostic procedure based on the criteria outlined above are existing
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MCS should only be diagnosed in patients who are mainly suffering from exposure-related non-specific complaints of the Central nervous system. The suggested diagnostic procedure follows the guidelines for CFS which are extended by diagnostic clarification of functional disturbances in other organ systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Freiburg University Hospital, Hauptstrasse 8, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lacour
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zunder
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schmidtke
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vaith
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scheidt
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D018777:Multiple Chemical Sensitivity / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology