Eur J Clin Invest. 2011 Jul 2. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2362.2011.02575.x.
[Epub ahead of print]
In the mind or in the brain? Scientific evidence for central
sensitisation in chronic fatigue syndrome.
Nijs J, Meeus M, Van Oosterwijck J, Ickmans K, Moorkens G, Hans G, De Clerc=
k LS.
Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education &
Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
Division of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, Department of Health Care
Sciences, Artesis University College Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
Department of Physical Medicine and Physiotherapy, University Hospital
Brussels (UZB), Brussels, Belgium Reference Centre for Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital
Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium Multidisciplinary Pain Center (PCT),
University Hospital Antwerp (UZA), Antwerp, Belgium Department of
Immunology, Allergy and Rheumatology, University of Antwerp (UA),
Antwerp, Belgium.
Abstract
Eur J Clin Invest 2011 ABSTRACT: Background=E2=80=82 Central sensitisation
entails several top-down and bottom-up mechanisms, all contributing to
the hyperresponsiveness of the central nervous system to a variety of
inputs. In the late nineties, it was first hypothesised that chronic
fatigue syndrome (CFS) is characterised by hypersensitivity of the
central nervous system (i.e. central sensitisation). Since then,
several studies have examined central sensitisation in patients with
CFS. This study provides an overview of such studies. Materials and
Methods=E2=80=82 Narrative review. Results=E2=80=82 Various studies showed =
generalised
hyperalgesia in CFS for a variety of sensory stimuli, including
electrical stimulation, mechanical pressure, heat and histamine.
Various tissues are affected by generalised hyperalgesia: the skin,
muscle tissue and the lungs. Generalised hyperalgesia in CFS is
augmented, rather than decreased, following various types of stressors
like exercise and noxious heat pain. Endogenous inhibition is not
activated in response to exercise and activation of diffuse noxious
inhibitory controls following noxious heat application to the skin is
delayed. Conclusions=E2=80=82 The observation of central sensitisation in C=
FS
is in line with our current understanding of CFS. The presence of
central sensitisation in CFS corroborates with the presence of several
psychological influences on the illness, the presence of infectious
agents and immune dysfunctions and the dysfunctional
hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis as seen in these severely
debilitated patients.
=C2=A9 2011 The Authors. European Journal of Clinical Investigation =C2=A9 =
2011
Stichting European Society for Clinical Investigation Journal
Foundation.
PMID:21793823[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
---------------------------------------------
Send posts to CO-CURE@listserv.nodak.edu
Unsubscribe at http://www.co-cure.org/unsub.htm
Too much mail? Try a digest version. See http://www.co-cure.org/digest.htm
---------------------------------------------
Co-Cure's purpose is to provide information from across the spectrum of
opinion concerning medical, research and political aspects of ME/CFS and/or
FMS. We take no position on the validity of any specific scientific or
political opinion expressed in Co-Cure posts, and we urge readers to
research the various opinions available before assuming any one
interpretation is definitive. The Co-Cure website <www.co-cure.org> has a
link to our complete archive of posts as well as articles of central
importance to the issues of our community.
---------------------------------------------
