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Innere Medizin (Heidelberg, Germany) Aug 2022A sizable part of post-COVID syndrome meets the diagnostic criteria for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). A doubling of cases of ME/CFS... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
A sizable part of post-COVID syndrome meets the diagnostic criteria for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). A doubling of cases of ME/CFS within the next years is therefore projected.
OBJECTIVES
Presentation of the current state of knowledge on ME/CFS.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Unsystematic review of the literature and of own contributions in research and patient care.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
ME/CFS is a neuroimmunological disease, mostly infection-induced, usually persisting throughout life. Clinically it is characterized by fatigue lasting at least 6 months and the defining core feature of exercise intolerance (post-exertional malaise, PEM). Exercise intolerance is defined as a worsening of symptoms after (even mild) everyday exertion, which usually begins after several hours or on the following day, is still noticeable at least 14 h after exertion, and often lasts for several days (up to weeks or longer). Furthermore, ME/CFS is characterized by pain, disturbances of sleep, thinking and memory, and dysregulation of the circulatory, endocrine, and immune systems. As a separate clinical entity, ME/CFS should be distinguished from chronic fatigue, which occurs as a symptom of a range of very different diseases. The diagnosis of ME/CFS is made clinically using established international diagnostic criteria and requires careful stepwise diagnosis to exclude other diagnoses. A causal therapy for ME/CFS has not been established; the focus is on symptoms relief, treatment of the often accompanying orthostatic intolerance, and assistance with anticipatory energy management (pacing).
Topics: COVID-19; Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic; Humans; Pain
PubMed: 35925074
DOI: 10.1007/s00108-022-01369-x -
Oxford Open Immunology 2023Orthostatic intolerance and other autonomic dysfunction syndromes are emerging as distinct symptom clusters in Long Covid. Often accompanying these are common,... (Review)
Review
Orthostatic intolerance and other autonomic dysfunction syndromes are emerging as distinct symptom clusters in Long Covid. Often accompanying these are common, multi-system constitutional features such as fatigue, malaise and skin rashes which can signify generalized immune dysregulation. At the same time, multiple autoantibodies are identified in both Covid-related autonomic disorders and non-Covid autonomic disorders, implying a possible underlying autoimmune pathology. The lack of specificity of these findings precludes direct interpretations of cause and association, but their prevalence with its supporting evidence is compelling.
PubMed: 37255928
DOI: 10.1093/oxfimm/iqad002 -
Ugeskrift For Laeger Feb 2023VEXAS (vacuoles, E1 enzyme, X-linked, autoinflammatory, somatic) syndrome is a newly discovered complicated autoinflammatory syndrome associated with haematological and...
VEXAS (vacuoles, E1 enzyme, X-linked, autoinflammatory, somatic) syndrome is a newly discovered complicated autoinflammatory syndrome associated with haematological and rheumatological manifestations, recognized for the first time in 2020. In this case report, we describe the first case of VEXAS syndrome in the North Denmark Region. A 76-year-old male was briefly admitted with COVID-19 and a myriad of symptoms including jaw pain, arthralgia, skin rash, malaise, intermittent fever and weight loss. After a prolonged diagnostic evaluation, VEXAS syndrome was suspected and confirmed with the presence of a mutated ubiquitin-like modifier activating enzyme 1 (UBA1) gene.
Topics: Male; Humans; Aged; COVID-19; Arthralgia; Exanthema; Fatigue; Syndrome; Mutation
PubMed: 36892319
DOI: No ID Found