The assessment of peripheral microvascular endothelial function in ME/CFS
Investigator
Dr David Newton
Institution
Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases Research Unit, The Institute of Cardiovascular Research, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, UK
Aims
Recent research indicates that an important feature of the disease process in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is damage to blood vessels caused by highly reactive molecules called free radicals. These injure the vessel’s inner lining (or endothelium) which is important for controlling blood flow. In our laboratory, we would normally assess this by measuring the increase in blood flow in response to a drug called acetylcholine. However, we know that this test is not valid in patients with ME/CFS because they already have unrelated abnormalities in the way they respond to acetylcholine. We would therefore like to use an alternative vascular test to investigate endothelial function in patients with ME/CFS, so that we can evaluate the effect of free radical damage in the disease.
Methods
We will measure the increase in forearm skin blood flow following inflation and deflation of a blood pressure cuff around the upper arm. This increase is called reactive hyperaemia and is dependent on the function of a healthy endothelium. In additional experiments, we will investigate the possibility of nerve damage in the skin by applying an electrical current and measuring the resulting changes in skin blood flow. We will also look at the skin blood flow response to acetylcholine in the calf of the leg, to see whether the same abnormalities are present as we have previously found in the forearm.
