Low grade inflammation and arterial wave reflection in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome — non-technical summary
Previous studies have shown that people with ME/CFS can have increased oxidative stress as well as raised levels of inflammation. These findings may account for some of the symptoms of the illness, but they may also cause damage to the blood vessels and have an impact on the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Arterial stiffness is one measure of damage to large blood vessels. It can be assessed by detecting the pulse at the wrist using a special sensor, and analysing the shape of the trace produced.
We found that the arteries of ME/CFS patients were stiffer than those of healthy subjects, and also that arterial stiffness was related to levels of oxidative stress and inflammation. This finding supports the idea that people with ME/CFS are at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
However, long-term studies are necessary to confirm whether these abnormalities do in fact lead to cardiovascular problems.
