NB: When considering information concerning groups of people with ME/CFS and those with long COVID, it is important to remember that ME/CFS is a symptom-based clinical diagnosis not a mechanistic one. It is clear there is a high degree of shared pathophysiology between ME/CFS and long COVID, and the two diagnostic labels are not mutually […]
In 2015, the Institute of Medicine (IOM), now the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), published clinical criteria for diagnosing ME/CFS. According to the committee responsible, these criteria “focus more on the central symptoms of this disease than many other definitions” yet “are quite similar to the Canadian Consensus Criteria (CCC).” The committee also acknowledged that […]
In 2021, NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) published a guideline for diagnosing and managing cases of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). This guideline replaced the NICE 2007 guideline, and key changes included: Summary of NICE 2021 Criteria To diagnose ME/CFS, all of the following symptoms should be present for at least 3 […]
Published in 2011, the International Consensus Criteria (ICC) is a set of diagnostic criteria used for identifying cases of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) for research and clinical purposes. Whilst based on the Canadian Consensus Criteria (CCC), significant changes were made to create a far more selective set of criteria. One interesting difference is the removal of the 6-month waiting period before […]
Published in 2003, the Canadian Consensus Criteria (CCC) is a set of diagnostic criteria used for identifying cases of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) for research and clinical purposes. It is also known as the clinical working case definition. In 2010, the CCC was revised to help clinicians and researchers better use the criteria and improve diagnostic […]
The Fukuda criteria are used for identifying cases of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) for research purposes. They are also known as the CDC 1994 criteria as they were developed in conjunction with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1994. Although the CDC has now adopted newer criteria, the Fukuda criteria are […]
The US Department of Health and Human Services has announced * (by a Special Notice referenced under Solicitation 13-233-SOL-00686) that it is to provide funding, via the National Academies (Institute of Medicine), to “support a study committee to recommend clinical diagnostic criteria” for ME/CFS. The study committee, which will be made up of ‘thought leaders’ and […]
Authors Kennedy G, Abbot NC, Spence V, Underwood C, Belch JJF Institution Vascular Diseases Research Unit, The Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, UK Support This study was supported by a grant from ME Research UK, and by the Sir John Fisher Foundation. Aim The Centers for Disease Control (CDC)-1994 definition of chronic […]
Authors Meeus M, Ickmans K, Struyf F, Kos D, Lambrecht L, Willekens B, Cras P, Nijs J Institution Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium Funding Kelly Ickmans is a research fellow of ME Research UK. The study was funded by a research grant ME Research […]
Post-exertional malaise (PEM), the cardinal feature of ME/CFS, is particularly debilitating as it involves the amplification of existing symptoms, alongside the potential appearance of new ones, following minimal exertion. However, the term “exertion” may be misconstrued, by those unfamiliar with ME/CFS, as activities typically considered high intensity by healthy individuals. Consequently, healthy individuals may inappropriately […]
