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Case definitions of the illness From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Clinical descriptions of ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome) vary. Different groups have produced sets of diagnostic criteria that share many similarities. The biggest differences between criteria are whether post-exertional malaise (PEM) is required, and the number of symptoms needed.[1]
The pathology of ME/CFS is poorly understood, and it can be a difficult condition to diagnose because there is no standard test, many symptoms are non-specific, and because doctors and patients may be unfamiliar with post-exertional malaise.[1][2] Subgroup analysis suggests that, depending on the applied definition, CFS may represent a variety of conditions rather than a single disease entity.[3][4]
The IOM criteria come from the IOM's 2015 report on CFS, and the CDC currently uses this definition.[5] The IOM criteria require the following three symptoms:
Also, at least one of the following is required:
They also note that for all symptoms except orthostatic intolerance, "frequency and severity of symptoms should be assessed," and that these symptoms should be present at least half the time with at least moderate severity.[6]
The 1994 research guidelines were proposed by the "International Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Study Group", led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.[7][8] The criteria were described as the most widely used diagnostic criteria for CFS in 2007.[9] These criteria are sometimes called the "Fukuda definition" after the first author (Keiji Fukuda) of the publication. The 1994 CDC criteria specify the following conditions must be met:
Clinically evaluated, unexplained, persistent or relapsing chronic fatigue that is:[citation needed]
The concurrent occurrence of four or more of the following symptoms, all of which must have persisted or recurred during six or more consecutive months of illness and must not have predated the fatigue:[citation needed]
All other known causes of chronic fatigue must have been ruled out, specifically clinical depression, side effects of medication, eating disorders and substance abuse.
The clinical evaluation should include:[citation needed]
Other diagnostic tests have no recognized value unless indicated on an individual basis to confirm or exclude a differential diagnosis, such as multiple sclerosis.
The initial chronic fatigue syndrome definition was published in 1988. It is also called the "Holmes definition", after the manuscript's first author.[10]
The Homes criteria require these two points:
They define 11 symptom criteria:
And three physical criteria that must be documented by a physician:
To make a diagnosis, a patient must meet either 8 of the 11 symptom criteria, or 6 of the 11 symptom criteria and 2 of 3 physical criteria.[10]
The Oxford criteria were published in 1991[11] and include both CFS of unknown etiology and a subtype of CFS called post-infectious fatigue syndrome (PIFS), which "either follows an infection or is associated with a current infection." The Oxford criteria defines CFS as follows:
Post-infectious fatigue syndrome also requires evidence of a prior infection.[11]
The Oxford criteria differ from the Fukuda criteria in that mental fatigue is required and that symptoms that could be psychiatric in origin can count toward a diagnosis. Likewise, the Oxford criteria differs from the Canadian consensus criteria by not excluding patients who may have a psychiatric condition.[9]
The Canadian consensus criteria were initiated by Health Canada and published by an international group of researchers in 2003.[12] The requirements are summarized as follows:
Unlike some criteria, the Canadian consensus criteria exclude patients with symptoms of mental illness.[9] This definition was updated in 2010 to provide greater specification to the original. Functional impairment must be below defined thresholds in two of the three designated subscales of the Short Form 36 Health Survey i.e. Vitality, Social Functioning, and Role-Physical.[citation needed]
The London Criteria were designed for research purposes and used by Action for ME in all studies they funded until the mid-1990s. An incomplete version edited by Nick Anderson (CEO of AFME) was published in a 1994 report. The London criteria require the following:
These symptoms must have lasted at least 6 months. The London criteria also mention that other symptoms, including autonomic and immune symptoms, are common and may help confirm a diagnosis.[13] In light of the advances in understanding of ME and CFS, the criteria for ME as described by Ramsay and others were updated in 2009.[14][unreliable source] These have been cited in articles and are being evaluated as of 2011, for example, in studies to ascertain differences between patients selected using different case definitions.[15]
The International Consensus Criteria were based on the Canadian consensus criteria and developed by a group of 26 individuals from 13 countries and consisting of clinicians, researchers, teaching faculty, and an independent patient advocate. The ICC define the illness as:
The ICC definition also notes that children may have somewhat different symptoms, and that symptoms tend to be more variable.[16]
Compared to the Canadian criteria, chronic fatigue is not required, and there is no requirement for symptoms to occur for 6 months. The main symptom is "post-exertional neuroimmune exhaustion" (PENE), which encompasses fatigability, symptoms worsening after exertion, exhaustion after exertion, a prolonged recovery from activity, and reduction of activities due to symptoms. The ICC definition describes severity levels: Mild ME is described as roughly a 50% in functioning compared to before the illness, moderate ME makes one mostly housebound, severe refers to mostly bed-bound, and a very severe being completely bed-bound and requiring care from others.[16]
Several countries, including Australia[17] and the United Kingdom, have authored clinical guidelines that define ME/CFS based on some or all of the available diagnostic criteria. The 2021 UK NICE guideline requires all of the following symptoms:
Additionally, the symptoms must be present for at least 6 weeks in adults and 4 weeks in children, and not explained by another condition.[18]
As there is no generally accepted test for chronic fatigue syndrome, diagnosis is based on symptoms, history, and ruling out other conditions.[19]
The CDC states that diagnostic tests should be directed to confirm or exclude other causes for fatigue and other symptoms. Further tests may be individually necessary to identify underlying or contributing conditions that require treatment. The following routine tests are recommended:[19]
In addition to the CDC's recommendation, the NICE guideline recommends HbA1c and creatine kinase tests, and mentions that blood tests for vitamins D and B12, infectious diseases, and adrenal insufficiency may be warranted.[18]
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in England and Wales that in the absence of a biomarker, it is difficult to say one set of criteria is more valid than another. The quality can be assessed based on how the case definition was created. In particular, to what extend it represented a consensus process and involved stakeholders such as patients, doctors and researchers.[20]: 47
A 2003 international CFS study group for the CDC found ambiguities in the CDC 1994 CFS research case definition which contribute to inconsistent case identification.[21] Different self-reported causes of CFS are associated with significant differences in clinical measures and outcomes.[22]
An examination of the CDC 1994 criteria applied to several hundred patients found that the diagnosis could be strengthened by adding two new symptoms (anorexia and nausea) and eliminating three others (muscle weakness, joint pain, sleep disturbance).[23] Other suggested improvements to the diagnostic criteria include the use of severity ratings.[24]
A new "empirical definition" of the CDC 1994 criteria was published in 2005.[25] A 2009 evaluation of the 2005 empirical definition compared 27 patients with a prior diagnosis of CFS with 37 patients diagnosed with a Major Depressive Disorder. The researchers reported that "38% of those with a diagnosis of a Major Depressive Disorder were misclassified as having CFS using the new CDC definition."[26]
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