There is evidence that
disorders in inflammatory and oxidative and nitrosative (IO&NS)
pathways and a lowered antioxidant status are important
pathophysiological mechanisms
underpinning myalgic
encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).
Important precipitating
and perpetuating factors for ME/CFS are (amongst others)
bacterial and viral
infections; bacterial translocation due to an increased gut
permeability; and
psychological stress.
Recently, Jason et al
(2006) reported that the mean age of patients with myalgic
encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome dying from heart failure,
i.e. 58.7 years, is significantly lower than the age of those dying
from heart failure in the general US population, i.e. 83.1 years.
These findings implicate
that ME/CFS is a risk factor to cardio-vascular disorder.
This review demonstrates
that disorders in various IO&NS pathways provide explanations for
the earlier mortality due to cardiovascular disorders in ME/CFS.
These pathways are:
|
1.
|
chronic low
grade inflammation with extended production of nuclear
factor kappa B and COX-2 and increased
levels of tumour necrosis factor alpha; |
|
2. |
increased
O&NS with
increased peroxide levels, and phospholipid oxidation including
oxidative damage to phosphatidylinositol; |
|
3.
|
decreased levels of specific antioxidants,
i.e. coenzyme
Q10, zinc and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate; |
|
4.
|
bacterial translocation as a result of leaky gut; |
|
5. |
decreased omega-3 polyunsatutared fatty acids (PUFAs),
and
increased
omega-6 PUFA and saturated fatty acid levels; |
|
6. |
the
presence of viral and bacterial infections and
psychological stressors. |
The mechanisms whereby
each of these factors may contribute towards cardio-vascular
disorder in ME/CFS are discussed.
ME/CFS is a multisystemic
metabolic-inflammatory disorder.
The aberrations in IO&NS
pathways may increase the risk for cardiovascular disorders.
PMID: 20038921 [PubMed -
as supplied by publisher]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20038921
published by
Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2009 Dec 29;30(6).
Last Updated:
09/01/2010
