Tired of getting tired? Overactive immune system Cause of a chronic fatigue syndrome

Experts find cause for the chronic fatigue syndrome

There are some people who suffer from the so-called chronic fatigue syndrome. So far, however, it was still unclear what causes this disease actually. Researchers now found that an overactive immune system seems to be the cause of the disease.

The scientists at King's College London found in their recent research that an overactive immune system appears to be the cause of chronic fatigue syndrome. The physicians published the results of their study in the English language journal "Psychoneuroendocrinology".

What is the chronic fatigue syndrome?

Many people affected by the chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) also declare that their condition started with a challenge to the immune system, such as an infection. The experts studied a total of 55 patients with hepatitis C for their study. Eighteen of these patients had an overactive immune system and developed CFS-like symptoms. Chronic fatigue syndrome is a long-term disease characterized by extreme fatigue.

Those affected had an overactive immune system

The researchers measured the fatigue and various immune markers of the participants during and after the treatment. In the 18 patients with CFS-like symptoms, the team found a much stronger immune response to the medication. Significantly, these patients also had an overactive immune system before starting treatment, say the physicians. For the first time, experts have demonstrated that people susceptible to CFS-like disease have a hyperactive immune system, both before and during a challenge of the immune system.

What are the consequences of the disease?

The results suggest that people who show an exaggerated immune response to a trigger have a higher risk of developing CFS. These results are the first step in identifying high-risk populations and early detection of the disease, the researchers explain. The chronic fatigue or fatigue syndrome is also referred to as myalgic encephalomyelitis or ME. In the UK alone, around 250,000 people are affected by long-term illness. In addition to heavy tiredness, it can lead to sleep disorders and muscle and joint pain. Living with ME can be extremely difficult for those affected. Extreme tiredness and other physical symptoms make everyday life difficult. Current research supports the evidence that the body's immune system plays an important role in the causation of ME / CFS, explain the authors of the study. (As)