Our Evolving Understanding of ME/CFS

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dc.contributor.authorFriedman, Kenneth J.
dc.contributor.authorMurovska, Modra
dc.contributor.authorPheby, Derek F.H.
dc.contributor.authorZalewski, Paweł
dc.contributor.institutionInstitute of Microbiology and Virology
dc.date.accessioned2021-04-09T13:55:01Z
dc.date.available2021-04-09T13:55:01Z
dc.date.issued2021-02-26
dc.descriptionFunding Information: The IOM report of 2015 also declared ME/CFS a disease, as opposed to its classification of being a syndrome [14], based upon the severity of the illness and its unique set of symptoms [5]. Nevertheless, and important for the hypothesis put forward here, ME/CFS remains technically a syndrome: a collection of symptoms of unknown etiology. Much work directed towards identifying the underlying pathology has been undertaken across the world, in many locations including North America and Europe, where the European ME/CFS Research Network (EUROMENE), established in 2006, has, with funding from the European Union’s COST (Cooperation in Science and Technology) program, helped to address this issue (COST project CA15111) [15]. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
dc.description.abstractThe potential benefits of the scientific insights gleaned from years of treating ME/CFS for the emerging symptoms of COVID-19, and in particular Longhaul-or Longhauler-COVID-19 are discussed in this opinion article. Longhaul COVID-19 is the current name being given to the long-term sequelae (symptoms lasting beyond 6 weeks) of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Multiple case definitions for ME/CFS exist, but post-exertional malaise (PEM) is currently emerging as the ‘hallmark’ symptom. The inability to identify a unique trigger of ME/CFS, as well as the inability to identify a specific, diagnostic laboratory test, led many physicians to conclude that the illness was psychosomatic or non-existent. However, recent research in the US and the UK, championed by patient organizations and their use of the internet and social media, suggest underlying pathophysiologies, e.g., oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. The similarity and overlap of ME/CFS and Longhaul COVID-19 symptoms suggest to us similar pathological processes. We put forward a unifying hypothesis that explains the precipitating events such as viral triggers and other documented exposures: For their overlap in symptoms, ME/CFS and Longhaul COVID-19 should be described as Post Active Phase of Infection Syndromes (PAPIS). We further propose that the underlying biochemical pathways and pathophysiological processes of similar symptoms are similar regardless of the initiating trigger. Exploration of the biochemical pathways and pathophysiological processes should yield effective therapies for these conditions and others that may exhibit these symptoms. ME/CFS patients have suffered far too long. Longhaul COVD-19 patients should not be subject to a similar fate. We caution that failure to meet the now combined challenges of ME/CFS and Longhaul COVID-19 will impose serious socioeconomic as well as clinical consequences for patients, the families of patients, and society as a whole.en
dc.description.statusPeer reviewed
dc.format.extent5
dc.format.extent236103
dc.identifier.citationFriedman, K J, Murovska, M, Pheby, D F H & Zalewski, P 2021, 'Our Evolving Understanding of ME/CFS', Medicina (Lithuania), vol. 57, no. 3, 200, pp. 1-5. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina57030200
dc.identifier.doi10.3390/medicina57030200
dc.identifier.issn1010-660X
dc.identifier.otherunpaywall: 10.3390/medicina57030200
dc.identifier.urihttps://dspace.rsu.lv/jspui/handle/123456789/3733
dc.identifier.urlhttp://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85102289332&partnerID=8YFLogxK
dc.language.isoeng
dc.relation.ispartofMedicina (Lithuania)
dc.rightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subjectLonghaul COVID-19
dc.subjectME/CFS
dc.subjectPathophysiology
dc.subject1.6 Biological sciences
dc.subject3.3 Health sciences
dc.subject1.1. Scientific article indexed in Web of Science and/or Scopus database
dc.subjectGeneral Medicine
dc.titleOur Evolving Understanding of ME/CFSen
dc.type/dk/atira/pure/researchoutput/researchoutputtypes/contributiontojournal/article

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