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Brainstem Abnormalities in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Scoping Review and Evaluation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings.
Nelson, Todd; Zhang, Lan-Xin; Guo, Hui; Nacul, Luis; Song, Xiaowei.
  • Nelson T; Evaluation and Research, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Fraser Health, Surrey, BC, Canada.
  • Zhang LX; Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
  • Guo H; Evaluation and Research, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Fraser Health, Surrey, BC, Canada.
  • Nacul L; Department of Human Biology, Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
  • Song X; Evaluation and Research, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Fraser Health, Surrey, BC, Canada.
Front Neurol ; 12: 769511, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1606848
ABSTRACT

Background:

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a multisystem medical condition with heterogeneous symptom expression. Currently, there is no effective cure or treatment for the standard care of patients. A variety of ME/CFS symptoms can be linked to the vital life functions of the brainstem, the lower extension of the brain best known as the hub relaying information back and forth between the cerebral cortex and various parts of the body. Objective/

Methods:

Over the past decade, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) studies have emerged to understand ME/CFS with interesting findings, but there has lacked a synthesized evaluation of what has been found thus far regarding the involvement of the brainstem. We conducted this study to review and evaluate the recent MRI findings via a literature search of the MEDLINE database, from which 11 studies met the eligibility criteria.

Findings:

Data showed that MRI studies frequently reported structural changes in the white and gray matter. Abnormalities of the functional connectivity within the brainstem and with other brain regions have also been found. The studies have suggested possible mechanisms including astrocyte dysfunction, cerebral perfusion impairment, impaired nerve conduction, and neuroinflammation involving the brainstem, which may at least partially explain a substantial portion of the ME/CFS symptoms and their heterogeneous presentations in individual patients.

Conclusions:

This review draws research attention to the role of the brainstem in ME/CFS, helping enlighten future work to uncover the pathologies and mechanisms of this complex medical condition, for improved management and patient care.
Keywords

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Type of study: Experimental Studies / Reviews Language: English Journal: Front Neurol Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Fneur.2021.769511

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Type of study: Experimental Studies / Reviews Language: English Journal: Front Neurol Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Fneur.2021.769511