Abstract
Four studies have compared a possible decrease in circulating blood volume in Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) patients when compared to a healthy population. A more recent study has proven a correlation between RBC volume and OI in chronic OI patients without being diagnosed ME/CFS. The aim of the present study was to relate measured blood, RBC and plasma volumes (absolute and percent normalized) with the orthostatic intolerance complaints in ME/CFS patients. In the included 11 female ME/CFS patients, percentage decrease in normalized blood, RBC and plasma volume was similar for all three components: 83% ± 12%, 83% ± 12% and 83% ± 11%, respectively. In patients with a clinical suspicion of OI (n = 7) all 3 volume components were significantly lower compared to patients without clinical suspicion of OI (n = 4). The difference percentage to normalized Blood volume was 77(7) vs 94(10) (p-value < 0.02), difference percentage to normalized RBC volume was 76(7) vs 96(10) (p-value < 0.01) and difference percentage to normalized plasma volume was 77(7) vs 93(10) (p-value < 0.05) in OI present versus absent. Plasma volumes were plotted against RBC volumes: the relation found was RBC volume = 0.99* Plasma volume + 1.55; p < 0.001; r = 0.90. In line with literature data, this pilot study shows that total blood volume and its components: RBC and plasma volume may be reduced in ME/CFS patients, especially in the presence of a clinical suspicion of OI.
Highlights
Four studies have compared a possible decrease in circulating blood volume in Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) patients when compared to a healthy population
In line with literature data, this pilot study shows that total blood volume and its components: red blood cell (RBC) and plasma volume may be reduced in ME/CFS patients, especially in the presence of a clinical suspicion of orthostatic hypotension (OI)
The fact that we found a significantly lower blood volume in the patients with orthostatic intolerance symptoms, who were younger than the patient group without a clinical suspicion of OI, might suggest that the absolute difference in blood volume might have been bigger, if patients had been age matched
Summary
A more recent Chinese study [7] presented evidence for a relation between RBC volume deficiency and the presence of orthostatic intolerance in chronic orthostatic intolerance patients and especially in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) patients. Given this observation in a more general population, the aim of the present study was to relate measured blood, RBC and plasma volumes as well as the difference in percentage between volumes measured and volumes normalized with the orthostatic intolerance complaints in ME/CFS patients
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