{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Cardiopulmonary and metabolic responses during a 2-day CPET in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: translating reduced oxygen consumption to impairment status to treatment considerations.
{Author}: Keller B;Receno CN;Franconi CJ;Harenberg S;Stevens J;Mao X;Stevens SR;Moore G;Levine S;Chia J;Shungu D;Hanson MR;
{Journal}: J Transl Med
{Volume}: 22
{Issue}: 1
{Year}: 2024 Jul 5
{Factor}: 8.44
{DOI}: 10.1186/s12967-024-05410-5
{Abstract}: <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Post-exertional malaise (PEM), the hallmark symptom of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), represents a constellation of abnormal responses to physical, cognitive, and/or emotional exertion including profound fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and exertion intolerance, among numerous other maladies. Two sequential cardiopulmonary exercise tests (2-d CPET) provide objective evidence of abnormal responses to exertion in ME/CFS but validated only in studies with small sample sizes. Further, translation of results to impairment status and approaches to symptom reduction are lacking.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Participants with ME/CFS (Canadian Criteria; n = 84) and sedentary controls (CTL; n = 71) completed two CPETs on a cycle ergometer separated by 24 h. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA compared CPET measures at rest, ventilatory/anaerobic threshold (VAT), and peak effort between phenotypes and CPETs. Intraclass correlations described stability of CPET measures across tests, and relevant objective CPET data indicated impairment status. A subset of case-control pairs (n = 55) matched for aerobic capacity, age, and sex, were also analyzed.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Unlike CTL, ME/CFS failed to reproduce CPET-1 measures during CPET-2 with significant declines at peak exertion in work, exercise time, V ˙  e, V ˙  O2, V ˙  CO2, V ˙  T, HR, O2pulse, DBP, and RPP. Likewise, CPET-2 declines were observed at VAT for V ˙  e/ V ˙  CO2, PetCO2, O2pulse, work, V ˙  O2 and SBP. Perception of effort (RPE) exceeded maximum effort criteria for ME/CFS and CTL on both CPETs. Results were similar in matched pairs. Intraclass correlations revealed greater stability in CPET variables across test days in CTL compared to ME/CFS owing to CPET-2 declines in ME/CFS. Lastly, CPET-2 data signaled more severe impairment status for ME/CFS compared to CPET-1.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Presently, this is the largest 2-d CPET study of ME/CFS to substantiate impaired recovery in ME/CFS following an exertional stressor. Abnormal post-exertional CPET responses persisted compared to CTL matched for aerobic capacity, indicating that fitness level does not predispose to exertion intolerance in ME/CFS. Moreover, contributions to exertion intolerance in ME/CFS by disrupted cardiac, pulmonary, and metabolic factors implicates autonomic nervous system dysregulation of blood flow and oxygen delivery for energy metabolism. The observable declines in post-exertional energy metabolism translate notably to a worsening of impairment status. Treatment considerations to address tangible reductions in physiological function are proffered.<BR><B>BACKGROUND: </B>ClinicalTrials.gov, retrospectively registered, ID# NCT04026425, date of registration: 2019-07-17.