Re:Will adopting the Canadian criteria improve the diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome?
In light of the editorial, "Ending the stalemate over CFS/ME" and
Professor White et al's response I would like to draw attention to the new
ME International Consensus Criteria (ICC) recently accepted for publication
in the Journal of Internal Medicine ("ME: International Consensus
Criteria"; Bruce M Carruthers et al; Journal of Internal Medicine: :
doi:10.1111/j.1365-2796.2011.02428.x )
The authors of the new ICC - twenty six researchers and clinicians
from thirteen countries - used the ME Canadian Consensus Criteria as it's
starting point but have gone on to make significant changes in light of
more recent research. Interestingly, the authors have rejected the name
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in favour of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. They
write:
"The label 'chronic fatigue syndrome' (CFS) has persisted for many
years because of lack of knowledge of the etiological agents and of the
disease process. In view of more recent research and clinical experience
that strongly point to widespread inflammation and multisystemic
neuropathology, it is more appropriate and correct to use the term
'myalgic encephalomyelitis'? (ME) because it indicates an underlying
pathophysiology.. It is also consistent with the neurological
classification of ME in the World Health Organization's International
Classification of Diseases (ICD G93.3). Consequently, an International
Consensus Panel consisting of clinicians, researchers, teaching faculty
and an independent patient advocate was formed with the purpose of
developing criteria based on current knowledge."
A comparison of the ICC with definitions of CFS, such as the Oxford
criteria used in the PACE trial, clearly shows they relate to different
diseases.
Rapid Response:
Re:Will adopting the Canadian criteria improve the diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome?
In light of the editorial, "Ending the stalemate over CFS/ME" and
Professor White et al's response I would like to draw attention to the new
ME International Consensus Criteria (ICC) recently accepted for publication
in the Journal of Internal Medicine ("ME: International Consensus
Criteria"; Bruce M Carruthers et al; Journal of Internal Medicine: :
doi:10.1111/j.1365-2796.2011.02428.x )
The authors of the new ICC - twenty six researchers and clinicians
from thirteen countries - used the ME Canadian Consensus Criteria as it's
starting point but have gone on to make significant changes in light of
more recent research. Interestingly, the authors have rejected the name
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in favour of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. They
write:
"The label 'chronic fatigue syndrome' (CFS) has persisted for many
years because of lack of knowledge of the etiological agents and of the
disease process. In view of more recent research and clinical experience
that strongly point to widespread inflammation and multisystemic
neuropathology, it is more appropriate and correct to use the term
'myalgic encephalomyelitis'? (ME) because it indicates an underlying
pathophysiology.. It is also consistent with the neurological
classification of ME in the World Health Organization's International
Classification of Diseases (ICD G93.3). Consequently, an International
Consensus Panel consisting of clinicians, researchers, teaching faculty
and an independent patient advocate was formed with the purpose of
developing criteria based on current knowledge."
A comparison of the ICC with definitions of CFS, such as the Oxford
criteria used in the PACE trial, clearly shows they relate to different
diseases.
Competing interests: No competing interests