Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
Conditions
Keywords
cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), post-exertional malaise (PEM)
Brief summary
This study aims to collect and identify key outcome measures or disease parameters in ME/CFS that are altered during elevated symptoms relative to baseline by gathering information before and after symptom provocation using a two-day cardiopulmonary exercise test.
Detailed description
The phenomenon of post-exertional malaise (PEM), in which an ME/CFS patient's symptoms are elevated following even low-level exertion, is a hallmark feature of the disease. The cause of PEM, like the cause of ME/CFS, is not understood. This study aims to utilize a two-day CPET to invoke PEM. This provides a unique opportunity to collect data on how key outcome measures or disease parameters are altered during elevated symptoms relative to baseline within each patient by gathering information before and after symptom provocation. A total of 90 participants and 90 controls will undergo CPET testing. Participation will be split amongst three different sites (Ithaca, NY, New York, NY, and Los Angeles, CA). Subjects will be located in urban and rural areas to establish relatively diverse study populations. This study is a component of the Cornell ME/CFS Collaborative Research Center (CRC). Blood samples taken before and after CPET will be utilized in associated projects with the Cornell ME/CFS CRC. CPET data along with the analysis of blood samples has great potential to reveal why exercise negatively affects ME/CFS patients and thus perhaps why patients are also impaired even before increasing their activity level.
Interventions
OTHERTwo-day cardiopulmonary exercise test
A series of two cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPETs) performed over two days. Participants will perform a CPET and then will return approximately 24 hours later to perform the second CPET. The CPET begins with 3 minutes of seated rest followed by cycling during incremental workloads which increases 15 watts throughout each minute of exercise. The participant will cycle until volitional exhaustion and/or the participant and/or test administrator determines to stop the test. Actual exercise time usually varies between 8-10 minutes.
Sponsors
Cornell University
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Workwell Foundation
Ithaca College
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Adults with ME/CFS: Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosed with ME/CFS * Adults 18 to 70 years of age
Exclusion criteria
* Recent history of panic attacks within the past 6 months * Diagnosis of schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, or an anxiety disorder such as OCD or PTSD * Hospitalized for a psychological condition within the last 6 months * Unwilling to stop taking nutritional supplements, including probiotics, two weeks before the exercise tests. * Unwilling to stop pain medication and stimulant medication two days before the exercise tests. * Smoker, or stopped smoking less than 1 year ago * Pregnant or breastfeeding * Diabetic * Have an orthopedic limitation that prohibits cycle exercise * Excessive alcohol consumption Healthy Volunteers: Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy * Low-active * Adults 18 to 70 years of age
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Volume of oxygen consumed at peak effort | During intervention on day 1 and during intervention on day 2; assessed through study completion, approximately 4 years from study start date. | Volume of oxygen consumed at peak effort during CPET 1 and during CPET 2. |
| Volume of oxygen consumed at ventilatory/anaerobic threshold (VAT) | During intervention on day 1 and during intervention on day 2; assessed through study completion, approximately 4 years from study start date. | VAT is a non-invasive surrogate measure for anaerobic threshold, which is indicated during incremental exercise by a non-linear increase in rate of carbon dioxide production relative to rate of oxygen consumption. |
| Rate of work performed at peak effort | During intervention on day 1 and during intervention on day 2; assessed through study completion, approximately 4 years from study start date. | Rate of work performed at peak effort during CPET 1 and during CPET 2. Rate of work is measured in Watts. |
| Rate of work performed at VAT | During intervention on day 1 and during intervention on day 2; assessed through study completion, approximately 4 years from study start date. | Rate of work performed at VAT during CPET 1 and during CPET 2. Rate of work is measured in Watts. |
| Heart rate at peak effort | During intervention on day 1 and during intervention on day 2; assessed through study completion, approximately 4 years from study start date. | Heart rate at peak effort during CPET 1 and during CPET 2. |
| Heart rate at VAT | During intervention on day 1 and during intervention on day 2; assessed through study completion, approximately 4 years from study start date. | Heart rate at VAT during CPET 1 and during CPET 2. |
| Systolic blood pressure at seated rest | During intervention on day 1 and during intervention on day 2; assessed through study completion, approximately 4 years from study start date. | Systolic blood pressure at seated rest 1-minute before the start of CPET 1 and 1-minute before the start of CPET 2. |
| Systolic blood pressure at peak effort | During intervention on day 1 and during intervention on day 2; assessed through study completion, approximately 4 years from study start date. | Systolic blood pressure at peak effort during CPET 1 and during CPET 2. |
| Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER) at peak effort | During intervention on day 1 and during intervention on day 2; assessed through study completion, approximately 4 years from study start date. | RER at peak effort during CPET 1 and during CPET 2. RER is calculated as the rate of carbon dioxide production divided by the rate of oxygen consumption, and during exercise is an indicator of participant effort. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed