Another study, presented by Kenny L. DeMeirleir, MD, PhD, medical director of the Nevada Center for Biomedical Research in Reno, Nevada, involved 70 male and 70 female patients with ME/CFS and the same numbers of matched sedentary control participants. His team uncovered significant differences for four specific immune/inflammatory markers in venous blood samples (prostaglandin E2, interleukin 8, soluble CD14 [a surrogate marker for bacterial lipopolysaccharide], and CD57+ lymphocytes; P < .001 for each).
As a panel, the four markers correctly classified 89.5% of the males and 97.1% of the females with ME/CFS, as defined by published criteria.
Dr DeMeirleir told Medscape Medical News that he has since collected data for many more samples, and the results have held up. He also said that the panel is being used clinically to diagnose ME/CFS in his native Belgium.
Commenting on the paper in his address, Dr Komaroff called the findings "encouraging, because we need an accurate diagnostic test." However, he also cautioned that before the panel can become widely commercialized, it must first be reproduced in multiple labs, and further study must document that the results distinguish patients with ME/CFS from those with other chronic fatiguing conditions such as multiple sclerosis or lupus. And, he added, "it must be inexpensive."