While looking up something else, I came across an interesting research paper from 2008: The role of impaired capillary blood flow in ME. http://www.investinme.org/ArticleJ21-Role-of-Impaired-Capillary-Bloodflow.shtml
It seems to imply that impaired blood flow in capillaries is the main cause of ME symptoms. Has this been proven false by newer research? It's an attractive theory, and it connects up nicely with some known aspects of ME. However it seems that if it were true that ME is the result of reduced blood flow in various parts of the body, it should be treatable by something like Pentoxifylline. I've searched here, and found some people had tried Pentoxifylline, but no reports of huge reductions in ME symptoms. Aspirin has been proven to not reduce blood viscosity or increase RBC deformability, so that's not a viable test of the hypothesis. NSAIDs in general are supposed to prevent constriction of blood vessels, but I haven't noticed aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprophen having any effect on my ME symptoms. Has anyone noticed any significant reduction in ME symptoms from taking blood flow improvers?
It seems to imply that impaired blood flow in capillaries is the main cause of ME symptoms. Has this been proven false by newer research? It's an attractive theory, and it connects up nicely with some known aspects of ME. However it seems that if it were true that ME is the result of reduced blood flow in various parts of the body, it should be treatable by something like Pentoxifylline. I've searched here, and found some people had tried Pentoxifylline, but no reports of huge reductions in ME symptoms. Aspirin has been proven to not reduce blood viscosity or increase RBC deformability, so that's not a viable test of the hypothesis. NSAIDs in general are supposed to prevent constriction of blood vessels, but I haven't noticed aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprophen having any effect on my ME symptoms. Has anyone noticed any significant reduction in ME symptoms from taking blood flow improvers?