8 Models Systems (Under Construction)

Etiology
There are dozens if not hundreds of different theories about the etiology of CFS/ME, though most of them are connected. It is now widely accepted that most if not all cases of CFS/ME have an infectious origin, but it is not clear whether this is a chronic infection or a postinfectious state (see CHAPTER 5 for more information). Most theories about the cause of symptoms (such as cardiomyopathy and hypercoagulation) do implicate an infectious agent.

Almost all theories also connect to poor circulation. Postulated causes include hypovolemia (low blood volume), orthostatic hypotension or other dysautonomic states, hypercoagulation, poor erythrocyte deformability and combinations of these. Reduced circulation to brain and other organs could explain virtually all symptoms. Blood perfusion in the brain, especially in the brainstem, has been shown to be impaired in CFS/ME.8

CFS/ME is not generally considered an autoimmune illness, but autoimmunity could still contribute to its symptoms. Several autoantibodies have been detected more commonly compared to healthy controls.

These include e.g. gangliosides, phospholipids and serotonin. 9 Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) are found in a subset of CFS/ME patients. In one study over 50% of CFS/ME patients had autoantibodies to muscarinic cholinergic receptors.10

Mitochondrial dysfunction has also been proposed and muscle biopsies have provided evidence of it.11 One theory proposes that CFS/ME is a channelopathy (an illness caused by abnormal ion channel function).12

Oxidative stress may also play a part.13 Several toxins have been associated with CFS/ME, including organophosphates and ciguatera toxin.14

From: <a href="http://me-pedia.org/wiki/Welcome_to_MEpedia">http://me-pedia.org/wiki/Welcome_to_MEpedia</a>

<a title="Category:Medical hypotheses" href="http://me-pedia.org/wiki/Category:Medical_hypotheses">Medical hypotheses</a>: <a title="Acquired immune and mitochondrial dysfunction hypothesis" href="http://me-pedia.org/wiki/Acquired_immune_and_mitochondrial_dysfunction_hypothesis">Acquired immune and mitochondrial dysfunction hypothesis</a>, <a title="Amygdala hypothesis" href="http://me-pedia.org/wiki/Amygdala_hypothesis">Amygdala hypothesis</a>, <a title="Autoimmune hypothesis" href="http://me-pedia.org/wiki/Autoimmune_hypothesis">Autoimmune hypothesis</a>, <a class="new" title="Encephalitis (page does not exist)" href="http://me-pedia.org/index.php?title=Encephalitis&action=edit&redlink=1">Encephalitis</a>, <a class="new" title="Autoimmune encephalitis (page does not exist)" href="http://me-pedia.org/index.php?title=Autoimmune_encephalitis&action=edit&redlink=1">Autoimmune encephalitis</a>, <a title="Cell danger response" href="http://me-pedia.org/wiki/Cell_danger_response">Cell danger response</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" title="Fatty acid hypothesis" href="http://me-pedia.org/wiki/Fatty_acid_hypothesis">Fatty acid hypothesis</a>, <a title="Hygiene hypothesis" href="http://me-pedia.org/wiki/Hygiene_hypothesis">Hygiene hypothesis</a>, <a title="Hypercoagulation hypothesis" href="http://me-pedia.org/wiki/Hypercoagulation_hypothesis">Hypercoagulation hypothesis</a>, <a title="Immune exhaustion hypothesis" href="http://me-pedia.org/wiki/Immune_exhaustion_hypothesis">Immune exhaustion hypothesis</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" title="Infectious disease hypothesis" href="http://me-pedia.org/wiki/Infectious_disease_hypothesis">Infectious disease hypothesis</a>, <a title="Ken Lassesen's model" href="http://me-pedia.org/wiki/Ken_Lassesen%27s_model">Ken Lassesen's model</a>, <a title="Methylation cycle hypothesis" href="http://me-pedia.org/wiki/Methylation_cycle_hypothesis">Methylation cycle hypothesis</a>, <a title="Microbiome hypothesis" href="http://me-pedia.org/wiki/Microbiome_hypothesis">Microbiome hypothesis</a>, <a title="Mold hypothesis" href="http://me-pedia.org/wiki/Mold_hypothesis">Mold hypothesis</a>, <a title="Nitric oxide hypothesis" href="http://me-pedia.org/wiki/Nitric_oxide_hypothesis">Nitric oxide hypothesis</a>, <a title="Omega 3 fatty acid hypothesis" href="http://me-pedia.org/wiki/Omega_3_fatty_acid_hypothesis">Omega 3 fatty acid hypothesis</a>, <a title="Patricia Kane protocol" href="http://me-pedia.org/wiki/Patricia_Kane_protocol">Patricia Kane protocol</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" title="Vagus nerve hypothesis" href="http://me-pedia.org/wiki/Vagus_nerve_hypothesis">Vagus nerve hypothesis</a>, <a title="Viral onset hypothesis" href="http://me-pedia.org/wiki/Viral_onset_hypothesis">Viral onset hypothesis</a>,