Chronic fatigue syndrome in childhood

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A Tomoda1, T Miike, E Yamada

  • 1Department of Child Development, Kumamoto University School of Medicine, Japan. tomo@kaiju.medic.kumamoto-u.ac.jp

Brain & Development
|April 13, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) involves abnormal brain function, indicated by altered cerebral blood flow and elevated choline/creatine ratios. These findings suggest a neurological basis for CFS symptoms in children and adolescents.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Neuroimaging
  • Metabolic Psychiatry

Background:

  • Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) presents a diagnostic challenge in pediatric practice.
  • Understanding the underlying pathophysiology of pediatric CFS is crucial for effective treatment.

Observation:

  • Three pediatric cases of CFS (ages 11-13) presented with fatigue, fever, sleep disturbance, and functional decline.
  • Neuroimaging techniques, including SPECT and Xe-CT, assessed regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF).
  • MR spectroscopy (MRS) evaluated brain metabolic profiles.

Findings:

  • Reduced rCBF in the left temporal and occipital lobes was observed in two cases (using corticocerebellar ratio).
  • Elevated rCBF in the left basal ganglia and thalamus was noted in one case.
  • Significantly increased choline/creatine ratios were detected via MRS in CFS patients, indicating altered brain metabolism. No structural abnormalities were found on MRI.

Implications:

  • Abnormal brain function, including altered perfusion and metabolism, is implicated in pediatric CFS.
  • These neurobiological findings may explain the diverse clinical manifestations of CFS in young individuals.
  • Further research into brain function abnormalities could lead to targeted therapeutic strategies for pediatric CFS.

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