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Small heart syndrome in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome
Kunihisa Miwa1, Masatoshi Fujita
1Division of Internal Medicine, Fukuda General Hospital, Osaka. kmiwa@fukuda-hsp.jp
Background:
Small heart syndrome has previously been reported as neurocirculatory asthenia, associated with a small heart shadow on a chest roentgenogram. This is characterized as weakness or fatigue even after ordinary exertion, palpitation, dyspnea, and fainting, resembling patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
Hypothesis:
Small heart syndrome may be prevalent in patients with CFS.
Methods:
The study population consisted of 56 patients (<50 y of age) with CFS, and 38 control subjects. Chest roentgenographic, echocardiographic, and physical examinations were performed.
Results:
Small heart syndrome (cardiothoracic ratio
Conclusions:
A considerable number of CFS patients have a small heart. Small heart syndrome may contribute to the development of CFS as a constitutional factor predisposing to fatigue, and may be included in the genesis of CFS.
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