Hyperventilation and chronic fatigue syndrome

We studied the link between chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and hyperventilation in 31 consecutive attenders at a chronic fatigue clinic (19 females, 12 males) who fulfilled criteria for CFS based on both Oxford and Joint CDC/NIH criteria. All experienced profound fatigue and fatigability associated with minimal exertion, in 66% developing after an infective episode. Alternative causes of fatigue were excluded. Hyperventilation was studied during a 43-min protocol in which end-tidal PCO2 (PETCO2) was measured non-invasively by capnograph or mass spectrometer via a fine catheter taped in a nostril at rest, during and after exercise (10-50 W) and for 10 min during recovery from voluntary overbreathing to approximately 2.7 kPa (20 mmHg). PETCO2 < 4 kPa (30 mmHg) at rest, during or after exercise, or at 5 min after the end of voluntary overbreathing, suggested either hyperventilation or a tendency to hyperventilate. Most patients were able voluntarily to overbreathe, but not all were able to exercise. Twenty-two patients (71%) had no evidence of hyperventilation during any aspect of the test. Only four patients had unequivocal hyperventilation, in one associated with asthma and in three with panic. Only one patient with severe functional disability and agoraphobia had hyperventilation with no other obvious cause. A further five patients had borderline hyperventilation, in which PETCO2 was < 4 kPa (30 mmHg) for no more than 2 min, when we would have expected it to be normal. There was no association between level of functional impairment and degree of hyperventilation. There is only a weak association between hyperventilation and chronic fatigue syndrome.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)