Canadian Clinical Case Definition of CFIDS/ME

The Canadian Expert Consensus Panel established the most recent clinical case definition of the disease, which is summarized below.  It was presented at a conference as a clinical case definition for "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" and will be published as a case definition for "M.E./CFS."

1.  Post-Exertional Malaise and Fatigue:

There is a loss of physical and mental stamina, rapid muscular and cognitive fatigability, post-exertional fatigue, malaise and/or pain, and a tendency for other symptoms to worsen.  There is a pathologically slow recovery period (it takes more than 24 hours to recover).  Symptoms are exacerbated by stress of any kind.  The patient must have a marked degree of new onset, unexplained, persistent, or recurrent physical and mental fatigue that substantially reduces activity level.

2.  Sleep Disorder:

Unrefreshing sleep or poor sleep quality; rhythm disturbance.

3.  Pain:

Arthralgia and/or myalgia without clinical evidence of inflammatory responses of joint swelling or redness.  Pain can be experienced in the muscles, joints, or neck and is sometimes migratory in nature.  Often, there are significant headaches of new type, pattern, or severity.

4.  Neurological/Cognitive Manifestations:

--Two or more of the following difficulties should be present: Confusion, impairment of concentration and short-term memory consolidation, difficulty with information processing, categorizing, and word retrieval, intermittent dyslexia, perceptual/sensory disturbances, disorientation, and ataxia.

--There may be overload phenomena: informational, cognitive, and sensory and/or emotional overload, which may lead to relapses and/or anxiety.

5.  At Least One Symptom Out of Two of the Following Categories:

 A). Autonomic Manifestations:

Orthostatic Intolerance: i.e., neurally-mediated hypotension (NMH), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), delayed postural hypotension, vertigo, light-headedness, extreme pallor, intestinal or bladder disturbances with or without irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or bladder dysfunction, cardiac arrhythmia, vasomotor instability, and respiratory irregularities.

B). Neuroendocrine Manifestations:

Loss of thermostatic stability, heat/cold intolerance, anorexia or abnormal appetite, marked weight change, hypoglycemia, loss of adaptability and tolerance for stress, worsening of symptoms with stress and slow recovery, and emotional lability.

C). Immune Manifestations:

Tender lymph nodes, sore throat, flu-like symptoms, general malaise, development of new allergies or changes in status of old ones, and hypersensitivity to medications and/or chemicals.

6.  Persists for at Least 6 Months.

The illness usually has an acute onset, but onset also may be gradual.  Preliminary diagnosis may be possible earlier.  The disturbances generally form symptom clusters that are often unique to a particular patient.  The manifestations may fluctuate and change over time.  Symptoms exacerbate with exertion or stress.

(Source: Canadian and US ME Associations)