In the present study, we have investigated whether the peripheral cholinergic abnormalities that we have reported previously [Spence, Khan and Belch (2000) Am. J. Med. 108, 736–739] in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are also present in those with Gulf War syndrome (GWS) and agricultural workers exposed to organophosphate pesticides, where cholinesterase inhibition is specifically implicated. We also looked at whether these abnormalities might be due to a reduction in the activity of cholinesterase expressed on the vascular endothelium. We used laser Doppler imaging to measure the forearm skin blood flow responses to iontophoresis of acetylcholine and of methacholine (which is resistant to breakdown by cholinesterase) in patients with CFS, GWS and those with a history of ill health after definite organophosphate exposure, as well as in matched healthy controls. The response to acetylcholine was significantly higher in patients with CFS than in controls (P=0.029, repeated-measures ANOVA), but was normal in those with GWS and those exposed to organophosphates. The methacholine response was higher than the acetylcholine response in all patient groups except for those with CFS, where there was no difference between the responses. Although there are many clinical similarities between these three illnesses, our results indicate peripheral cholinergic abnormalities in the vascular endothelium of only patients with CFS, suggesting that this syndrome has a different aetiology, which might involve inhibition of vascular cholinesterase.
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February 2004
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Research Article|
February 01 2004
Peripheral cholinergic function in humans with chronic fatigue syndrome, Gulf War syndrome and with illness following organophosphate exposure
Faisel KHAN;
1Vascular Diseases Research Unit, University Department of Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, U.K.
Correspondence: Dr Faisel Khan (e-mail [email protected]).
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Gwen KENNEDY;
Gwen KENNEDY
1Vascular Diseases Research Unit, University Department of Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, U.K.
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Vance A. SPENCE;
Vance A. SPENCE
1Vascular Diseases Research Unit, University Department of Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, U.K.
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David J. NEWTON;
David J. NEWTON
1Vascular Diseases Research Unit, University Department of Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, U.K.
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Jill J. F. BELCH
Jill J. F. BELCH
1Vascular Diseases Research Unit, University Department of Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, U.K.
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
July 17 2003
Revision Received:
September 17 2003
Accepted:
September 23 2003
Accepted Manuscript online:
September 23 2003
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
© 2004 The Biochemical Society
2004
Clin Sci (Lond) (2004) 106 (2): 183–189.
Article history
Received:
July 17 2003
Revision Received:
September 17 2003
Accepted:
September 23 2003
Accepted Manuscript online:
September 23 2003
Citation
Faisel KHAN, Gwen KENNEDY, Vance A. SPENCE, David J. NEWTON, Jill J. F. BELCH; Peripheral cholinergic function in humans with chronic fatigue syndrome, Gulf War syndrome and with illness following organophosphate exposure. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 February 2004; 106 (2): 183–189. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20030246
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