Immunological response in chronic fatigue syndrome following a graded exercise test to exhaustion

This study was conducted to evaluate the immunological response to an exhau stive treadmill exercise test in 20 female chronic fatigue syndrome patient s compared to 14 matched sedentary controls. Venipuncture was performed at baseline and 4 min, 1 hr, and 24 hr postexercise. White blood cells were la beled for monoclonal antibody combinations and were quantified by FACsan. C ytokines were assayed utilizing quantitative RT/PCR. No group difference wa s seen in VO2peak (28.6 +/- 1.6 vs 30.9 +/- 1.2 ml.kg(-1).min(-1); P > 0.05 ). However, 24 hr after exercise the patients' fatigue levels were signific antly increased (P < 0.05). The counts of WBC, CD3(+) CD8(+) cells, CD3(+) CD4(+) cells, T cells, B cells, natural killer cells, and IFN-gamma changed across time (P's < 0.01). No group differences were seen for any of the im mune variables at baseline or after exercise (P's > 0.05). The immune respo nse of chronic fatigue syndrome patients to exhaustive exercise is not sign ificantly different from that of healthy nonphysically active controls.