The Head-Up Tilt Table Test as a Measure of Autonomic Functioning among Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Leonard A Jason; William J McGarrigle; Ruud C W Vermeulen

doi:10.3390/jpm14030238

The Head-Up Tilt Table Test as a Measure of Autonomic Functioning among Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

J Pers Med. 2024 Feb 23;14(3):238. doi: 10.3390/jpm14030238.

Authors

Leonard A Jason¹, William J McGarrigle², Ruud C W Vermeulen³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, DePaul University, Chicago, IL 60614, USA.
² Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40508, USA.
³ CFS Medical Center, 1114AA Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Abstract

Individuals with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) often experience autonomic symptoms. In the present study, we evaluated 193 adults seeking treatment for ME/CFS, who were recruited from an outpatient clinic. The participants completed a head-up tilt table test to assess two common types of orthostatic intolerance, namely, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and orthostatic hypotension (OH). During the tilt test, 32.5% of the participants demonstrated POTS or OH. The participants with either of these two common types of orthostatic intolerance were found to have more problems with sleep and post-exertional malaise as assessed by the DePaul Symptom Questionnaire; these patients also reported more physical and health function limitations. The implications of the findings are discussed.

Keywords: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; orthostatic intolerance; tilt table test.

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.