Diagnosing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - The QT Interval & Why it's Important
A couple of questions for those of you with chronic fatigue syndrome - first, did you know your heart can provide objective support for your diagnosis, and also objectively separate chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS) from fibromyalgia (FMS)?
Second, has a doctor ever suggested checking your QT interval to confirm your diagnosis?
What's a QT interval? During an electrocardiogram (EKG), the machine maps out your heart's electrical cycle in a jagged line. A doctor then marks specific points on that line with letters. Then, he or she can measure the amount of time between the "Q" point and the "T" point, and that's the QT interval.
Earlier studies show a short QT interval is extremely rare in the general population, yet showed up in most people with ME/CFS. Now, a new study published in the European Journal of Internal Medicine shows that QT interval measurements, taken by EKG during tilt tests, can distinguish ME/CFS from FMS 87% of the time.
Meanwhile, we know that many of us with these conditions are misdiagnosed, and as treatments become more specific to the disorders a correct diagnosis becomes more important. Even with lifestyle changes, you get different dietary and supplement recommendations, and there's a big difference in exercise tolerance.
While the QT interval may not be enough to conclusively diagnose ME/CFS, when we're all desperate for objective measures to prove to doctors, insurance companies, the disability folks, employers, friends and family that YES, we really are sick, why is this test largely being ignored?
Has a doctor ever mentioned this test to you? Has your QT interval been measured? Do you think the American health care system could be ignoring this research because most of it has been published only in Europe? Share your thoughts and experiences here or in About.com's Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome forum.
Suggested Reading
- Diagnosing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- American vs. Canadian Criteria for Diagnosing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Diagnosing Fibromyalgia
- The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire
Comments
Actually, this is the first time i’ve heard about this test. No…no doctor has ever mentioned doing this. If it has an 87% accuracy, why are they not doing this more often? Seems like a simple test to narrow it down.
I don’t care if it’s been published in Europe or China. But I do think there may be a bit of ‘professional jealousy’ within the medical arena when it comes to things of this nature. A failure to accept the findings because “they” (the US) didn’t find it first?
I am a UK/European citizen/resident, and this is the first I’ve heard of this research - having been diagnosed as having CFS in Feb 2006, (I personally believe I actually have FMS, as my primary symptom is pain!!) I would be very interested in having a tilt-test ECG done to check my QT-interval; but given that my GP has left me to my own devises since Feb ‘06 (he only prescribed me the “permitted” 6-month course of anti-depressants; but b/c he knows so little about CFS, he actually prescribed me the full-on dosage instead of the reduced dosage recommended for CFS sufferers!!!) I very strongly doubt I will ever get it if I asked for it, much less actually be offered it!!!!
Just letting you Americans know that it has got nothing to do with it not being American research, and everything to do with: b/c ME/CFS & FMS are not “life-threatening” the drs are not bothered about us CFS & FMS sufferers!!!!
Victoria…I think that we have long realized the medical society is not concerned about us, because it’s not life-threatening. Hence, why so many bounce from doc. to doc. before finally being correctly dx’d. We are far low on the drawing board.