Abstract
Chronic fatigue occurring in previously healthy children and adolescents is one of
the most vexing problems encountered by pediatric practitioners. We report three cases,
11, 12 and 13-year-old children, with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). They initially
developed a low grade fever and generalized fatigue, followed by sleep disturbance
and psychosomatic symptoms, and their performance ability deteriorated. They were
diagnosed as having CFS on the basis of criteria. To investigate the brain function
in CFS patients, we examined the regional cerebral blood flow by single-photon emission-computed
tomography (SPECT) with 111 MBq [123I]-iodoamphetamine (123I-IMP) or xenon-computed tomography (Xe-CT), and brain metabolic levels by MR spectroscopy
(MRS). Blood flow, expressed as the corticocerebellar ratio (CCR), in the left temporal
and occipital lobes was markedly lower in cases 2 and 3 than that in healthy subjects
reported by another investigator. In case 1, however, blood flow in the left basal
ganglia and thalamus was markedly higher than in healthy subjects. The MR spectroscopy
(MRS) study revealed remarkable elevation of the choline/creatine ratio in the patients
with CFS. None of our patients exhibited evidence of focal structural abnormalities
on MRI. These findings suggest that the various clinical symptoms in CFS patients
may be closely related to an abnormal brain function.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
September 3,
1999
Received in revised form:
August 13,
1999
Received:
May 18,
1999
Identification
Copyright
© 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
