Four studies have compared a possible decrease in circulating blood volume\nin Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) patients\nwhen compared to a healthy population. A more recent study has proven a\ncorrelation between RBC volume and OI in chronic OI patients without being\ndiagnosed ME/CFS. The aim of the present study was to relate measured\nblood, RBC and plasma volumes (absolute and percent normalized) with the\northostatic intolerance complaints in ME/CFS patients. In the included 11\nfemale ME/CFS patients, percentage decrease in normalized blood, RBC and\nplasma volume was similar for all three components: 83% Â} 12%, 83% Â} 12%\nand 83% Â} 11%, respectively. In patients with a clinical suspicion of OI (n =\n7) all 3 volume components were significantly lower compared to patients\nwithout clinical suspicion of OI (n = 4). The difference percentage to normalized\nBlood volume was 77(7) vs 94(10) (p-value < 0.02), difference percentage\nto normalized RBC volume was 76(7) vs 96(10) (p-value < 0.01) and\ndifference percentage to normalized plasma volume was 77(7) vs 93(10)\n(p-value < 0.05) in OI present versus absent. Plasma volumes were plotted\nagainst RBC volumes: the relation found was RBC volume = 0.99* Plasma\nvolume + 1.55; p < 0.001; r = 0.90. In line with literature data, this pilot study\nshows that total blood volume and its components: RBC and plasma volume\nmay be reduced in ME/CFS patients, especially in the presence of a clinical\nsuspicion of OI.
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