I found this thanks to a website I got from Silver Cloud.
What is CFS ??
CFS - or ME/CFS - is a "Syndrome", i.e. a disease, for which the diagnosis is qualified by the collective sum of a number of specific symptoms. CFS is short for chronic fatigue syndrome, and is the term used by most researchers, in almost all scientific publications and used most widely by the public.
Why do some patients prefer ME ??
Among patient organizations, especially in England, the term ME is used often. ME is short for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (or more recently Myalgic Encephalopathy). Some people use the two terms "CFS" and "ME" interchangeably, but often "ME" is regarded as more 'correct' by patients organizations. This has to do with the name "CFS", which in itself is a problem here.
The battle over which term is more correct has been complicated by the fact that some psychiatrists (mainly of British and Australian origin) in 1991 introduced their own CFS-definition, the so-called Oxford or London-definition, excluding ME from the CFS-definition. The "remaining" group of CFS, sometimes referred to just as CF (= chronic fatigue) patients will include a large number of patients with fatigue as their only symptom and many who do not fulfil the CDC-criteria. This distinction between ME and (CDC-defined) CFS is delicate and not clinically founded. As a "rule of thumb", the scientific studies published by psychiatric reseachers use the vague (Oxford) CFS definition and thus include patients who do not (all) fulfil the CDC-criteria.
The impact of the absurd situation with two different CFS case definitions is discussed by Dr. Jason of DePaul University, US in a brilliant paper from 1997, here. In a 2001-paper the Australian Dr. John Pearn discuss the 'challenge of the CFS diagnosis' here.
Is there a Test for CFS ??
As of Feb 2001 there is no specific blood test - or other diagnostic test - which can confirm the CFS diagnosis. Many studies have shown abnormal test results for immune cell functions in a number of CFS patients. Also with certain tests for brain function and brain blood flow, many CFS patients have disturbances compared to normal healthy controls.
No test has been invented to this date (Jan 2001) by which all tested CFS patients show abnormal results. Drs. Cheney and Lapp have written a very readable and comprehensive review including tests showing abnormal results in CFS here.
Finding a Proper Name
The question of finding a more proper and relevant name for the disease, has been occupying the minds of activists, patients and researchers for a long time. At the Boston CFS-Conference in Oct. 1998, an entire day was devoted to this issue. It is generally agreed that the name 'CFS' is absurd, due to the fact that fatigue is but one out of many symptoms - and for most patients not even the most debilitating symptom. However, a new name has not been generally adopted, despite heavy pressure and many suggestions to concrete names from patient groups. At the CFSCC meeting in Washington April 22, 1999, it was announced that a Name Changing committee was to be assigned, look here.
Also at the Sep 99 Brussels conference the name issue was debated. In CFS-NEWS no. 87 a report of this discussion is given, here. The name question came up again in Seattle at the AACFS 2001-meeting, where the CFSCC working group met on Jan 30. In a Jan, 2001-study Dr. Jason has studied the impact of the name on the attitude of others here. It now seems that the need for a new name is no longer debated, it is finding the right name that awaits.
What is CFS ??
CFS - or ME/CFS - is a "Syndrome", i.e. a disease, for which the diagnosis is qualified by the collective sum of a number of specific symptoms. CFS is short for chronic fatigue syndrome, and is the term used by most researchers, in almost all scientific publications and used most widely by the public.
Why do some patients prefer ME ??
Among patient organizations, especially in England, the term ME is used often. ME is short for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (or more recently Myalgic Encephalopathy). Some people use the two terms "CFS" and "ME" interchangeably, but often "ME" is regarded as more 'correct' by patients organizations. This has to do with the name "CFS", which in itself is a problem here.
The battle over which term is more correct has been complicated by the fact that some psychiatrists (mainly of British and Australian origin) in 1991 introduced their own CFS-definition, the so-called Oxford or London-definition, excluding ME from the CFS-definition. The "remaining" group of CFS, sometimes referred to just as CF (= chronic fatigue) patients will include a large number of patients with fatigue as their only symptom and many who do not fulfil the CDC-criteria. This distinction between ME and (CDC-defined) CFS is delicate and not clinically founded. As a "rule of thumb", the scientific studies published by psychiatric reseachers use the vague (Oxford) CFS definition and thus include patients who do not (all) fulfil the CDC-criteria.
The impact of the absurd situation with two different CFS case definitions is discussed by Dr. Jason of DePaul University, US in a brilliant paper from 1997, here. In a 2001-paper the Australian Dr. John Pearn discuss the 'challenge of the CFS diagnosis' here.
Is there a Test for CFS ??
As of Feb 2001 there is no specific blood test - or other diagnostic test - which can confirm the CFS diagnosis. Many studies have shown abnormal test results for immune cell functions in a number of CFS patients. Also with certain tests for brain function and brain blood flow, many CFS patients have disturbances compared to normal healthy controls.
No test has been invented to this date (Jan 2001) by which all tested CFS patients show abnormal results. Drs. Cheney and Lapp have written a very readable and comprehensive review including tests showing abnormal results in CFS here.
Finding a Proper Name
The question of finding a more proper and relevant name for the disease, has been occupying the minds of activists, patients and researchers for a long time. At the Boston CFS-Conference in Oct. 1998, an entire day was devoted to this issue. It is generally agreed that the name 'CFS' is absurd, due to the fact that fatigue is but one out of many symptoms - and for most patients not even the most debilitating symptom. However, a new name has not been generally adopted, despite heavy pressure and many suggestions to concrete names from patient groups. At the CFSCC meeting in Washington April 22, 1999, it was announced that a Name Changing committee was to be assigned, look here.
Also at the Sep 99 Brussels conference the name issue was debated. In CFS-NEWS no. 87 a report of this discussion is given, here. The name question came up again in Seattle at the AACFS 2001-meeting, where the CFSCC working group met on Jan 30. In a Jan, 2001-study Dr. Jason has studied the impact of the name on the attitude of others here. It now seems that the need for a new name is no longer debated, it is finding the right name that awaits.
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