ABSTRACT
Plasma adenosine levels were measured in a small trial study of eighteen volunteers, aged 36-85 years. Volunteers comprised nine with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), four with ‘other fatigue’ illnesses, and five with no history of fatigue illnesses but some of whom were related to chronic fatigue sufferers. Plasma adenosine was slightly raised above the minimum detectable level (approx. 1 micromole/L) in one healthy non-fatigued volunteer and grossly raised (greater than 5 micromoles/L) in two non-fatigued volunteers, both of whom were related to CFSs. Among the nine CFSs, all had plasma adenosine raised above baseline, and seven were grossly raised. High adenosine levels were also seen in two of the volunteers with ‘other fatigue.’ Raised adenosine occurred among certain families, suggesting a genetic metabolic element. Instability of adenosine in frozen stored plasma was noted. High levels of adenosine probably do not exist freely within peripheral plasma but may be released from blood cells locally within tissues or in response to venipuncture stress or other factors. The results may be highly relevant to other pathologies such as heart disease.
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Notes on contributors
John A. Duley
David A. Pratt is a CFS sufferer, who both conceived the idea of studying adeno-sine and organised the CFS volunteers for this study.