Abstract
Objective: To assess potential mechanism(s) for the rhinitis found in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) subjects.
Methods: The concentrations of mucus constituents were measured in basal nasal lavage fluids of 103 CFS and 92 non-CFS control subjects. Subjects were further characterized by their Rhinitis Score and allergy skin test results into nonallergic and allergic rhinitis, atopic, and negative subgroups to determine if differences were related to atopy. Other questionnaires of irritant sensitivity and medicine use were completed.
Results: Mucin polysaccharide (p = 0.043, ANOVA), free hemoglobin (p = 0.0044), mucin/total protein (p = 0.039) and hemoglobin/total protein (p = 0.043) were higher in CFS than controls. CFS subjects with positive Rhinitis Scores (p = 0.023) or skin tests (p = 0.047) had higher mucin levels than those with negative values. For all subjects, increased mucin was correlated with total protein (Pearson's r2 = 0.188) and inhaled corticosteroid use (r2 = 0.091), while hemoglobin was correlated with total protein (r2 = 0.082) and elevated Tobacco Scores (r2 = 0.061). Other correlations with demographic, medication, or questionnaire responses gave r2 < 0.05.
Conclusions: CFS subjects have a higher level of complaints in many systems including the nose. They appear to have an irritant (nonallergic) rhinitis with increased mucin production and mucosal friability (epistaxis of hemoglobin). Nasal and systemic drugs do not explain these significant baseline changes.