| Significant overlaps in MS and CFS/ME |
| Symptomatic similarities |
Disabling fatigue with chronic course, and relapsing-remitting nature |
| Muscle symptoms: exercise intolerance, pain/myalgia, fasciculations |
| Gastrointestinal dysfunction |
| Brain and CNS symptoms: mental fatigue, cognitive dysfunction (problems with short-term memory, concentration and mainaining attention), disequilibrium, word finding disabilities, headaches and migraines |
| Abnormalities in immune system function: sore throats, joint pains, intermittent flu-like feelings |
| Problems related with control of the autonomic nervous system: palpitations, postural hypotension |
| Disease exacerbated by stress and psychological stress |
| Similarities in immunoinflammatory, oxidative and nitrosative pathways |
Oxidative and nitrosative stress (O+NS) |
| Depressed levels of antioxidants and antioxidant enzymes (Vitamin E, ubiquinone, gluthatione peroxidase) |
| Chronic activation of immunoinflammatory pathways |
| Increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α,IL-1, IL-6) |
| COX2 and NFkB upregulation |
| T regulatory (Treg) dysfunction. |
| Coesistence of a T helper (Th)1 and Th2 response |
| Similarities in autoimmune responses |
Oxidative and nitrosative stress (O+NS) |
| Depressed levels of antioxidants and antioxidant enzymes (Vitamin E, ubiquinone, gluthatione peroxidase) |
| Chronic activation of immunoinflammatory pathways |
| Increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6). |
| Detection of autoantibodies (anti-nuclear, anti-cardiolipin, anti-phospholipid, anti-neuronal, anti-muscle) |
| IgM responses against palmitic and oleic acids |
| Antibodies against byproducts of lipid peroxidation |
| Response to B-cell depression treatment (e.g. Rituximab) |
