The increase of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in the plasma of chronic fatigue syndrome patients

ABSTRACT][b]BACKGROUND] Despite extensive research, no reliable biological marker for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has yet been identified. However, hyperactivation of melanotrophs in the pituitary gland and increased levels of plasma alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) have recently been detected in an animal model of chronic stress. Because CFS is considered to be caused partly by chronic stress events, increased alpha-MSH plasma levels may also occur in CFS patients. We therefore examined alpha-MSH levels in CFS patients.

METHODS]
[b]RESULTS] The mean plasma alpha-MSH concentration in the CFS group (17.9 +/- 1.0 pg/mL) was significantly higher than that in healthy controls (14.5 +/- 1.0 pg/mL, p=0.02). However, there was a wide range of values in the CFS group. The factors correlated with the plasma alpha-MSH values were analyzed using Spearman's rank correlation. A negative correlation was found between the duration of the CFS and the plasma alpha-MSH values (p=0.04, rs=-0.28), but no correlations with ACTH, cortisol or DHEA-S levels were identified (p=0.55, 0.26, 0.33, respectively). The CFS patients were divided into two groups: patients diagnosed for [less than or equal to]5 years' duration, and those diagnosed for 5-10 years' duration. They were compared with the healthy controls using one-way ANOVA and Tukey-Kramer multiple comparison tests. The mean alpha-MSH concentration in the [less than or equal to]5 years group was 20.8 +/- 1.2 pg/mL, which was significantly higher than that in the healthy controls (p<0.01). There was no significant difference between the 5-10 year group (15.6 +/- 1.4 pg/mL) and the healthy controls.

[b]CONCLUSIONS] CFS patients with a disease duration of [less than or equal to]5 years had significantly higher levels of alpha-MSH in their peripheral blood. alpha-MSH could be a potent biological marker for the diagnosis of CFS, at least during the first 5 years after onset of the disease.

MT-II and PT-141 does indeed have a variation in the folks energy balance.* Some state productivity increases while supplementing a-MSH while others notice fatigue.* Interesting research going on at the present