Original version
Physiological Reports. 2019, 7 (11):e14138, DOI: https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.14138
Abstract
Post‐exertional malaise and delayed recovery are hallmark symptoms of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME /CFS ). Studies on repeated cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET ) show that previous exercise negatively affects oxygen uptake (VO 2) and power output (PO ) in ME /CFS . Whether this affects arterial lactate concentrations ([Laa]) is unknown. We studied 18 female patients (18–50 years) fulfilling the Canadian Consensus Criteria for ME /CFS and 15 healthy females (18–50 years) who underwent repeated CPET s 24 h apart (CPET 1 and CPET 2) with [Laa] measured every 30th second. VO 2 at peak exercise (VO 2peak) was lower in patients than in controls on CPET 1 (P < 0.001) and decreased in patients on CPET 2 (P < 0.001). However, the difference in VO 2peak between CPET s did not differ significantly between groups. [Laa] per PO was higher in patients during both CPET s (P interaction < 0.001), but increased in patients and decreased in controls from CPET 1 to CPET 2 (P interaction < 0.001). Patients had lower VO 2 (P = 0.02) and PO (P = 0.002) at the gas exchange threshold (GET , the point where CO 2 production increases relative to VO 2), but relative intensity (%VO 2peak) and [Laa] at GET did not differ significantly from controls on CPET 1. Patients had a reduction in VO 2 (P = 0.02) and PO (P = 0.01) at GET on CPET 2, but no significant differences in %VO 2peak and [Laa] at GET between CPET s. Controls had no significant differences in VO 2, PO or %VO 2peak at GET between CPET s, but [Laa] at GET was reduced on CPET 2 (P = 0.008). In conclusion, previous exercise deteriorates physical performance and increases [Laa] during exercise in patients with ME /CFS while it lowers [Laa] in healthy subjects.