Table 4 Similarities in autoimmune responses between encephalomyelitis disseminata/multiple sclerosis (ED/MS) and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)
Autoimmune responses | ED/MS | ME/CFS |
|---|---|---|
Increased numbers of B cells | ✓ | ✓ |
Anti-nuclear antibodies | ✓ | ✓ |
Anti-cardiolipin antibodies | ✓ | ✓ |
Anti-phospholipid antibodies | ✓ | ✓ |
Anti-neuronal antibodies | ✓ | ✓ |
Anti-muscle antibodies | ✓ | ✓ |
Anti-ganglioside antibodies | ✓ | ✓ |
Anti-serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)) antibodies | ✓ | ✓ |
Anti-muscarinic cholinergic receptor antibodies | - | ✓ |
Anti-mu-opioid antibodies | - | ✓ |
Anti-5-HTA receptor antibodies | - | ✓ |
Anti-D2 receptor antibodies | - | ✓ |
IgM against oxidatively modified neoepitopes, for example, malondialdehyde, oleic and myristic and palmitic acid | ✓ | ✓ |
IgM against nitrosatively modified neoepitopes, for example, NO adducts | ✓ | ✓ |
Response to rituximab | ✓ | ✓ |