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Frontiers in endocrinology
2024;15 1373748.

Research progress in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome through interventions targeting the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Yi-Dan Zhang, Li-Na Wang
Author Information
  1. Yi-Dan Zhang: College of Basic Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
  2. Li-Na Wang: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
PMID: 38660512 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1373748

Abstract

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) causes great harm to individuals and society. Elucidating the pathogenesis of CFS and developing safe and effective treatments are urgently needed. This paper reviews the functional changes in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in patients with CFS and the associated neuroendocrine mechanisms. Despite some controversy, the current mainstream research evidence indicates that CFS patients have mild hypocortisolism, weakened daily variation in cortisol, a weakened response to the HPA axis, and an increase in negative feedback of the HPA axis. The relationship between dysfunction of the HPA axis and the typical symptoms of CFS are discussed, and the current treatment methods are reviewed.

Keywords

chronic fatigue syndrome dysfunction hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis modern medicine traditional Chinese medicine

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MeSH Term

Humans
Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic
Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System
Pituitary-Adrenal System
Hydrocortisone

Chemicals

Hydrocortisone
Journal Article Review Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Article has an altmetric score of 6

Word Cloud

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