1. Aetna considers the following as medically necessary exclusionary tests to be used for the evaluation of members suspected of having chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) as recommended by the National Institutes of Health.  The selection of studies depends on the specific characteristics of a given case:

   1. Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA)
   2. Blood and serum chemistries (blood urea nitrogen, calcium, creatinine, glucose, serum electrolytes)
   3. Complete blood count (CBC) with differential cell count
   4. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
   5. HIV serology*
   6. Immunoglobulin levels (in patients with documented recurrent bacterial infections)*
   7. Liver function tests (chemistries)
   8. Lyme serology* (when endemic)
   9. MRI of head* (to rule out multiple sclerosis)
   10. Polysomnography* (to rule out sleep disorder)
   11. Rheumatoid factor (RF)*
   12. Serum cortisol*
   13. TB skin test*
   14. Thyroid function tests (thyroid hormone [T3 or T4] uptake or thyroid hormone binding ratio [THBR], TSH)

   15. Urinalysis

   * Optional tests to be used when clinically indicated.

2. Aetna considers the following laboratory tests and procedures experimental and investigational for the diagnosis or treatment of members with CFS.  The peer- reviewed medical literature does not support their value in the diagnosis or treatment of individuals with CFS:

   1. ELISA/ACT testing 
   2. Functional elevation of NK cells 
   3. Gene expression profiling
   4. Measurements of delayed hypersensitivity
   5. Production and response to cytokines
   6. Quantification of B and T cell subsets
   7. Quantification of natural killer (NK) cells
   8. RNAse L enzymatic activity assay or RNase L protein quantification
   9. Serological tests for Candida albicans
   10. T cell response to mitogenic stimulation

   11. Viral serologies including but not limited to:

       1. Coxsackie virus serology
       2. Enterovirus serology
       3. Herpes virus serologies (e.g., cytomegalovirus, Epstein Barr virus, human herpes virus-6)

       4. Retrovirus serologies (except HIV).

   12. Acupuncture and moxibustion
   13. Breathing re-training
   14. Distant healing
   15. Graded exercise therapy
   16. Melatonin
   17. Ondansetron

   18. Vitamin injections (e.g., vitamin C, thiamine, B-complex vitamins)

3. Aetna considers tilt table testing experimental and investigational for identifying members with CFS or for evaluating treatment effectiveness of this condition because its effectiveness for these indications has not been established.  (See CPB 0299 - Tilt Table Testing).

4. Aetna considers measurements of muscle blood flow (e.g., by Doppler ultrasound), muscle metabolism (e.g., by magnetic resonance spectroscopy) and muscle oxygen saturation and blood volume (e.g., by near-infrared spectroscopy) experimental and investigational for identifying members with CFS because their clinical values have not been established.

5. Aetna considers the following imaging studies experimental and investigational for CFS because they do not confirm or exclude the diagnosis of CFS and, according to available literature, should not be routinely performed for this indication:

   1. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans (except MRI of the head where signs and symptoms suggest multiple sclerosis).

   2. Radionuclide scans (such as single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET)).

Note: Based on the position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the following guidelines should be used for the evaluation and study of CFS.

A thorough medical history, physical examination, mental status examination, and laboratory tests must be conducted to identify underlying or contributing conditions that require treatment.  Diagnosis or classification can not be made without such an evaluation.  Clinically evaluated, unexplained chronic fatigue cases can be classified as CFS if the member meets both of the following criteria:

1. Clinically evaluated, unexplained persistent or relapsing chronic fatigue that is of new or definite onset (i.e., not lifelong), is not the result of ongoing exertion, is not substantially alleviated by rest, and results in substantial reduction in previous levels of occupational, educational, social, or personal activities; and

    

2. The concurrent occurrence of 4 or more of the following symptoms: substantial impairment in short-term memory or concentration; sore throat; tender lymph nodes; muscle pain, multi-joint pain without swelling or redness; headaches of a new type, pattern, or severity; non-refreshing sleep; and post-exertional malaise lasting more than 24 hours.  These symptoms must have persisted or recurred during 6 or more consecutive months of illness and must not have predated the fatigue.

Conditions that exclude a diagnosis of CFS:

1. Alcohol or other substance abuse, occurring within 2 years of the onset of chronic fatigue and any time afterwards.  Severe obesity as defined by a body mass index [BMI = weight in kilograms divided by (height in meters)2] equal to or greater than 45.  [Note: BMI values vary considerably among different age groups and populations.  No “normal” or “average” range of values can be suggested in a fashion that is meaningful.  The range of 45 or greater was selected because it clearly falls within the range of severe obesity].  Any active medical condition that may explain the presence of chronic fatigue, such as untreated hypothyroidism, sleep apnea and narcolepsy, and iatrogenic conditions such as side effects of medication.

    

2. Any active medical condition that may explain the presence of chronic fatigue, such as untreated hypothyroidism, sleep apnea and narcolepsy, and iatrogenic conditions such as side effects of medication.

3. Any past or current diagnosis of a major depressive disorder with psychotic or melancholic features; bipolar affective disorders; schizophrenia of any subtype; delusional disorders of any subtype; dementia of any subtype; anorexia nervosa; or bulimia nervosa.

4. Some diagnosable illnesses may relapse or may not have completely resolved during treatment.  If the persistence of such a condition could explain the presence of chronic fatigue, and if it can not be clearly established that the original condition has completely resolved with treatment, then such members should not be classified as having CFS.  Examples of illnesses that can present such a picture include some types of malignancies and chronic cases of hepatitis B or C virus infection.

Any unexplained abnormality detected on examination or other testing that strongly suggests an exclusionary condition must be resolved before attempting further classification.

Conditions that do not exclude a diagnosis of CFS:

1. Any condition defined primarily by symptoms that can not be confirmed by diagnostic laboratory tests, including fibromyalgia, anxiety disorders, somatoform disorders, non-psychotic or melancholic depression, neurasthenia, and multiple chemical sensitivity disorder.

2. Any condition under specific treatment sufficient to alleviate all symptoms related to that condition and for which the adequacy of treatment has been documented.  Such conditions include hypothyroidism for which the adequacy of replacement hormone has been verified by normal thyroid-stimulating hormone levels, or asthma in which the adequacy of treatment as been determined by pulmonary function and other testing.

3. Any condition, such as Lyme disease or syphilis that was treated with definitive therapy before development of chronic symptoms.

4. Any isolated and unexplained physical examination finding, or laboratory or imaging test abnormality that is insufficient to strongly suggest the existence of an exclusionary condition.  Such conditions include an elevated anti-nuclear antibody titer that is inadequate, without additional laboratory or clinical evidence, to strongly support a diagnosis of a discrete connective tissue disorder.

A note on the use of laboratory tests in the diagnosis of CFS:

According to the CDC, a minimum battery of laboratory screening tests should be performed.  Routinely performing other screening tests for all individuals has no known value.  However, further tests may be indicated on an individual basis to confirm or exclude another diagnosis, such as multiple sclerosis.  In these cases, additional tests should be done according to accepted clinical standards.

The use of test to diagnose CFS (as opposed to excluding other diagnostic possibilities) should be done only in the setting of protocol-based research.  The fact that such tests are investigational and do not aid in diagnosis or management should be explained to the individual.

In clinical practice, no tests can be recommended for the specific purpose of diagnosing CFS.  Tests should be directed toward confirming or excluding other possible clinical conditions.  Examples of specific tests that do not confirm or exclude the diagnosis of CFS include serologic tests for Epstein-Barr virus, enteroviruses, retroviruses, human herpes virus 6, and Candida albicans; tests of immunologic function, including cell population and function studies; and imaging studies, including magnetic resonance imaging scans and radionuclide (such as single-photon emission computed tomography and positron emission tomography).

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, is a clinically defined condition characterized by severe, persistent, disabling fatigue and a combination of symptoms that prominently feature self-reported impairments in concentration and short-term memory, sleep disturbances, and musculoskeletal pain.  Diagnosis of CFS can be made only after alternative medical and psychiatric causes of chronic fatiguing illnesses have been excluded.  No definitive diagnostic tests for this condition have been validated in scientific studies.  Because CFS is clinically non-specific and lacks an identifiable cause or diagnostic test, it remains a diagnosis of exclusion.

In the revised definition, a consensus viewpoint from many of the leading CFS researchers and clinicians (including input from patient group representatives), CFS is treated as a subset of chronic fatigue, a broader category defined as unexplained fatigue of greater than or equal to 6-month's duration.  Chronic fatigue in turn, is treated as a subset of prolonged fatigue, which is defined as fatigue lasting 1 or more months.  The expectation is that scientists will devise epidemiologic studies of populations with prolonged fatigue and chronic fatigue, and search within those populations for illness patterns consistent with CFS.

In addition to a thorough history and physical examination, recommended procedures for evaluating patients suspected of having CFS include a mental status examination to identify abnormalities in mood, intellectual function, memory and personality.  Evidence of psychiatric, neurologic or cognitive disorder requires that an appropriate psychiatric, psychological, or neurological evaluation be done.

Laboratory tests include a complete blood count with differential cell count, an erythrocyte sedimentation rate, a chemistry profile including liver function tests, thyroid function test (either a thyroid panel or thyroid stimulating hormone), anti-nuclear antibodies, and urinalysis.  Additional tests, if indicated, include rheumatoid factor, immune globulin levels, tuberculin skin test, Lyme disease serology (if patient lives in an endemic area), HIV serology, MRI of the head (if indicated to rule out multiple sclerosis), and polysomnography (if indicated to rule out a sleep disorder).

The following tests do not confirm or exclude the diagnosis of CFS: serologic tests for Epstein-Barr virus, retroviruses (except HIV), human herpes virus 6, enteroviruses and Candida albicans; and tests of immunologic function, including cell population and function studies.

Immunologic abnormalities in patients with suspected CFS is an active area of research into the pathogenesis of CFS.  However, the published literature is inadequate to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of these tests.  Most of the research has compared the immunologic function of patients with CFS with healthy normal controls, so that it is impossible to know whether the subtle immunologic abnormalities seen are specific to CFS or could be seen in other patients with a wide variety of illnesses with overlapping symptoms.

Although it was originally thought that CFS was related to a viral etiology, more recent studies have failed to find any predictable association between CFS and any particular virus.

A National Institutes of Health consensus conference recommended a list of exclusionary laboratory tests that were considered appropriate for the work-up of a patient with suspected CFS. Since that time, there have been investigations into the immune function of patients with CFS, such as quantitative studies of natural killer cells, B and T cell subsets, and the production of cytokines, such as interferons and interleukin-2.  Assessments of these immunologic parameters have produced conflicting results, in part related to varying methodologies used, the heterogeneity of patients who are tested at different points in their disease, and the dynamic nature of the immune system that makes assessment of single tests difficult.  While assessments of levels of IgG subsets have shown a decrease in IgG1 and IgG3, the studies were performed on small numbers of patients with undefined control groups or only healthy controls.  Therefore, it is not unexpected that the published data fail to indicate the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of the above immunologic tests.  While immune function may provide a fertile path for research, its use in the clinical diagnosis and management of CFS is still investigational.

McCully et al (2004) examined if CFS is associated with reduced blood flow and muscle oxidative metabolism.  Muscle blood flow was measured in the femoral artery with Doppler ultrasound after exercise.  Muscle metabolism was measured in the medial gastrocnemius muscle with (31)P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy.  Muscle oxygen saturation and blood volume were measured using near-infrared spectroscopy.  The authors concluded that CFS patients showed evidence of reduced hyperemic flow and reduced oxygen delivery but no evidence that this impaired muscle metabolism.  Thus, CFS patients might have altered control of blood flow, but this is unlikely to influence muscle metabolism.  In addition, abnormalities in muscle metabolism do not appear to be responsible for the CFS symptoms.

Ribonuclease L (RNase L) is a protein induced by interferon that may affect certain anti-viral and anti-tumor effects observed when interferon is induced.  Once activated, RNase L is thought to cleave viral DNA and triggering removal of the infected cell by inducing apoptosis.  It has been posited that, in the immune cells of CFS patients, RNase L is cleaved by proteases; the resultant RNase L fragments have been posited to increase RNase L enzymatic activity and cleave cellular RNA at an accelerated rate, and also bind to and disrupt normal cellular ion flow.  In this way, the RNase L fragments are thought to account for some of the physiological symptoms of CFS.  Tests have been developed to quantify RNase L protein fragments (RNase L protein assay (RNAP), R.E.D. Laboratories, Reno, NV)) and to measure abnormal RNase L activity (RNase L activity assay (RNAA)).  Although there is evidence that RNase L fragments are increased in a subset of patients with CFS, it has not been demonstrated that measurement of RNase L fragments or enzymatic activity is useful for either the diagnosis or management of persons with CFS.

Kawai and Rokutan (2007) noted that CFS is a complex disease and has no laboratory biomarkers, which makes diagnosis of CFS difficult.  Several research groups challenged to identify genes specific for CFS; however, there are no overlaps between studies.  The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported remarkable gene expression profiles of a large scale cohort study (n = 227).  Reported genes were mostly different from the previously reported genes, again featuring the complexity of CFS.  Separately, these investigators identified 9 genes that were significantly and differentially expressed between CFS patients and healthy subjects using an original microarray.

Fostel and colleagues (2006) stated that CFS is a complex syndrome that can not simply be associated with changes in individual laboratory tests or expression levels of individual genes.  No clear association with gene expression and individual symptom domains was found.  However, analysis of such multi-faceted datasets is likely to be an important means to elucidate the pathogenesis of CFS.

Wang et al (2008) reviewed studies on the treatment of CFS with acupuncture and moxibustion in China.  All studies concluded the treatments were effective, with response rates ranging from 79 % to 100 %.  However, the qualities of the studies were generally poor, and none of them used a randomized controlled trial design.  The common acupoints/sites used in the treatment of CFS, which may reflect the collective experience of acupuncturists in China based on Traditional Chinese Medicine theories can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture for the treatment of CFS in future studies using more scientifically rigorous study designs.

In a pilot study, Nijs et al (2008) examined (i) the point prevalence of asynchronous breathing in patients with CFS; (ii) if CFS patients with an asynchronous breathing pattern present with diminished lung function in comparison with CFS patients with a synchronous breathing pattern; and (iii) if 1 session of breathing re-training in CFS patients with an asynchronous breathing pattern is able to improve lung function.  A total of 20 patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for CFS were recruited for participation in a pilot controlled clinical trial with repeated measures.  Patients presenting with an asynchronous breathing pattern were given 20 to 30 mins of breathing re-training.  Patients presenting with a synchronous breathing pattern entered the control group and received no intervention.  Of the 20 enrolled patients with CFS, 15 presented with a synchronous breathing pattern and the remaining 5 patients (25 %) exhibited an asynchronous breathing pattern.  Baseline comparison revealed no group differences in demographic features, symptom severity, respiratory muscle strength, or pulmonary function testing data (spirometry).  In comparison to no treatment, the session of breathing re-training resulted in an acute (immediately post-intervention) decrease in respiratory rate (p < 0.001) and an increase in tidal volume (p < 0.001).  No other respiratory variables responded to the session of breathing re-training.  The authors concluded that these findings provided preliminary evidence supportive of an asynchronous breathing pattern in a subgroup of CFS patients, and breathing re-training might be useful for improving tidal volume and respiratory rate in CFS patients presenting with an asynchronous breathing motion.

In a randomized controlled partially blinded study, Walach and colleagues (2008) examined the effectiveness of distant healing (a form of spiritual healing) for patients with CFS.  These researchers randomized 409 patients from 14 private practices for environmental medicine in Germany and Austria in a 2 x 2 factorial design to immediate versus deferred (waiting for 6 months) distant healing.  Half the patients were blinded and half knew their treatment allocation.  Patients were treated for 6 months and allocated to groups of 3 healers from a pool of 462 healers in 21 European countries with different healing traditions.  Change in Mental Health Component Summary (MHCS) score (SF-36) was the primary outcome and Physical Health Component Summary score (PHCS) the secondary outcome.  This trial population had very low quality of life and symptom scores at entry.  There were no differences over 6 months in post-treatment MHCS scores between the treated and untreated groups.  There was a non-significant outcome (p = 0.11) for healing with PHCS (1.11; 95 % confidence interval [CI]: -0.255 to 2.473 at 6 months) and a significant effect (p = 0.027) for blinding; patients who were unblinded became worse during the trial (-1.544; 95 % CI: -2.913 to -0.176).  These investigators found no relevant interaction for blinding among treated patients in MHCS and PHCS.  Expectation of treatment and duration of CFS added significantly to the model.  The authors concluded that in patients with CFS, distant healing appears to have no statistically significant effect on mental and physical health, but the expectation of improvement did improve outcome.

VanNess et al (2010) examined the effects of an exercise challenge on CFS symptoms from a patient perspective.  This study included 25 female CFS patients and 23 age-matched sedentary controls.  All participants underwent a maximal cardio-pulmonary exercise test.  Subjects completed a health and well-being survey (SF-36) 7 days post-exercise.  Subjects also provided, approximately 7 days after testing, written answers to open-ended questions pertaining to physical and cognitive responses to the test and length of recovery.  Data on SF-36 were compared using multi-variate analyses.  Written questionnaire responses were used to determine recovery time as well as number and type of symptoms experienced.  Written questionnaires revealed that within 24 hours of the test, 85 % of controls indicated full recovery, in contrast to 0 % CFS patients.  The remaining 15 % of controls recovered within 48 hours of the test.  In contrast, only 1 CFS patient recovered within 48 hours.  Symptoms reported after the exercise test included fatigue, light-headedness, muscular/joint pain, cognitive dysfunction, headache, nausea, physical weakness, trembling/instability, insomnia, and sore throat/glands.  A significant multi-variate effect for the SF-36 responses (p < 0.001) indicated lower functioning among the CFS patients, which was most pronounced for items measuring physiological function.  The authors concluded that these findings suggest that post-exertional malaise is both a real and an incapacitating condition for women with CFS and that their responses to exercise are distinctively different from those of sedentary controls.

Porter et al (2010) systematically reviewed the current literature related to alternative and complementary treatments for myalgic encephalomyelitis/CFS and fibromyalgia.  It should be stressed that the treatments evaluated in this review do not reflect the clinical approach used by most practitioners to treat these illnesses, which include a mix of natural and unconventionally used medications and natural hormones tailored to each individual case.  However, nearly all clinical research has focused on the utility of single complementary and alternative medicine interventions, and thus is the primary focus of this review.  Several databases (e.g., PubMed, MEDLINE,((R)) PsychInfo) were systematically searched for randomized and non-randomized controlled trials of alternative treatments and non-pharmacological supplements.  Included studies were checked for references and several experts were contacted for referred articles.  Two leading subspecialty journals were also searched by hand.  Data were then extracted from included studies and quality assessments were conducted using the Jadad scale.  Upon completion of the literature search and the exclusion of studies not meeting criterion, a total of 70 controlled clinical trials were included in the review.  Sixty of the 70 studies found at least one positive effect of the intervention (86 %), and 52 studies also found improvement in an illness-specific symptom (74 %).  The methodological quality of reporting was generally poor.  The authors concluded that several types of alternative medicine have some potential for future clinical research.  However, due to methodological inconsistencies across studies and the small body of evidence, no firm conclusions can be made at this time.  Regarding alternative treatments, acupuncture and several types of meditative practice show the most promise for future scientific investigation.  Likewise, magnesium, l-carnitine, and S-adenosylmethionine are non-pharmacological supplements with the most potential for further research.  Individualized treatment plans that involve several pharmacological agents and natural remedies appear promising as well.

Sanchez-Barcelo et al (2010) noted that the efficacy of melatonin has been assessed as a treatment of aging and depression, blood diseases, CFS, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, fibromyalgia, gastrointestinal tract diseases, infectious diseases, neurological diseases, ocular diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, as well as sleep disturbances.  Melatonin has been also used as a complementary treatment in anesthesia, hemodialysis, in vitro fertilization and neonatal care.  The conclusion of the current review is that the use of melatonin as an adjuvant therapy seems to be well- founded for arterial hypertension, diabetes, glaucoma, irritable bowel syndrome, macular degeneration, protection of the gastric mucosa, side effects of chemotherapy and radiation in cancer patients or hemodialysis in patients with renal insufficiency and, especially, for sleep disorders of circadian etiology (e.g., jet-lag, delayed sleep phase syndrome, sleep deterioration associated with aging) as well as in those related with neurological degenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer) or Smith-Magenis syndrome.  The utility of melatonin in anesthetic procedures has also been confirmed.  More clinical studies are needed to clarify whether, as the preliminary data suggest, melatonin is useful for treatment of CFS, fibromyalgia, infectious diseases, neoplasias or neonatal care.

In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial, The and colleagues (2010) examined the effect of ondansetron, a 5-HT(3) receptor antagonist, on fatigue severity and functional impairment in adult patients with CFS.  A total of 67 adult patients who fulfilled the CDC criteria for CFS and who were free from current psychiatric co-morbidity participated in the clinical trial.  Participants received either ondansetron 16 mg per day or placebo for 10 weeks.  The primary outcome variables were fatigue severity (Checklist Individual Strength fatigue severity subscale [CIS-fatigue]) and functional impairment (Sickness Impact Profile-8 [SIP-8]).  The effect of ondansetron was assessed by analysis of co-variance.  Data were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis.  Thirty-three patients were allocated to the ondansetron condition, 34 to the placebo condition.  The 2 groups were well-matched in terms of age, sex, fatigue severity, functional impairment, and CDC symptoms.  Analysis of co-variance showed no significant differences between the ondansetron- and placebo-treated groups during the 10-week treatment period in fatigue severity and functional impairment.  The authors concluded that these findings demonstrated no benefit of ondansetron compared to placebo in the treatment of CFS.

Alraek et al (2011) performed a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) treatments in patients with CFS/myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) was undertaken to summarize the existing evidence from RCTs of CAM treatments in this patient population.  A total of 17 data sources were searched up to August 13, 2011.  All RCTs of any type of CAM therapy used for treating CFS were included, with the exception of acupuncture and complex herbal medicines; studies were included regardless of blinding.  Controlled clinical trials, uncontrolled observational studies, and case studies were excluded.  A total of 26 RCTs, which included 3,273 participants, met the inclusion criteria.  The CAM therapy from the RCTs included the following: mind-body medicine, distant healing, massage, tuina and tai chi, homeopathy, ginseng, and dietary supplementation.  Studies of qigong, massage and tuina were demonstrated to have positive effects, whereas distant healing failed to do so.  Compared with placebo, homeopathy also had insufficient evidence of symptom improvement in CFS.  Seventeen studies tested supplements for CFS.  Most of the supplements failed to show beneficial effects for CFS, with the exception of NADH and magnesium.  The authors concluded that the results of this systematic review provided limited evidence for the effectiveness of CAM therapy in relieving symptoms of CFS.  However, the authors were not able to draw firm conclusions concerning CAM therapy for CFS due to the limited number of RCTs for each therapy, the small sample size of each study and the high risk of bias in these trials.  They stated that further rigorous RCTs that focus on promising CAM therapies are warranted.