Cyclophosphamide in Myalgic Encephalopathy/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2019-12-06
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Significant clinical improvements of ME/CFS symptoms were observed in two patients with
long-standing ME/CFS who received adjuvant chemotherapy including cyclophosphamide for breast
cancer, also in one ME/CFS patient who received chemotherapy including iphosphamide for
Hodgkin lymphoma.
Three pilot ME/CFS patients were thereafter treated with six intravenous infusions four weeks
apart, in two of these with a significant clinical response.
The hypothesis is that a subset of ME/CFS patients have an activated immune system, and that
ME/CFS symptoms may be alleviated by treatment with cyclophosphamide as intravenous pulse
infusions four weeks apart, six infusions in total.
The purpose of the present study is to treat ME/CFS patients with cyclophosphamide as
intravenous pulse infusions four weeks apart, six infusions in total. The effects on ME/CFS
symptoms and tolerability/side effects during 12 months follow-up will be registered, and
additional tests will be performed to objectively register changes in physical ability during
follow-up. Studies to investigate possible large vessel endothelial dysfunction and skin
microvascular dysfunction will be performed before start of intervention and during
follow-up.