‘Full-up’ signs in place as medical students let us unpack the mysteries of ME/CFS

January 16, 2021


This is a recording of a virtual educational meeting called ‘Demystifying ME/CFS' which was held on Thursday, 14 January 2021.

It was organised for doctors, other health professionals and medical students by students who run the Cambridge University General Practice Society. People with ME/CFS were also invited to attend.

The meeting was heavily over-subscribed as all those who wanted to attend were unable to squeeze into the 300-people limit imposed by the society’s Zoom booking. Over 450 people from around the world had asked for tickets. This recording was made widely available the day after the meeting.

The meeting consisted of three 20-minute presentations followed by a 30-minute Question and Answer session.  It was chaired by Adelaide Yue, a fifth-year medical student at Cambridge, who is the society’s events lead.

ME Association medical adviser Dr Charles Shepherd opened the meeting with a general overview of the history of ME/CFS and why uncertainties and differences of opinion had arisen over nomenclature, diagnostic criteria, what causes ME/CFS and how it should be managed.

A dermatological surgeon, Dr Nina Muirhead, spoke about her personal experience of having ME/CFS and how it had drastically reduced her ability to practice the profession she loved. She covered the diagnosis and management of ME/CFS in some detail.

Caroline Kingdon is a research nurse at the M.E. Biobank in London who had visited over 90 people with severe ME in their own homes while collecting blood samples. She spoke about good practice in relation to how health professionals should manage people with ME/CFS – in particular those with severe ME/CFS.

There was also discussion about  the new NICE guideline on ME/CFS,  COVID-19 and ME/CFS and the overlaps between ME/CFS and Long Covid.

More about the speakers

LINKS TO SOME OF THE PAPERS MENTIONED IN DR SHEPHERD'S PRESENTATION

Working draft of the 2021 NICE Guideline on ME/CFS

Chief Medical Officer's independent working group report on ME/CFS (2002)

Details about M.E. Biobank in London

The DecodeME Study

Cellular bioenergetics and mitochondrial dysfunction in ME/CFS

Immunology:  Inflammatory biomarkers in ME/CFS – systematic review

Neuroendocrinology: HPA dysfunction in ME/CFS

Neuroimaging systemic review

Neuroinflammation in ME/CFS – PET study

READING MATTER IN OUR WEBSITE SHOP

A-Z of Symptom Management

The Importance of Early and Accurate Diagnosis

The MEA Clinical and Research Guide If you're a healthcare professional, please email us for a free copy.

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