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Fatigue in multiple sclerosis: an example of cytokine mediated sickness behaviour?

¹ Department of Neurology, University Hospital Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
² Institute of Medical Psychology and Transplantation Center, University Hospital Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
³ Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology and Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Neuropsychiatric Institute, UCLA School of Medicine, 710 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr Christoph Heesen
Department of Neurology, University Hospital Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany; heesen{at}uke.uni-hamburg.de

Background: Fatigue is a major complaint of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. However, little is known about its pathophysiological mechanisms. Evidence from chronic fatigue syndrome and studies on sickness behaviour suggest that immune and neuroendocrine factors may play a causative role in the development of fatigue.

Methods: We compared whole blood stimulatory capacity for pro- (TNF, IFN) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10) as well as hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function in 15 MS patients with marked fatigue and 15 patients without fatigue as determined by the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS).

Results: Proinflammatory cytokines were significantly higher (TNF: 478.9 v 228.2 pg/ml, p = 0.01; IFN: 57.6 v 27.8 pg/ml; p = 0.01) in MS patients with fatigue. Furthermore, TNF values significantly correlated with daytime sleepiness as measured by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (r = 0.64, p = 0.001). Controlling for disease activity (as measured by the Cambridge Multiple Sclerosis Basic Score), disease duration, Expanded Disability Status Scale, and depression further increased the correlation of cytokine production and fatigue. HPA axis activity was not related to fatigue but was modestly correlated with cognitive impairment.

Conclusion: Our data suggest that fatigue in MS is at least partially mediated through activation of proinflammatory cytokines. In line with earlier findings, HPA axis dysfunction seems not to be relevant in MS fatigue pathogenesis but appears to be linked to cognitive impairment. Our findings suggest that increased levels of inflammatory cytokines may be involved in MS fatigue. Investigation of cytokine profiles may increase the understanding of fatigue pathogenesis in MS.

Abbreviations: ACTH, adrenocorticotropic hormone; AUC, area under the curve; CAMBS, Cambridge Multiple Sclerosis Basic Score; CRH, corticotropin releasing hormone; Dex-CRH test, dexamethasone-CRH test; EDSS, Expanded Disability Status Scale; ESS, Epworth Sleepiness Scale; FSS, Fatigue Severity Scale; HADS, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; HPA axis, hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis; MFIS, modified Fatigue Impact Scale; MS, multiple sclerosis; PHA, phytohaemagglutinin; PPMS, primary progressive MS; RRMS, relapsing remitting MS; SD, standard deviation; SDMT, Symbol Digit Modalities Test; SPMS, secondary progressive MS

Keywords: cytokines; dexamethasone-CRH test; fatigue; hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis; multiple sclerosis

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