|
Feedback from Research Event |
|
|
Professor Julia Newton writes: I was delighted to attend Bullion Hall recently in order to let people know how our research programme at Newcastle University has been progressing. The hall was almost full and there was a lively question and answer session. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and really welcomed the opportunity to feedback the results of some of the research studies that many of you have helped with. Most of what was presented involved our studies to explore the role of blood pressure and heart rate in those with fatigue. My unit at the Royal Victoria Infirmary specialises in the investigation of blackouts and dizziness on standing, related to drops in blood pressure when we become upright. Much of our research has involved us using the techniques we have available to investigate blackouts and low blood pressure and applying these to the study of fatigue. We have been able to show using a standardised standing test (a head up tilt test) that those with ME are often found to have low blood pressure and/or a tendency to drop their blood pressure when standing up, and also frequently have a heart rate that increases significantly when they stand. Both of these conditions are well recognised in blackout clinics and respond to a range of treatments. Recently members of ME North East have helped with a number of studies involving MRI. Magnetic resonance imaging is a great way to examine the structure of tissues but also how they function. We have had a publication that confirms that those with ME have problems with the way their muscles work, particularly having trouble getting rid of acid from the muscles, the severity of which seems to be related to how bad the control of blood pressure is. Other studies have included heart MRI and we are waiting for news whether this strand of the research will be published soon. We have also completed our trial of tilt training which suggested that this was a treatment that was possible in patients with ME and there were tantalising suggestions that it would improve blood pressure control (and hence fatigue). Finally we are still performing autonomic testing and collecting data from all those who come to the clinical service. This is providing an invaluable long term resource in a project funded by ME Research UK and will undoubtedly provide really exciting results in the near future. We are just embarking on some exercise studies and brain and muscle MR scans. So I look forward to reporting the results of these studies very soon. Julia
...NEXT STEPS... |