[A case of chronic fatigue syndrome who showed a beneficial effect by intravenous administration of magnesium sulphate].

We have treated a case of chronic fatigue syndrome with atopic diathesis was had suffered general malaise, low grade fever, swelling of the lymph nodes, myalgias and arthralgias for a long time. A 29-year-old female, who had been treated for atopic dermatitis for 5 years, complained of general malaise in May 1990. She was admitted to the nearest hospital in December 1990 because of low grade fever, swelling of the lymph nodes and an elevation of antinuclear antibody (2520x). She was transferred to our hospital in May 1991. A diagnosis of collagen disease was not compatible with her condition. In addition to general malaise, fever and lymph node swelling, headache, myalgias, muscle weakness, arthralgias and insomnia were observed, and a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome was made based on the working case definition proposed by Holmes et al. Although eosinophilia, a high serum level of IgE, and elevation of RAST scores, low NK and ADCC activity, and a reduced level of NK cells in the peripheral blood were detected, serum antibodies to a number of viruses were in the normal range. Treatments with non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, minor tranquilizers and antidepressant drugs were not effective at all. An administration of magnesium sulphate was intravenously performed once a week in order to improve her condition, especially severe general malaise. After about 6-week's administration of magnesium sulphate, she noticed reduced easy fatigability and an improvement in her impaired daily activities. Finally she was able to leave the hospital in January 1992.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)