The ME-Registry in Norway

This folder contains guidelines for the diagnosis for the ME-Registry in Norway and explains the main features of ME/PVFS (G93.3, WHO). In Scandinavia, CFS is considered a psychosomatic illness like neurasthenia (F48, WHO). The term "ME/CFS" is therefore avoided. It is customary to omit "benign" and to substitute -itis with -opathy in the absence of a confirmed inflammatory reaction in the myelon and encephalon. The clinical presentation is modeled on the epidemic form (Ramsay's myalgic encephalomyelitis). ME/PVFS is a separate disease entity, not an exclusionary diagnosis like CFS. Diagnostic procedures are therefore mainly clinical and noninvasive. Laboratory investigations vary and should take into consideration clinical evidence of alternative diagnoses that are treatable. A preliminary concession for a voluntary, nationwide population based registry was obtained by Sidsel Kreyberg from the Data Inspectorate in 2001. It has been running since January 2004.