PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Eliana M Lacerda
AU  - Luis Nacul
AU  - Derek Pheby
AU  - Charles Shepherd
AU  - Peter Spencer
TI  - Exploring the feasibility of establishing a disease-specific post-mortem tissue bank in the UK: a case study in ME/CFS
AID  - 10.1136/jcp.2010.082032
DP  - 2010 Nov 01
TA  - Journal of Clinical Pathology
PG  - 1032--1034
VI  - 63
IP  - 11
4099  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/63/11/1032.short
4100  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/63/11/1032.full
SO  - J Clin Pathol2010 Nov 01; 63
AB  - Background Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a condition, the aetiology of which remains controversial, and there is still no consensus on its nature and determination. It has rarely been studied in post-mortem examinations, despite increasing evidence of abnormalities from neuroimaging studies.Aim To ascertain the feasibility of developing a national post-mortem ME/CFS tissue bank in the UK, to enhance studies on aetiology and pathogenesis, including cell and tissue abnormalities associated with the condition.Methods The case study was carried out combining qualitative methods, ie, key informant interviews, focus group discussions with people with ME/CFS, and a workshop with experts in ME/CFS or in tissue banking.Results and conclusions The study results suggest that the establishment of the post-mortem ME/CFS tissue bank is both desirable and feasible, and would be acceptable to the possible tissue donors, provided that some issues were explicitly addressed.