Burbelo, Peter D, Bayat, Ahmad, Wagner, Jason et al. · American journal of translational research · 2012
This study tested whether a virus called HHV-6 might be causing chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Researchers compared antibodies (immune system markers) against HHV-6 in people with ME/CFS and healthy controls. They found that both groups had similar levels of HHV-6 antibodies, suggesting this virus is unlikely to be a major cause of ME/CFS.
Because some ME/CFS patients and advocacy groups have suspected viral infections as a cause, this study addresses an important question about HHV-6's role. Clarifying which viruses are not involved helps focus research efforts and clinical attention on more promising leads.
This study does not prove HHV-6 has zero involvement in ME/CFS—it only found no differences in antibody levels between groups. It also cannot rule out that HHV-6 reactivation, latent infection, or regional variants might affect specific patient subsets. The study's cross-sectional design cannot establish causation either direction.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
The first block is for the primary paper and is the citation you should use in research work. The atlas-snapshot line only applies if you are specifically referring to this atlas’s reading of the paper on the date shown.
Primary citation
Burbelo, Peter D, Bayat, Ahmad, Wagner, Jason, Nutman, Thomas B, Baraniuk, James N, & Iadarola, Michael J (2012). No serological evidence for a role of HHV-6 infection in chronic fatigue syndrome.. American journal of translational research. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23145212/
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-burbelo-2012-serological-evidence,
author = {Burbelo, Peter D and Bayat, Ahmad and Wagner, Jason and Nutman, Thomas B and Baraniuk, James N and Iadarola, Michael J},
title = {No serological evidence for a role of HHV-6 infection in chronic fatigue syndrome.},
journal = {American journal of translational research},
year = {2012},
note = {PubMed: 23145212},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/burbelo-2012-serological-evidence},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-29. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/burbelo-2012-serological-evidence
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