Hajdarevic, Riad, Lande, Asgeir, Rekeland, Ingrid et al. · Brain, behavior, and immunity · 2021 · DOI
This study looked at genes related to the immune system in people with ME/CFS to understand why some people develop the condition. Researchers compared genetic markers in 427 Norwegian ME/CFS patients with 480 healthy controls and found two specific genetic regions associated with ME/CFS—one involving immune system genes that present antigens to cells, and another in a different immune region. These findings suggest the immune system's ability to recognize and respond to threats may play a role in ME/CFS.
This is one of the first studies to systematically identify specific genetic regions associated with ME/CFS susceptibility, providing evidence for an immune-mediated component of the disease. If replicated, these findings could lead to better understanding of disease mechanisms, improved diagnostic approaches, and potentially targeted treatments based on immune system biology.
This study does not prove that HLA variants cause ME/CFS—it demonstrates association only, not causation. The findings are specific to a Norwegian population and must be confirmed in other populations before broader conclusions can be drawn. The study also does not establish which genes in the identified regions are actually responsible for disease susceptibility, as multiple genes show associations.
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 →
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