Jovanović, J, Cvjetković, D, Brkić, S et al. · Medicinski pregled · 1995
This small study looked at whether ME/CFS symptoms develop after people recover from infectious mononucleosis caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Researchers followed 31 patients who had recovered from mono and found that several developed ongoing fatigue, sore throats, and sleep problems in the months and years after their acute illness. The results suggest a possible connection between EBV infection and ME/CFS symptoms.
This study provides early evidence that ME/CFS symptoms may develop as a post-viral sequela of EBV infection in some patients, supporting the hypothesis that viral infections can trigger ME/CFS. Understanding these connections is important for identifying risk factors and potential mechanisms underlying ME/CFS development.
This pilot study does not establish that EBV infection causes ME/CFS in most people, nor does it prove all ME/CFS cases result from EBV. The small sample size, lack of control group, incomplete follow-up of participants, and absence of formal ME/CFS diagnostic criteria application limit causal conclusions. Correlation between EBV infection and subsequent ME/CFS-like symptoms does not exclude other contributing factors.
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
Jovanović, J, Cvjetković, D, Brkić, S, & Madle-Samardzija, N (1995). [The Epstein-Barr virus and chronic fatigue syndrome].. Medicinski pregled. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8643052/
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-jovanovi-1995-epstein-barr,
author = {Jovanović, J and Cvjetković, D and Brkić, S and Madle-Samardzija, N},
title = {[The Epstein-Barr virus and chronic fatigue syndrome].},
journal = {Medicinski pregled},
year = {1995},
note = {PubMed: 8643052},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/jovanovi-1995-epstein-barr},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-27. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/jovanovi-1995-epstein-barr
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