Komaroff, Anthony L · Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021 · DOI
ME/CFS is a real illness with measurable biological problems in the body, even though standard blood tests often appear normal. Over the past 20 years, advanced research tools have found objective abnormalities in people with ME/CFS. Unfortunately, many doctors aren't aware of this evidence, which can lead them to dismiss patients' symptoms and wrongly suggest there's nothing physically wrong—adding emotional harm on top of the already serious illness.
This work addresses a critical gap between scientific evidence and clinical practice—many doctors remain unaware of documented biological abnormalities in ME/CFS, leading to harmful dismissal of patients. By highlighting objective research findings, the editorial advocates for validation of patient suffering and improved clinical recognition. This bridging of the evidence-practice gap is essential for reducing diagnostic delay, inappropriate psychiatric labeling, and the compounded suffering patients experience.
This editorial does not provide new experimental data or identify the specific biological mechanisms causing ME/CFS. It does not establish which abnormalities are disease-causing versus secondary consequences, nor does it prove that awareness alone will change clinical practice. The paper reviews existing research but does not systematically quantify the prevalence or clinical utility of identified abnormalities.
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Primary citation
Komaroff, Anthony L (2021). Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: When Suffering Is Multiplied.. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9070919
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-komaroff-2021-myalgic-encephalomyelitis,
author = {Komaroff, Anthony L},
title = {Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: When Suffering Is Multiplied.},
journal = {Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)},
year = {2021},
doi = {10.3390/healthcare9070919},
note = {PubMed: 34356297},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/komaroff-2021-myalgic-encephalomyelitis},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-26. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/komaroff-2021-myalgic-encephalomyelitis
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