Metselaar, Paula I, Mendoza-Maldonado, Lucero, Li Yim, Andrew Yung Fong et al. · Scientific reports · 2021 · DOI
Researchers found a set of 23 genes in blood cells that could reliably identify people with ME/CFS. By looking at both gene activity and chemical markers on genes, they developed a test that correctly identified ME/CFS patients about 92-97% of the time. This is important because there's currently no reliable blood test to diagnose ME/CFS.
ME/CFS lacks a specific diagnostic test, making diagnosis difficult and delays treatment. This study demonstrates a potentially robust gene-expression-based biomarker signature that could eventually enable objective diagnosis. If validated in clinical settings, such a test could improve diagnosis accuracy and standardize patient identification for research and clinical care.
This study does not prove that these genes cause ME/CFS or that targeting them will treat the disease. The biomarker signature correlates with disease status but does not establish causation. Additionally, the study used archived data and requires prospective clinical validation before determining whether this test can be reliably used in clinical practice.
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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