Sabath, Daniel E, Barcy, Serge, Koelle, David M et al. · The Journal of infectious diseases · 2002 · DOI
This study looked at immune system differences in identical twins where one twin had ME/CFS and the other didn't. By comparing identical twins, researchers could focus on immune changes related to the illness rather than genetic differences. The study found that certain immune cells were more variable in twins with ME/CFS, suggesting the immune system may be less stable in this condition.
This study provides evidence that ME/CFS involves immune system dysfunction that appears distinct from genetic inheritance, since identical twins with the same genes showed different immune profiles when one had the illness. Understanding these immune differences may help identify biological markers for diagnosis and guide development of immune-targeted treatments.
This study does not prove that immune dysfunction causes ME/CFS—it only shows associations. The differences observed may be consequences of the illness rather than causes. Additionally, small sample size and lack of statistical significance in some findings limit generalizability; larger studies are needed to confirm these patterns.
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
Sabath, Daniel E, Barcy, Serge, Koelle, David M, Zeh, Judy, Ashton, Suzanne, & Buchwald, Dedra (2002). Cellular immunity in monozygotic twins discordant for chronic fatigue syndrome.. The Journal of infectious diseases. https://doi.org/10.1086/339194
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-sabath-2002-cellular-immunity,
author = {Sabath, Daniel E and Barcy, Serge and Koelle, David M and Zeh, Judy and Ashton, Suzanne and Buchwald, Dedra},
title = {Cellular immunity in monozygotic twins discordant for chronic fatigue syndrome.},
journal = {The Journal of infectious diseases},
year = {2002},
doi = {10.1086/339194},
note = {PubMed: 11920301},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/sabath-2002-cellular-immunity},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-29. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/sabath-2002-cellular-immunity
Contribute
Private, reviewed by a human. Not a public comment thread.