Shekhar Patil, Madhura, Richter, Emma, Fanning, Lara et al. · Expert reviews in molecular medicine · 2024 · DOI
This review examined research on how long-COVID changes the way genes are turned on and off in the body—a process called epigenetics. Researchers found that these changes may affect the immune system, nervous system, and how cells use energy. While the findings are interesting and promise better treatments in the future, current research is still limited in size and quality.
Understanding epigenetic changes in post-viral conditions like long-COVID may illuminate shared mechanisms with ME/CFS, potentially leading to biomarker-driven subgrouping and targeted therapies for both conditions. This research bridges molecular mechanisms with clinical heterogeneity, offering hope for personalized treatment approaches in prolonged post-infectious illnesses.
This review does not establish causation—epigenetic changes may be consequences rather than drivers of long-COVID symptoms. The small sample sizes and heterogeneous patient populations mean findings cannot yet be generalized to broader patient groups. The review provides evidence mapping rather than definitive proof of specific mechanisms.
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
Shekhar Patil, Madhura, Richter, Emma, Fanning, Lara, Hendrix, Jolien, Wyns, Arne, Barrero Santiago, Laura, et al. (2024). Epigenetic changes in patients with post-acute COVID-19 symptoms (PACS) and long-COVID: A systematic review.. Expert reviews in molecular medicine. https://doi.org/10.1017/erm.2024.32
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-shekhar-patil-2024-epigenetic-changes,
author = {Shekhar Patil, Madhura and Richter, Emma and Fanning, Lara and Hendrix, Jolien and Wyns, Arne and Barrero Santiago, Laura and Nijs, Jo and Godderis, Lode and Polli, Andrea},
title = {Epigenetic changes in patients with post-acute COVID-19 symptoms (PACS) and long-COVID: A systematic review.},
journal = {Expert reviews in molecular medicine},
year = {2024},
doi = {10.1017/erm.2024.32},
note = {PubMed: 39435694},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/shekhar-patil-2024-epigenetic-changes},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-28. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/shekhar-patil-2024-epigenetic-changes
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