Soffritti, Irene, Gravelsina, Sabine, D'Accolti, Maria et al. · International journal of molecular sciences · 2023 · DOI
Researchers tested whether six small molecules called microRNAs (miRNAs) in the blood could help identify people with ME/CFS. They compared blood samples from 40 ME/CFS patients with 20 healthy people and found that five miRNAs were more abundant in patients' blood while one was less abundant. Interestingly, the levels of these molecules matched how severe each patient's symptoms were, suggesting they could potentially be used as a blood test to help diagnose ME/CFS.
ME/CFS currently lacks objective diagnostic biomarkers, leaving many patients undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. If validated in larger studies, circulating miRNAs could provide the first blood-based test to confirm ME/CFS diagnosis and potentially track disease severity objectively. This would transform patient care by enabling earlier diagnosis and monitoring treatment responses.
This study does not prove that miRNAs cause ME/CFS or that herpesviruses trigger the disease—it only shows association. The cross-sectional design means we cannot determine whether miRNA changes occur before, during, or after symptom onset. The findings also require validation in larger, independent cohorts before any clinical diagnostic application.
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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