Stein, Elisa, Heindrich, Cornelia, Wittke, Kirsten et al. · Journal of clinical medicine · 2023 · DOI
This study tested a blood-cleaning procedure called immunoadsorption in 10 patients with ME/CFS that developed after COVID-19. The treatment removes harmful antibodies from the blood that may be attacking the body's nerve receptors. Seven patients showed meaningful improvement in physical function within four weeks, suggesting this approach may help some people with post-COVID ME/CFS.
Post-COVID ME/CFS affects millions of people worldwide with limited treatment options. This study provides preliminary evidence that autoimmune mechanisms involving specific antibodies may contribute to symptoms in some patients, and that immunoadsorption—a relatively established medical technology—could offer benefit. These interim results support pursuing more rigorous controlled trials to test whether this approach could help post-COVID ME/CFS patients.
This small observational study without a control group cannot prove that immunoadsorption causes improvement—some patients may have improved naturally over time or due to placebo effects. It does not establish which patients are most likely to benefit, optimal treatment protocols, or whether benefits persist long-term. The findings cannot be generalized to all ME/CFS patients or those without the specific antibodies tested.
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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