Tsai, Shin-Yi, Chen, Hsuan-Ju, Chen, Chi et al. · Journal of translational medicine · 2019 · DOI
This study found that people with psoriasis (a skin condition involving immune system dysfunction) have a higher chance of developing ME/CFS compared to people without psoriasis. Researchers followed over 13,000 people in Taiwan for several years and found that those with psoriasis were about 1.5 times more likely to develop ME/CFS. Interestingly, people who received certain psoriasis treatments appeared to have a lower risk of developing ME/CFS.
This study provides population-level evidence linking a systemic immune condition (psoriasis) to ME/CFS risk, supporting the hypothesis that immune dysregulation may contribute to ME/CFS development. The finding that certain treatments reduce CFS risk suggests potential pathways for understanding and possibly preventing ME/CFS in susceptible populations.
This study demonstrates association, not causation—psoriasis does not necessarily cause ME/CFS. The findings are specific to a Taiwanese population and may not generalize to other ethnic groups. The study cannot determine whether shared genetic factors, common triggering mechanisms, or the psoriasis itself drives the increased risk.
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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