von Mikecz, A, Konstantinov, K, Buchwald, D S et al. · Arthritis and rheumatism · 1997 · DOI
Researchers tested blood samples from 60 ME/CFS patients and found that 83% had unusual antibodies (immune proteins) attacking their own cells—specifically targeting proteins that form the structural framework inside and around cell nuclei. These antibodies were rarely seen in healthy people (only 17%), suggesting this autoimmune pattern might be unique to ME/CFS and could potentially help doctors identify the disease.
This study identifies a distinctive immune signature in ME/CFS that differs markedly from typical autoimmune diseases, potentially providing a biological marker for diagnosis. Understanding these autoantibody patterns may help validate ME/CFS as a distinct pathophysiological entity and guide future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
This study does not establish whether these autoantibodies cause ME/CFS symptoms or are merely a consequence of the disease. It also does not prove these antibodies are present in all ME/CFS patients or that they persist over time, nor does it demonstrate whether they have prognostic or therapeutic implications.
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
von Mikecz, A, Konstantinov, K, Buchwald, D S, Gerace, L, & Tan, E M (1997). High frequency of autoantibodies to insoluble cellular antigens in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.. Arthritis and rheumatism. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.1780400215
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-von-mikecz-1997-high-frequency,
author = {von Mikecz, A and Konstantinov, K and Buchwald, D S and Gerace, L and Tan, E M},
title = {High frequency of autoantibodies to insoluble cellular antigens in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.},
journal = {Arthritis and rheumatism},
year = {1997},
doi = {10.1002/art.1780400215},
note = {PubMed: 9041942},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/von-mikecz-1997-high-frequency},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-30. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/von-mikecz-1997-high-frequency
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