ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

654 studies

161–180 of 654 studies

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Effects of traditional Chinese mind-body exercises for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Kong, Lingjun, Ren, Jun, Fang, Sitong et al.·Journal of global health·2023

This research review looked at whether traditional Chinese exercises like Tai Chi and Qigong help people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Researchers combined results from 13 studies involving 1,187 patients and found that these exercises probably reduce fatigue, depression, and anxiety compared to doing nothing, and may improve sleep and thinking ability. However, the benefits seem to fade over time, and these exercises work about as well as other active treatments like standard exercise programs.

Sleep

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Aetiological Understanding of Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Classificatory Analogues: A Systematic Umbrella Review.

Kleinstäuber, Maria, Schröder, Andreas, Daehler, Sarah et al.·Clinical psychology in Europe·2023

This study reviewed hundreds of scientific articles about ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome to understand what researchers think causes these conditions. The researchers found that most studies focus on biological factors like immune system problems, while far fewer examine psychological or social causes. The review suggests that the best understanding comes from looking at multiple factors together—biological, psychological, and social—rather than just one type of cause.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Exercise Training in Non-Hospitalized Patients with Post-COVID-19 Syndrome-A Narrative Review.

Sick, Johanna, König, Daniel·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2023

This review looked at seven studies involving 935 people with long-COVID symptoms who were not hospitalized during their initial infection. The studies found that exercise programs improved fitness, physical function, and reduced symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, and depression. The exercise was generally well-tolerated, but the authors urge caution for people with post-exertional malaise or ME/CFS, since these conditions may respond differently to exercise.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredSystematic-Review

Posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and comparison of pathogenesis.

Bai, Natalie A, Richardson, Christie S·Chronic diseases and translational medicine·2023

This review examined 18 studies comparing two similar chronic illnesses: posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS), which affects about 10% of Lyme disease patients even after antibiotic treatment, and ME/CFS. Both conditions cause severe fatigue, cognitive problems, pain, and sleep issues that last for months or years. The researchers found that patients with PTLDS experience many of the same symptoms as ME/CFS patients, suggesting these different illnesses may develop through similar biological pathways in the body.

Severe MEPost-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredSystematic-Review

A scoping review of 'Pacing' for management of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): lessons learned for the long COVID pandemic.

Sanal-Hayes, Nilihan E M, Mclaughlin, Marie, Hayes, Lawrence D et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2023

This review looked at 17 studies about 'pacing'—a strategy where people with ME/CFS carefully manage their activity level to avoid making symptoms worse. The researchers found that studies on pacing had very different designs and results: some showed pacing helped, some showed no benefit, and a few suggested it could be harmful. The evidence so far isn't strong enough to confidently say whether pacing works best for everyone.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Identifying, synthesising and appraising existing evidence relating to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and pregnancy: a mixed-methods systematic review.

Slack, Emma, Pears, Katrina Anne, Rankin, Judith et al.·BMJ open·2023

This review looked at all available research about how ME/CFS affects pregnancy and how pregnancy affects ME/CFS. Researchers found very few good quality studies on this topic. The existing studies showed mixed results: some women's ME/CFS got worse during pregnancy, some stayed the same, and some improved. The review highlights that pregnant people with ME/CFS need personalized care and extra support, but we need much more research to give clear medical guidance.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Autoimmune autonomic nervous system imbalance and conditions: Chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, silicone breast implants, COVID and post-COVID syndrome, sick building syndrome, post-orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, autoimmune diseases and autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants.

Malkova, A M, Shoenfeld, Y·Autoimmunity reviews·2023

This review examined whether ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and several other conditions share a common problem: the immune system mistakenly attacks nerve controls that regulate heart rate, blood pressure, and other automatic body functions. Researchers found that people with these conditions often have similar symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, and brain fog, and some have autoantibodies (immune proteins) that target nerve receptors. The authors propose this 'autonomic nervous system imbalance' could be a unifying mechanism explaining why these diverse conditions feel so similar.

Autonomic Nervous System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredEditorial

The Draft Report by the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Healthcare Does Not Provide Any Evidence That Graded Exercise Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Are Safe and Effective Treatments for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Vink, Mark, Vink-Niese, Alexandra·Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)·2023

This study examined whether a German health institute's recommendation for graded exercise therapy (GET) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat ME/CFS was supported by good evidence. The researchers found serious problems with the studies being used to make this recommendation, including weak study designs, reliance on patient reports rather than objective measurements, and inclusion of people who may not have had ME/CFS. They concluded these treatments should not be recommended based on the available evidence.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredMeta-Analysis

DNA Methylation Changes in Blood Cells of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients.

Przybylowicz, Patrycja Kamila, Sokolowska, Katarzyna Ewa, Rola, Hubert et al.·Journal of pain research·2023

This study looked at chemical changes called 'methylation' in the blood cells of people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Researchers combined data from three previous studies and found that while the specific methylation patterns differed slightly between studies, they consistently affected genes involved in body processes that could explain symptoms like pain and exhaustion. This suggests that methylation changes may play a role in how these conditions develop.

BiomarkersImmune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Diagnosis and Management of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Grach, Stephanie L, Seltzer, Jaime, Chon, Tony Y et al.·Mayo Clinic proceedings·2023

This review explains how doctors can diagnose and manage ME/CFS, a serious illness that causes extreme tiredness and other symptoms, often starting after an infection. The authors note that ME/CFS shares many similarities with long COVID, the condition some people experience after having COVID-19. They provide practical guidance to help healthcare providers recognize and treat this condition.

Long COVID OverlapPost-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredSystematic-Review

Comparison of serum acylcarnitine levels in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and healthy controls: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Jinushi, Ryuhei, Masuda, Sakue, Tanisaka, Yuki et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2023

This review combined results from seven studies comparing a chemical in the blood called acylcarnitine between people with ME/CFS and healthy people. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS have significantly lower levels of this chemical. These lower levels might one day help doctors diagnose ME/CFS, though more research is needed before it can be used as a reliable test.

BiomarkersEnergy Metabolism

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Fatigue in Adults: Evaluation and Management.

Latimer, Kelly M, Gunther, Althea, Kopec, Michael·American family physician·2023

Fatigue is a very common reason people visit their doctors, and it can significantly impact daily life and work safety. This guideline explains that fatigue can come from different causes—normal tiredness that improves with rest and better habits, fatigue from other medical conditions, or chronic fatigue like ME/CFS. ME/CFS is a serious, long-lasting illness with no proven cure that causes a symptom called postexertional malaise, where activity makes symptoms worse, so patients need to carefully manage their energy levels.

Long COVID OverlapPost-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Evaluation of viral infection as an etiology of ME/CFS: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Hwang, Jae-Hyun, Lee, Jin-Seok, Oh, Hyeon-Muk et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2023

Researchers analyzed 64 studies involving nearly 5,000 ME/CFS patients to see if viral infections might cause or trigger the illness. They found that certain viruses—particularly Borna disease virus, human herpesvirus-7, parvovirus B19, enterovirus, and Coxsackie B virus—appeared more frequently in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people and those with other diseases. While these associations are promising leads, finding a virus more often in patients doesn't prove it causes ME/CFS.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearEditorial

Understanding, diagnosing, and treating Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome - State of the art: Report of the 2nd international meeting at the Charité Fatigue Center.

Steiner, Sophie, Fehrer, Annick, Hoheisel, Friederike et al.·Autoimmunity reviews·2023

Over 100 international researchers gathered in Berlin in May 2023 to discuss what we currently know about ME/CFS, how to diagnose it, and how to treat it. The conference highlighted that ME/CFS involves problems with the immune system, blood vessel function, and nervous system control, and that some cases may be triggered by viruses reactivating in the body. Despite growing interest due to Long COVID, ME/CFS remains under-researched and needs significantly more funding to find better diagnostic tests and targeted treatments.

Autonomic Nervous SystemImmune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Functional neurological disorder in people with long COVID: A systematic review.

Teodoro, Tiago, Chen, Jiaying, Gelauff, Jeannette et al.·European journal of neurology·2023

Researchers reviewed 102 studies about long COVID to see whether some of the neurological symptoms (such as brain fog, headaches, and dizziness) might be functional neurological disorder (FND)—a condition where the nervous system doesn't work properly without obvious physical damage. While these symptoms are common in long COVID, the studies didn't carefully look for the specific patterns that would help diagnose FND, so it remains unclear whether FND plays a role in long COVID.

Cognitive Impairment

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The microbiome in post-acute infection syndrome (PAIS).

Guo, Cheng, Yi, Boyang, Wu, Jianyong et al.·Computational and structural biotechnology journal·2023

This review examined how the bacteria and other microorganisms living in our bodies—particularly in the gut and mouth—may be altered in patients with prolonged illnesses following infections, including ME/CFS and long COVID. The researchers looked at existing studies to understand whether changes in these microbial communities might contribute to why some people develop long-lasting symptoms after being sick. They explored possible explanations for how these microbial changes could trigger or worsen symptoms in post-infection syndromes.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Persistent SARS-CoV-2 Infection, EBV, HHV-6 and Other Factors May Contribute to Inflammation and Autoimmunity in Long COVID.

Vojdani, Aristo, Vojdani, Elroy, Saidara, Evan et al.·Viruses·2023

This review examines how long COVID—a condition where symptoms persist months after a coronavirus infection—may develop through similar mechanisms to ME/CFS. The authors suggest that viral persistence, reactivation of old herpes viruses (like Epstein-Barr virus), immune system dysfunction, and gut microbiome changes may all contribute to ongoing inflammation and autoimmune problems. They propose testing for antibodies and other markers to better identify and treat long COVID.

Gut MicrobiomeImmune SystemLong COVID Overlap

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Functional neurological disorder and functional somatic syndromes among sexual and gender minority people: A scoping review.

Lerario, Mackenzie P, Fusunyan, Mark, Stave, Christopher D et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2023

This study reviewed published research on functional neurological disorders and related conditions (like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome) in sexual and gender minority people. Researchers found only 26 studies on this topic, most of which were small case reports or one-time surveys. The review found that transgender people may experience these conditions more often than cisgender people, and some patients improved when they received gender-affirming care.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclear

No Causal Effects Detected in COVID-19 and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Two Sample Mendelian Randomization Study.

Xu, Wangzi, Cao, Yu, Wu, Lin·International journal of environmental research and public health·2023

This study investigated whether COVID-19 infection actually causes ME/CFS or if the illnesses just happen to occur together. Researchers analyzed genetic data from thousands of people to look for a direct causal link between COVID-19 and ME/CFS. They found no significant connection, suggesting that while some people may develop ME/CFS-like symptoms after COVID-19, the virus itself may not be a direct cause of ME/CFS.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Antimicrobial therapies for chronic pain (part 2): the prevention and treatment of chronic pain.

Wang, Eric J, Dolomisiewicz, Edward, Karri, Jay et al.·The Korean journal of pain·2023

This review examined whether antibiotics and similar antimicrobial medications might help reduce chronic pain in certain conditions, including ME/CFS. The researchers found that some of these medications appear to reduce pain in conditions where dysbiosis (imbalanced gut bacteria) or hidden infections may play a role. However, the evidence is still observational rather than definitively proving cause-and-effect relationships.

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Effects of traditional Chinese mind-body exercises for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aetiological Understanding of Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Classificatory Analogues: A Systematic Umbrella Review.

Exercise Training in Non-Hospitalized Patients with Post-COVID-19 Syndrome-A Narrative Review.

Posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and comparison of pathogenesis.

A scoping review of 'Pacing' for management of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): lessons learned for the long COVID pandemic.

Identifying, synthesising and appraising existing evidence relating to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and pregnancy: a mixed-methods systematic review.

Autoimmune autonomic nervous system imbalance and conditions: Chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, silicone breast implants, COVID and post-COVID syndrome, sick building syndrome, post-orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, autoimmune diseases and autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants.

The Draft Report by the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Healthcare Does Not Provide Any Evidence That Graded Exercise Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Are Safe and Effective Treatments for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

DNA Methylation Changes in Blood Cells of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients.

Diagnosis and Management of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Comparison of serum acylcarnitine levels in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and healthy controls: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Fatigue in Adults: Evaluation and Management.

Evaluation of viral infection as an etiology of ME/CFS: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Understanding, diagnosing, and treating Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome - State of the art: Report of the 2nd international meeting at the Charité Fatigue Center.

Functional neurological disorder in people with long COVID: A systematic review.

The microbiome in post-acute infection syndrome (PAIS).

Persistent SARS-CoV-2 Infection, EBV, HHV-6 and Other Factors May Contribute to Inflammation and Autoimmunity in Long COVID.

Functional neurological disorder and functional somatic syndromes among sexual and gender minority people: A scoping review.

No Causal Effects Detected in COVID-19 and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Two Sample Mendelian Randomization Study.

Antimicrobial therapies for chronic pain (part 2): the prevention and treatment of chronic pain.

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