ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

654 studies

321–340 of 654 studies

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredCommentary

Graded exercise therapy does not restore the ability to work in ME/CFS - Rethinking of a Cochrane review.

Vink, Mark, Vink-Niese, Friso·Work (Reading, Mass.)·2020

This study examined whether graded exercise therapy (GET)—a treatment that gradually increases physical activity—actually helps people with ME/CFS return to work. The researchers found that while previous reviews claimed GET improved tiredness, these claims were based on unreliable self-reported outcomes in studies with serious flaws. When looking at objective measures and real-world outcomes, GET did not help people work better and may have harmed at least half of patients.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Food Implications in Central Sensitization Syndromes.

Aguilar-Aguilar, Elena, Marcos-Pasero, Helena, Ikonomopoulou, Maria P et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2020

This review examined what is known about how food affects three related conditions—fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, and multiple chemical sensitivities—that all involve heightened nervous system sensitivity. The authors found that changing diet can help improve quality of life for many patients, but the best approach is personalized and done with help from a dietitian and doctor. They warn against following strict diets without professional guidance.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

The clinical value of cytokines in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Yang, Tiansong, Yang, Yan, Wang, Delong et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2019

This review examined whether immune system signaling molecules called cytokines could help doctors diagnose or treat ME/CFS. While researchers found that cytokines are abnormal in ME/CFS patients' blood and fluid around the brain, the current evidence shows these markers are not reliable enough to use alone for diagnosis. The review suggests that measuring multiple cytokines together might help doctors better understand what's happening in individual patients, but cytokines are not yet proven as effective treatment targets.

BiomarkersImmune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Post-bacterial infection chronic fatigue syndrome is not a latent infection.

Melenotte, Cléa, Drancourt, Michel, Gorvel, Jean Pierre et al.·Medecine et maladies infectieuses·2019

This review examined whether bacteria that stay dormant (inactive) in the body after an infection could cause chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms. The researchers looked at scientific evidence and found no proof that dormant bacteria cause the ongoing fatigue and other symptoms people experience after bacterial infections. The study suggests that psychological trauma and unknown causes may play a role in post-infection fatigue, rather than persistent bacterial infection.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

General medical services by non-medical health professionals: a systematic quantitative review of economic evaluations in primary care.

Anthony, Bethany F, Surgey, Alun, Hiscock, Julia et al.·The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners·2019

This review looked at whether nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals can provide medical care more cheaply than doctors in primary care settings. The researchers found very limited evidence about costs and outcomes, with some nurse-led care for minor problems being cost-effective, but nurse-led care for chronic fatigue syndrome was not cost-effective compared to doctor care.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredSystematic-Review

Chronotropic Intolerance: An Overlooked Determinant of Symptoms and Activity Limitation in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Davenport, Todd E, Lehnen, Mary, Stevens, Staci R et al.·Frontiers in pediatrics·2019

This review examines how people with ME/CFS respond to exercise differently than healthy people. Researchers found that during exercise tests, people with ME/CFS have a blunted heart rate response—their heart rate doesn't increase as much as expected for the amount of work they're doing. This abnormal response, called chronotropic intolerance, may help explain why exercise worsens symptoms in ME/CFS patients.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Identification of mental health and quality of life outcomes in primary care databases in the UK: a systematic review.

Carreira, Helena, Williams, Rachael, Strongman, Helen et al.·BMJ open·2019

Researchers reviewed 120 studies that used UK patient medical records to track mental health and quality of life problems like depression, anxiety, fatigue, and cognitive issues. They found that different studies used different definitions and coding systems to identify these conditions, making it hard to compare results across studies. The authors recommend that researchers agree on standard definitions and validated code lists so findings are more consistent and reliable.

Pain and SensitizationSleepCognitive Impairment

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

How have selection bias and disease misclassification undermined the validity of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome studies?

Nacul, Luis, Lacerda, Eliana M, Kingdon, Caroline C et al.·Journal of health psychology·2019

This study examines why ME/CFS research has been inconsistent and controversial. The main problem is that doctors and researchers use different definitions to diagnose ME/CFS, which means different groups of patients are studied in different research projects. The authors explain how using clearer, more consistent diagnostic criteria could help researchers better understand the disease and make progress in finding treatments.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearMeta-Analysis

Peak Oxygen Uptake in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A Meta-Analysis.

Franklin, John Derek, Atkinson, Greg, Atkinson, Janet M et al.·International journal of sports medicine·2019

This research review analyzed 32 studies comparing how much oxygen people with ME/CFS can use during maximum exercise compared to healthy people. On average, people with ME/CFS used about 5 milliliters less oxygen per kilogram of body weight per minute than healthy controls—a meaningful difference that likely affects real-world functioning. This reduced oxygen capacity is one of the measurable physical differences between ME/CFS patients and healthy individuals.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Methodological Strategies for Ecological Momentary Assessment to Evaluate Mood and Stress in Adult Patients Using Mobile Phones: Systematic Review.

Yang, Yong Sook, Ryu, Gi Wook, Choi, Mona·JMIR mHealth and uHealth·2019

This review looked at research studies that used smartphones to track mood and stress in patients with various chronic illnesses, including ME/CFS. Researchers used apps or text-based systems to send prompts at random times throughout the day, asking patients to report how they were feeling in that moment. The review found that this method is practical and feasible for understanding how symptoms and emotions change during daily life.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and the biopsychosocial model: a review of patient harm and distress in the medical encounter.

Geraghty, Keith J, Blease, Charlotte·Disability and rehabilitation·2019

This review examines why many ME/CFS patients feel harmed or upset after seeing doctors. The researchers found seven main problems: difficulty getting diagnosed, being misdiagnosed with other conditions, trouble accessing medical support, poor quality of care, negative experiences with treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy and exercise programs, doctors not believing patients' descriptions of their illness, and emotional distress. The authors suggest that doctors should listen more carefully to patients and adopt approaches centered on what patients actually experience.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredMeta-Analysis

Inflammatory proteins are altered in chronic fatigue syndrome-A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Strawbridge, Rebecca, Sartor, Maria-Laura, Scott, Fraser et al.·Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews·2019

This research review looked at 42 studies measuring inflammatory proteins (substances in the blood linked to inflammation) in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. The researchers found that people with ME/CFS had higher levels of five specific inflammatory proteins, but twelve other proteins were similar to healthy controls. This suggests that inflammation may play a role in ME/CFS for some patients, but it's likely not the main problem for everyone with the condition.

BiomarkersImmune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

A systematic review of natural killer cells profile and cytotoxic function in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Eaton-Fitch, Natalie, du Preez, Stanley, Cabanas, Hélène et al.·Systematic reviews·2019

This review examined research on natural killer cells, which are immune cells that help fight infections and abnormal cells in the body. Scientists found that people with ME/CFS consistently have natural killer cells that don't work as well as they should. This discovery was the most reliable and consistent finding across all the studies reviewed, suggesting it could be an important marker for understanding ME/CFS.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

A systematic review of cytokines in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis/systemic exertion intolerance disease (CFS/ME/SEID).

Corbitt, Matthew, Eaton-Fitch, Natalie, Staines, Donald et al.·BMC neurology·2019

Researchers reviewed 15 studies that measured immune signaling molecules called cytokines in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. Although many studies have looked at cytokines in ME/CFS, the results were too mixed and inconsistent to show that cytokines could be used as a reliable test for the condition or to confirm a clear role in causing the disease.

BiomarkersImmune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: From pathophysiological insights to novel therapeutic opportunities.

Morris, Gerwyn, Puri, Basant K, Walker, Adam J et al.·Pharmacological research·2019

This review examines what goes wrong in the bodies of ME/CFS patients and looks at treatments that might help. Researchers found that ME/CFS involves several biological problems, including inflammation, increased cellular stress, gut problems, and energy production issues. The review highlights five promising supplements—coenzyme Q10, melatonin, curcumin, molecular hydrogen, and N-acetylcysteine—that target these problems, though much more testing is needed.

Energy Metabolism

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Pathological Mechanisms Underlying Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Missailidis, Daniel, Annesley, Sarah J, Fisher, Paul R·Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)·2019

ME/CFS is a complex condition affecting multiple body systems, and researchers are working to understand what causes it. This review shows that evidence points to problems in the immune system, nervous system, muscle function, metabolism, and gut health in ME/CFS patients. Because patients experience different symptoms and may develop the condition in different ways, finding reliable diagnostic tests remains a key challenge that researchers are actively pursuing.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

[Myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome].

Brinth, Louise, Nielsen, Henrik, Varming, Kim et al.·Ugeskrift for laeger·2019

ME/CFS is a serious condition that causes extreme tiredness affecting both mind and body, along with pain, sleep problems, difficulty thinking clearly, and a symptom called post-exertional malaise where activity makes symptoms worse. Research has found changes in patients' cells, hormones, immune systems, and how their bodies process energy, which could lead to better ways to diagnose and treat this condition.

BiomarkersEnergy MetabolismImmune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearMeta-Analysis

Evidence of altered cardiac autonomic regulation in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Nelson, Maximillian J, Bahl, Jasvir S, Buckley, Jonathan D et al.·Medicine·2019

This study looked at how the hearts of people with ME/CFS respond differently compared to healthy people, focusing on heart rate and its patterns. Researchers reviewed 64 previous studies and found that ME/CFS patients tend to have higher resting heart rates, unusual heart rate responses to position changes, and different patterns in heart rate variability (the natural variation in time between heartbeats). These findings suggest that the nervous system that controls heart function may work differently in people with ME/CFS.

Autonomic Nervous System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Epigenetic Components of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Uncover Potential Transposable Element Activation.

Almenar-Pérez, Eloy, Ovejero, Tamara, Sánchez-Fito, Teresa et al.·Clinical therapeutics·2019

This study reviewed research on how ME/CFS may involve changes in how genes are regulated, not the genes themselves. The researchers discovered that dormant DNA sequences called transposable elements—which make up almost half of our genome and were previously thought to be 'junk DNA'—might become activated in ME/CFS patients. This activation could trigger the immune system to attack without an actual infection present.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The Invisible Burden of Chronic Fatigue in the Community: a Narrative Review.

Fatt, Scott J, Cvejic, Erin, Lloyd, Andrew R et al.·Current rheumatology reports·2019

This review looked at research comparing three levels of tiredness: prolonged fatigue (lasting 1-6 months), chronic fatigue (lasting over 6 months), and ME/CFS (a more severe condition). The authors found that people with chronic fatigue and ME/CFS report very similar struggles with physical symptoms, emotional challenges, and difficulty with daily activities. However, researchers still don't understand why some people's fatigue gets worse and develops into ME/CFS while others' doesn't.

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Graded exercise therapy does not restore the ability to work in ME/CFS - Rethinking of a Cochrane review.

Food Implications in Central Sensitization Syndromes.

The clinical value of cytokines in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Post-bacterial infection chronic fatigue syndrome is not a latent infection.

General medical services by non-medical health professionals: a systematic quantitative review of economic evaluations in primary care.

Chronotropic Intolerance: An Overlooked Determinant of Symptoms and Activity Limitation in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Identification of mental health and quality of life outcomes in primary care databases in the UK: a systematic review.

How have selection bias and disease misclassification undermined the validity of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome studies?

Peak Oxygen Uptake in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A Meta-Analysis.

Methodological Strategies for Ecological Momentary Assessment to Evaluate Mood and Stress in Adult Patients Using Mobile Phones: Systematic Review.

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and the biopsychosocial model: a review of patient harm and distress in the medical encounter.

Inflammatory proteins are altered in chronic fatigue syndrome-A systematic review and meta-analysis.

A systematic review of natural killer cells profile and cytotoxic function in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

A systematic review of cytokines in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis/systemic exertion intolerance disease (CFS/ME/SEID).

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: From pathophysiological insights to novel therapeutic opportunities.

Pathological Mechanisms Underlying Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

[Myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome].

Evidence of altered cardiac autonomic regulation in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Epigenetic Components of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Uncover Potential Transposable Element Activation.

The Invisible Burden of Chronic Fatigue in the Community: a Narrative Review.

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