ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2807 studies

1041–1060 of 2,807 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Balance deficits in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with and without fibromyalgia.

Serrador, Jorge M, Quigley, Karen S, Zhao, Caixia et al.·NeuroRehabilitation·2018

This study tested balance and dizziness in people with ME/CFS, comparing those with and without fibromyalgia. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients had measurably worse balance than healthy controls, and their balance problems were linked to how well they could function physically. Interestingly, people with both ME/CFS and fibromyalgia had the most severe balance problems, suggesting these conditions together may affect the body differently than ME/CFS alone.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Prospective Biomarkers from Plasma Metabolomics of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Implicate Redox Imbalance in Disease Symptomatology.

Germain, Arnaud, Ruppert, David, Levine, Susan M et al.·Metabolites·2018

Researchers studied blood samples from 32 women with ME/CFS and 19 healthy women to look for chemical differences. They found 14 metabolites (small molecules in the blood) that were different in ME/CFS patients, suggesting their bodies may have trouble managing oxidative stress—a chemical imbalance that could contribute to their symptoms. This discovery could eventually help doctors identify ME/CFS through a blood test.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

In Schizophrenia, Depression, Anxiety, and Physiosomatic Symptoms Are Strongly Related to Psychotic Symptoms and Excitation, Impairments in Episodic Memory, and Increased Production of Neurotoxic Tryptophan Catabolites: a Multivariate and Machine Learning Study.

Kanchanatawan, Buranee, Thika, Supaksorn, Sirivichayakul, Sunee et al.·Neurotoxicity research·2018

This study examined 80 people with schizophrenia and 40 healthy controls to understand why schizophrenia patients often experience depression, anxiety, and physical symptoms like those seen in chronic fatigue. The researchers found that these symptoms were linked to changes in how the body breaks down tryptophan (an amino acid), problems with memory, and the severity of psychotic symptoms. The findings suggest that toxic byproducts from tryptophan metabolism may contribute to depression, anxiety, and physical symptoms in schizophrenia.

Neuroinflammation

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Hyperintense sensorimotor T1 spin echo MRI is associated with brainstem abnormality in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Barnden, Leighton R, Shan, Zack Y, Staines, Donald R et al.·NeuroImage. Clinical·2018

Researchers used advanced MRI scans to compare the brains of 43 people with ME/CFS and 27 healthy people. They found that people with ME/CFS had different patterns in their brainstem (the base of the brain that controls basic functions) and in the sensorimotor areas (parts that control movement and sensation). The study suggests that the body may be compensating for problems in the brainstem by increasing protective coating around nerve fibers in motor control areas.

Neuroinflammation

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Structural brain changes versus self-report: machine-learning classification of chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

Sevel, Landrew S, Boissoneault, Jeff, Letzen, Janelle E et al.·Experimental brain research·2018

Researchers compared two methods for identifying ME/CFS patients: looking at structural brain changes on MRI scans versus asking patients to rate their symptoms like fatigue, pain, and sleep quality. While brain imaging showed some useful differences between ME/CFS patients and healthy people, patients' own descriptions of their symptoms were actually better at identifying who had ME/CFS.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCase-Control

Autonomic Nervous System Functioning Related to Nocturnal Sleep in Patients With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Compared to Tired Controls.

Orjatsalo, Maija, Alakuijala, Anniina, Partinen, Markku·Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine·2018

This study examined how the nervous system controls heart rate and blood pressure during sleep in ME/CFS patients compared to people without the condition. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients showed unusual patterns during sleep: their sympathetic nervous system (the 'fight or flight' system) was more active than normal, while their parasympathetic nervous system (the 'rest and digest' system) was less active, especially during deep sleep. This abnormal nervous system activity during sleep may help explain why ME/CFS patients often wake up feeling unrefreshed.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Dry eye syndrome and the subsequent risk of chronic fatigue syndrome-a prospective population-based study in Taiwan.

Chen, Chih-Sheng, Cheng, Hui-Man, Chen, Hsuan-Ju et al.·Oncotarget·2018

This study found that people with dry eye syndrome (DES) are more likely to develop ME/CFS than those without dry eye problems. Researchers followed patients in Taiwan over many years and discovered that those with dry eye had about twice the risk of developing ME/CFS. Even after accounting for age, sex, and other health conditions, the increased risk remained significant.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

A content analysis of chronic fatigue syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis in the news from 1987 to 2013.

Siegel, Zachary A, Brown, Abigail, Devendorf, Andrew et al.·Chronic illness·2018

Researchers examined 214 newspaper articles about ME/CFS published between 1987 and 2013 to see how the illness was described to the public. They found that newspapers often got the facts wrong or incomplete—nearly 1 in 5 headlines used the wrong name for the illness, most articles didn't explain how to diagnose it, and half didn't mention any treatments. This study shows that people reading the news may have received confusing or incomplete information about ME/CFS.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Endometriosis increased the risk of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis: A population-based study.

Wu, Chia-Chang, Chung, Shiu-Dong, Lin, Herng-Ching·Neurourology and urodynamics·2018

This study found that women with endometriosis (a condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus) have a significantly higher risk of developing bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC), a chronic bladder pain condition. Over a 3-year period, about 4 times as many women with endometriosis developed BPS/IC compared to women without endometriosis. This suggests these two painful conditions may share common underlying mechanisms.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Factors impacting the illness trajectory of post-infectious fatigue syndrome: a qualitative study of adults' experiences.

Stormorken, Eva, Jason, Leonard A, Kirkevold, Marit·BMC public health·2017

This study interviewed 26 adults who developed severe fatigue lasting at least four years after a bacterial infection (Giardia). Researchers asked them about their experiences and what factors made their illness better or worse. The study found that both the healthcare system (like delayed diagnosis and doctors dismissing symptoms) and personal choices (like ignoring body signals or pushing too hard) significantly affected how people's illness progressed over time.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCase-Control

The Role of Autonomic Function in Exercise-induced Endogenous Analgesia: A Case-control Study in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Healthy People.

Oosterwijck, Jessica Van, Marusic, Uros, De Wandele, Inge et al.·Pain physician·2017

This study looked at why exercise doesn't reduce pain in people with ME/CFS the way it normally does in healthy people. Researchers measured how the nervous system recovered after exercise and tracked pain levels in 20 women with ME/CFS and 20 healthy women. They found that people with ME/CFS had problems with their nervous system's ability to 'turn off' after exercise, and this was connected to their pain not improving like it should.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Multimodal and simultaneous assessments of brain and spinal fluid abnormalities in chronic fatigue syndrome and the effects of psychiatric comorbidity.

Natelson, Benjamin H, Mao, Xiangling, Stegner, Aaron J et al.·Journal of the neurological sciences·2017

This study compared brain and spinal fluid measurements in people with ME/CFS and healthy controls to understand what physical changes occur in the condition. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients had lower levels of a protective brain chemical (glutathione), reduced blood flow to the brain, higher levels of lactate (a sign of energy problems), and more abnormalities in spinal fluid compared to healthy people. Importantly, these differences were the same whether or not ME/CFS patients also had depression or anxiety, suggesting psychiatric conditions are not making the disease worse.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredObservational

Postural orthostatic tachycardia is not a useful diagnostic marker for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Roerink, M E, Lenders, J W M, Schmits, I C et al.·Journal of internal medicine·2017

This study tested whether a condition called POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome)—where heart rate increases too much when standing—is a reliable marker for ME/CFS. Researchers found that POTS was equally common in ME/CFS patients and in people with fatigue who don't have ME/CFS, suggesting POTS is not a useful diagnostic tool for ME/CFS. The study did find that adolescents with both conditions responded less well to cognitive behavioral therapy than those with ME/CFS alone.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Elevated brain natriuretic peptide levels in chronic fatigue syndrome associate with cardiac dysfunction: a case control study.

Tomas, Cara, Finkelmeyer, Andreas, Hodgson, Tim et al.·Open heart·2017

This study found that people with ME/CFS have higher levels of a hormone called BNP (brain natriuretic peptide) in their blood compared to healthy people without the condition. Interestingly, those with higher BNP levels had smaller heart chambers, which suggests their hearts may be working differently in ME/CFS. The researchers believe this finding is related to the condition itself, not simply from being inactive.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome prevalence is grossly overestimated using Oxford criteria compared to Centers for Disease Control (Fukuda) criteria in a U.S. population study.

Baraniuk, James N·Fatigue : biomedicine, health & behavior·2017

This study compared two different sets of diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS by surveying a large representative sample of Americans. The researchers found that using the less strict Oxford criteria identified far more people as having ME/CFS (about 20-25%) compared to the stricter CDC (Fukuda) criteria (about 2%). When they looked more carefully at who truly had ME/CFS using both fatigue severity and other symptom requirements, they found that 85% of people labeled as CFS by the Oxford criteria didn't actually meet the stricter definition.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCommentaryPEM unclearCommentary

Support for the microgenderome invites enquiry into sex differences.

Wallis, Amy, Butt, Henry, Ball, Michelle et al.·Gut microbes·2017

This study looked at how gut bacteria, sex hormones, and the immune system interact differently in men and women with ME/CFS. The researchers found that the relationship between specific types of bacteria in the gut and ME/CFS symptoms varies between males and females. This suggests that biological sex may play an important role in how the microbiome affects ME/CFS symptoms.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Vitamin D status in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a cohort study from the North-West of England.

Earl, Kate E, Sakellariou, Giorgos K, Sinclair, Melanie et al.·BMJ open·2017

This study investigated whether low vitamin D levels contribute to the fatigue experienced by people with ME/CFS. Researchers compared 92 ME/CFS patients with 94 healthy controls and found that ME/CFS patients actually had higher vitamin D levels, often because they were taking vitamin D supplements. Importantly, there was no connection between vitamin D levels and how fatigued patients felt, suggesting that vitamin D deficiency is not a cause of ME/CFS fatigue.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearLongitudinal

Natural course of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis in adolescents.

Norris, Tom, Collin, Simon M, Tilling, Kate et al.·Archives of disease in childhood·2017

This study followed teenagers in the UK from ages 13 to 18 to understand what happens to disabling fatigue that lasts 6 months or longer. The researchers found that while more teenagers reported this kind of fatigue as they got older, about 75% of those with persistent fatigue at age 13 felt better by age 16. Only about 8% of teenagers had this disabling fatigue throughout their entire teenage years.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Prevalence of and risk factors for severe cognitive and sleep symptoms in ME/CFS and MS.

Jain, Vageesh, Arunkumar, Amit, Kingdon, Caroline et al.·BMC neurology·2017

This study compared cognitive problems (like trouble concentrating and memory issues) and sleep difficulties in people with ME/CFS and people with MS. Researchers found that cognitive and sleep problems were much more common in ME/CFS patients—98% reported trouble concentrating, and 55% reported severe unrefreshing sleep. The study also identified that ME/CFS patients who were older, current smokers, or had lower incomes were more likely to experience severe symptoms.

SleepCognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredObservational

Incidence rates of Guillain Barré (GBS), chronic fatigue/systemic exertion intolerance disease (CFS/SEID) and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) prior to introduction of human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination among adolescent girls in Finland, 2002-2012.

Skufca, J, Ollgren, J, Ruokokoski, E et al.·Papillomavirus research (Amsterdam, Netherlands)·2017

This Finnish study looked at how often three conditions—ME/CFS, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), and POTS—were diagnosed in teenage girls between 2002 and 2012, before the HPV vaccine program started. Researchers wanted to establish baseline numbers to help evaluate vaccine safety in the future. They found these conditions were relatively rare, though ME/CFS and POTS diagnoses increased over the decade studied.

Diagnostics

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Balance deficits in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with and without fibromyalgia.

Prospective Biomarkers from Plasma Metabolomics of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Implicate Redox Imbalance in Disease Symptomatology.

In Schizophrenia, Depression, Anxiety, and Physiosomatic Symptoms Are Strongly Related to Psychotic Symptoms and Excitation, Impairments in Episodic Memory, and Increased Production of Neurotoxic Tryptophan Catabolites: a Multivariate and Machine Learning Study.

Hyperintense sensorimotor T1 spin echo MRI is associated with brainstem abnormality in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Structural brain changes versus self-report: machine-learning classification of chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

Autonomic Nervous System Functioning Related to Nocturnal Sleep in Patients With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Compared to Tired Controls.

Dry eye syndrome and the subsequent risk of chronic fatigue syndrome-a prospective population-based study in Taiwan.

A content analysis of chronic fatigue syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis in the news from 1987 to 2013.

Endometriosis increased the risk of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis: A population-based study.

Factors impacting the illness trajectory of post-infectious fatigue syndrome: a qualitative study of adults' experiences.

The Role of Autonomic Function in Exercise-induced Endogenous Analgesia: A Case-control Study in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Healthy People.

Multimodal and simultaneous assessments of brain and spinal fluid abnormalities in chronic fatigue syndrome and the effects of psychiatric comorbidity.

Postural orthostatic tachycardia is not a useful diagnostic marker for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Elevated brain natriuretic peptide levels in chronic fatigue syndrome associate with cardiac dysfunction: a case control study.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome prevalence is grossly overestimated using Oxford criteria compared to Centers for Disease Control (Fukuda) criteria in a U.S. population study.

Support for the microgenderome invites enquiry into sex differences.

Vitamin D status in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a cohort study from the North-West of England.

Natural course of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis in adolescents.

Prevalence of and risk factors for severe cognitive and sleep symptoms in ME/CFS and MS.

Incidence rates of Guillain Barré (GBS), chronic fatigue/systemic exertion intolerance disease (CFS/SEID) and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) prior to introduction of human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination among adolescent girls in Finland, 2002-2012.

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