ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2807 studies

1181–1200 of 2,807 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) symptom-based phenotypes in two clinical cohorts of adult patients in the UK and The Netherlands.

Collin, Simon M, Nikolaus, Stephanie, Heron, Jon et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2016

This study looked at how ME/CFS symptoms vary from person to person by analyzing data from over 8,000 patients in the UK and Netherlands. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients fall into about 6 different groups based on which symptoms they experience—some have many symptoms, some mainly have pain, and others have very few symptoms beyond the core three (fatigue, brain fog, and sleep problems). Women and people who have been ill longer tended to have more symptoms overall.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCase-Control

Stressful Events in the Onset of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Gimeno Pi, Iraida, Guitard Sein-Echaluce, M Luisa, Rosselló Aubach, Lluís et al.·Revista espanola de salud publica·2016

This study looked at whether stressful life events might trigger ME/CFS by comparing 77 people with the disease to 77 healthy people of similar age, sex, and education. Researchers found that certain stressful experiences—like pregnancy, domestic abuse, workplace bullying, eating disorders, car accidents, money problems, and sleep disruptions—occurred more often in people before they developed ME/CFS. The study suggests that identifying these stressful events in at-risk people might help doctors recognize ME/CFS earlier.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Case definitions integrating empiric and consensus perspectives.

Jason, Leonard A, McManimen, Stephanie, Sunnquist, Madison et al.·Fatigue : biomedicine, health & behavior·2016

This study looked at 556 ME/CFS patients from three countries to understand how doctors should diagnose this condition. The researchers found that patients fall into different groups based on their symptoms: some have chronic fatigue alone, some have fatigue with other medical reasons, and some have ME/CFS with additional symptoms like problems with exercise recovery, brain fog, and sleep issues. The groups with more specific ME/CFS symptoms were significantly more disabled than those with just general fatigue.

SleepPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Reductions in circulating levels of IL-16, IL-7 and VEGF-A in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Landi, Abdolamir, Broadhurst, David, Vernon, Suzanne D et al.·Cytokine·2016

Researchers measured 34 different immune system proteins in blood samples from 100 ME/CFS patients and 79 healthy controls. They found that three specific immune proteins—IL-16, IL-7, and VEGF-A—were significantly lower in ME/CFS patients. This pattern was different from what is seen in other chronic diseases with similar fatigue symptoms, suggesting it may be unique to ME/CFS.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Reduced diversity and altered composition of the gut microbiome in individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Giloteaux, Ludovic, Goodrich, Julia K, Walters, William A et al.·Microbiome·2016

This study found that people with ME/CFS have different gut bacteria compared to healthy people. The bacteria in ME/CFS patients showed less diversity and included more potentially harmful species while having fewer beneficial ones. Additionally, researchers detected signs in the blood suggesting that bacteria or bacterial components may be leaking through the gut lining, which could contribute to inflammation and symptoms.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

Chronic fatigue syndrome: comparing outcomes in White British and Black and minority ethnic patients after cognitive-behavioural therapy.

Ingman, Tom, Ali, Sheila, Bhui, Kamaldeep et al.·The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science·2016

This study looked at whether cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT)—a talking therapy that helps change thought patterns and behaviours—works equally well for ME/CFS patients from Black and minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds compared to White British patients. Both groups showed significant improvements in fatigue, physical functioning, and ability to work or socialise after CBT treatment. Importantly, BME patients improved despite starting with more negative beliefs about their condition and more avoidance behaviours.

Interventions

E2 ModerateMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Antibodies to β adrenergic and muscarinic cholinergic receptors in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Loebel, Madlen, Grabowski, Patricia, Heidecke, Harald et al.·Brain, behavior, and immunity·2016

Researchers tested whether ME/CFS patients have unusually high levels of antibodies (immune proteins) that attack nerve signaling receptors in the body. They found that about 30% of ME/CFS patients had elevated antibodies against certain receptors involved in adrenaline and acetylcholine signaling—chemicals that control heart rate, breathing, and other automatic body functions. Importantly, patients who received rituximab (a treatment that depletes B cells) and improved showed decreases in these antibody levels, suggesting a possible link between these antibodies and disease activity.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Distinctive personality profiles of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

Ablin, Jacob N, Zohar, Ada H, Zaraya-Blum, Reut et al.·PeerJ·2016

This study looked at whether people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome have different personality patterns. Researchers surveyed 204 patients and found two distinct groups: one group tended to worry more, avoid situations that felt threatening, had difficulty identifying their emotions, and received less social support; the other group showed more resilience and healthier coping patterns. Importantly, these personality differences existed even though the groups had similar illness severity, suggesting that how people psychologically respond to their illness varies significantly.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Mortality of people with chronic fatigue syndrome: a retrospective cohort study in England and Wales from the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Biomedical Research Centre (SLaM BRC) Clinical Record Interactive Search (CRIS) Register.

Roberts, Emmert, Wessely, Simon, Chalder, Trudie et al.·Lancet (London, England)·2016

This study looked at whether people with ME/CFS die at higher rates than the general population. Researchers examined medical records of 2,147 people diagnosed with ME/CFS in England and Wales over 7 years and found they did not have higher overall death rates. However, the study did find a concerning increase in deaths by suicide among people with ME/CFS, suggesting that mental health support is particularly important for this group.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Regulatory T, natural killer T and γδ T cells in multiple sclerosis and chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a comparison.

Ramos, Sandra, Brenu, Ekua, Broadley, Simon et al.·Asian Pacific journal of allergy and immunology·2016

This study compared immune system cells in people with ME/CFS, people with multiple sclerosis (MS), and healthy people. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients had higher levels of certain regulatory immune cells called Tregs, while MS patients had lower levels of gamma delta T cells. The findings suggest that ME/CFS and MS affect the immune system in different ways, rather than through the same mechanisms.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

TauG-guidance of dynamic balance control during gait initiation in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Rasouli, Omid, Stensdotter, Ann-Katrin, Van der Meer, Audrey L H·Clinical biomechanics (Bristol, Avon)·2016

This study looked at how people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia balance themselves when they start to walk. Using special equipment that measures foot pressure, researchers found that patients with both conditions had more difficulty controlling their weight shift onto one foot compared to healthy people. This suggests that balance problems in these conditions aren't just about standing still—they also affect the dynamic movements needed for everyday activities like walking.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclear

Association of mitochondrial DNA variants with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) symptoms.

Hanson, Maureen R, Gu, Zhenglong, Keinan, Alon et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2016

This study looked at whether variations in mitochondrial DNA (the genetic material in the energy-producing parts of our cells) are linked to ME/CFS. Researchers compared genetic samples from ME/CFS patients and healthy people. While they didn't find that specific DNA variants caused the disease itself, they did discover that certain genetic variations were associated with specific symptoms and how severe those symptoms were.

Energy Metabolism

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Subgroup Analysis in Burnout: Relations Between Fatigue, Anxiety, and Depression.

van Dam, Arno·Frontiers in psychology·2016

This study looked at 113 people diagnosed with burnout to see if they fall into different subgroups based on their fatigue, depression, and anxiety levels. Researchers found two distinct groups that differed mainly in how severe their symptoms were, with depression being the strongest factor that separated them. The study raises important questions about whether burnout is truly a separate condition from depression or chronic fatigue.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The impact of chronic fatigue syndrome on cognitive functioning in adolescents.

Nijhof, Linde N, Nijhof, Sanne L, Bleijenberg, Gijs et al.·European journal of pediatrics·2016

This study looked at how ME/CFS affects thinking and concentration in teenagers. Researchers compared 59 teenagers with ME/CFS to 40 healthy teenagers and found that those with ME/CFS had lower scores on intelligence tests than their school grades would predict. When comparing teenagers' current test scores to their performance before they got sick, the ME/CFS group showed a significant decline, while healthy teens did not.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Characteristics of hyperacusis in the general population.

Paulin, Johan, Andersson, Linus, Nordin, Steven·Noise & health·2016

This study looked at how common sound sensitivity (hyperacusis) is in the general population and what characteristics people with this condition share. Researchers surveyed thousands of people and found that sound sensitivity often occurs alongside other conditions like ME/CFS, anxiety, depression, and fibromyalgia. People with sound sensitivity tend to avoid loud environments and may seek medical help for their symptoms.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Reduced cardiac volumes in chronic fatigue syndrome associate with plasma volume but not length of disease: a cohort study.

Newton, Julia L, Finkelmeyer, Andreas, Petrides, George et al.·Open heart·2016

This study found that people with ME/CFS have smaller hearts and lower blood volumes than healthy people. Interestingly, these differences were not related to how long someone had been sick, suggesting the heart changes are not simply from being inactive. Patients with more severe fatigue tended to have lower plasma volume (the liquid part of blood), which might be a target for future treatment.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Cow's milk protein intolerance in adolescents and young adults with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Rowe, Peter C, Marden, Colleen L, Jasion, Samantha E et al.·Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)·2016

This study looked at whether young people with ME/CFS often have problems digesting cow's milk protein. Researchers found that about 1 in 3 young patients with ME/CFS had milk protein intolerance, which caused stomach problems like reflux and pain. When these patients stopped eating milk products, their stomach symptoms improved and their quality of life got better.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Validation of the qi blood yin yang deficiency questionnaire on chronic fatigue.

Kim, Jihye, Ku, Boncho, Kim, Keun Ho·Chinese medicine·2016

This study tested a questionnaire designed to identify different patterns of chronic fatigue based on Traditional Korean Medicine concepts (qi, blood, yin, and yang imbalances). Researchers gave the questionnaire to 129 people with chronic fatigue and found that it reliably distinguished between different types of fatigue patterns. The questionnaire may help doctors better understand what kind of fatigue a patient has.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Extended B cell phenotype in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a cross-sectional study.

Mensah, F, Bansal, A, Berkovitz, S et al.·Clinical and experimental immunology·2016

Researchers compared immune cells called B cells in people with ME/CFS and healthy people using specialized lab tests. While they didn't find major differences in the most common B cell types, they did discover subtle changes in how B cells are marked and organized in ME/CFS patients, particularly an increase in certain markers on specific B cell subsets. These findings suggest B cells may function differently in ME/CFS and could help explain why some patients improve with a drug that targets B cells.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

High prevalence of asymptomatic carriers of Tropheryma whipplei in different populations from the North of Spain.

García-Álvarez, Lara, Pérez-Matute, Patricia, Blanco, José Ramón et al.·Enfermedades infecciosas y microbiologia clinica·2016

Researchers tested stool samples from healthy people, HIV patients, and people with ME/CFS from Spain to see how common a bacterium called Tropheryma whipplei was in each group. They found this bacterium in about 25% of all samples, but it was more common in HIV patients (34%) than in healthy people without other conditions (20%), and was not found in any of the ME/CFS patients tested.

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Evidence browser

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) symptom-based phenotypes in two clinical cohorts of adult patients in the UK and The Netherlands.

Stressful Events in the Onset of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Case definitions integrating empiric and consensus perspectives.

Reductions in circulating levels of IL-16, IL-7 and VEGF-A in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Reduced diversity and altered composition of the gut microbiome in individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome: comparing outcomes in White British and Black and minority ethnic patients after cognitive-behavioural therapy.

Antibodies to β adrenergic and muscarinic cholinergic receptors in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Distinctive personality profiles of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

Mortality of people with chronic fatigue syndrome: a retrospective cohort study in England and Wales from the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Biomedical Research Centre (SLaM BRC) Clinical Record Interactive Search (CRIS) Register.

Regulatory T, natural killer T and γδ T cells in multiple sclerosis and chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a comparison.

TauG-guidance of dynamic balance control during gait initiation in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Association of mitochondrial DNA variants with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) symptoms.

Subgroup Analysis in Burnout: Relations Between Fatigue, Anxiety, and Depression.

The impact of chronic fatigue syndrome on cognitive functioning in adolescents.

Characteristics of hyperacusis in the general population.

Reduced cardiac volumes in chronic fatigue syndrome associate with plasma volume but not length of disease: a cohort study.

Cow's milk protein intolerance in adolescents and young adults with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Validation of the qi blood yin yang deficiency questionnaire on chronic fatigue.

Extended B cell phenotype in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a cross-sectional study.

High prevalence of asymptomatic carriers of Tropheryma whipplei in different populations from the North of Spain.

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