Evidence browser

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Xenotropic murine leukaemia virus-related virus is not found in peripheral blood cells from treatment-naive human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients.

Maggi, F, Focosi, D, Lanini, L et al.·Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases·2012

Researchers tested whether a virus called XMRV could be found in the blood of 124 people with HIV who had not yet started treatment. Using two sensitive tests designed to detect this virus, they found no evidence of XMRV in any of the participants. This adds to growing doubts about whether XMRV actually causes chronic fatigue syndrome or other diseases in humans.

Stress management skills, neuroimmune processes and fatigue levels in persons with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Lattie, Emily G, Antoni, Michael H, Fletcher, Mary Ann et al.·Brain, behavior, and immunity·2012

This study looked at whether people with ME/CFS who are better at managing stress have lower fatigue levels. Researchers measured stress management skills, emotional distress, fatigue, and inflammation markers in the blood and saliva of 117 people with ME/CFS. They found that people with better stress management skills reported less fatigue and emotional distress, and this benefit was especially strong in people who had higher levels of a specific inflammatory marker called IL-6.

Increased IgA responses to the LPS of commensal bacteria is associated with inflammation and activation of cell-mediated immunity in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Maes, Michael, Twisk, Frank N M, Kubera, Marta et al.·Journal of affective disorders·2012

This study found that people with ME/CFS have higher levels of immune antibodies (IgA) that react to bacteria normally living in their gut. These elevated antibodies were connected to increased inflammation and immune system activation in the blood. The more of these antibodies patients had, the worse their symptoms—including fatigue, brain fog, and digestive problems—tended to be.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Alternative diagnoses to chronic fatigue syndrome in referrals to a specialist service: service evaluation survey.

Devasahayam, Anoop, Lawn, Tara, Murphy, Maurice et al.·JRSM short reports·2012

This study looked at patients referred to a specialist ME/CFS clinic to see how often doctors correctly identified ME/CFS versus other conditions. Researchers found that about half of all referred patients actually had different medical or psychiatric conditions instead of ME/CFS—most commonly sleep disorders or depression. This shows that careful specialist assessment is important to make sure patients get the right diagnosis.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Activation of cell-mediated immunity in depression: association with inflammation, melancholia, clinical staging and the fatigue and somatic symptom cluster of depression.

Maes, Michael, Mihaylova, Ivana, Kubera, Marta et al.·Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry·2012

This study looked at immune system markers in people with depression, comparing them to healthy controls. Researchers measured chemicals called neopterin and inflammatory proteins in the blood and found they were higher in depressed patients, especially those with melancholia (severe depression with physical symptoms). These same markers were also linked to chronic fatigue symptoms, suggesting that immune system activation may play a role in both depression and fatigue.

Chronic fatigue syndrome and subsequent risk of cancer among elderly US adults.

Chang, Cindy M, Warren, Joan L, Engels, Eric A·Cancer·2012

Researchers investigated whether people with ME/CFS have a higher risk of developing cancer. Using medical records from over 1.2 million elderly Americans, they found that people with ME/CFS had a slightly increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (a blood cancer), particularly certain subtypes. The study does not prove that ME/CFS causes cancer, but suggests that shared immune system problems or infections might explain the connection.

Impaired blood pressure variability in chronic fatigue syndrome--a potential biomarker.

Frith, J, Zalewski, P, Klawe, J J et al.·QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians·2012

ME/CFS is often associated with problems in the autonomic nervous system, which controls heart rate and blood pressure. This study measured how heart rate and blood pressure respond to position changes in 68 ME/CFS patients and 68 healthy controls. The researchers found that ME/CFS patients showed abnormal patterns in blood pressure variability that could potentially be used as a diagnostic test.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Short communication: RNASEL alleles and susceptibility to infection by human retroviruses and hepatitis viruses.

Arredondo, Miguel, de Bethencourt, Fermín, Treviño, Ana et al.·AIDS research and human retroviruses·2012

This study looked at whether a specific gene variant called RNASEL affects how likely people are to get infected with certain viruses. Researchers compared the gene variant in people with different viral infections, including chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), HIV, hepatitis, and others. They found that the gene variant did not seem to influence susceptibility to most common viral infections studied, though there were some interesting patterns with two less common viruses.

Kinesiophobia, catastrophizing and anticipated symptoms before stair climbing in chronic fatigue syndrome: an experimental study.

Nijs, Jo, Meeus, Mira, Heins, Marianne et al.·Disability and rehabilitation·2012

This study looked at whether fear of movement and worried thoughts about symptoms affect how well people with ME/CFS can climb stairs. Researchers found that people with higher fear of movement and catastrophic thinking took longer to complete the stair task. However, these fears did not predict how much physical activity people did in their daily lives over the following week.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The financial and psychological impacts on mothers of children with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME).

Missen, A, Hollingworth, W, Eaton, N et al.·Child: care, health and development·2012

This study looked at how having a child with ME/CFS affects mothers' finances and mental health. Researchers surveyed 40 mothers and interviewed 8 in depth, finding that most families lost money each month and spent more on care, while three-quarters of mothers showed signs of depression or anxiety—much higher than the general population.

Absence of evidence for bornavirus infection in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder.

Hornig, M, Briese, T, Licinio, J et al.·Molecular psychiatry·2012

Researchers tested whether a virus called Borna disease virus (BDV) might cause depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. They carefully compared blood samples from 198 patients with these conditions and 198 healthy people, looking for signs of the virus. They found no evidence that the virus was present in either group, suggesting BDV is not responsible for these psychiatric illnesses.

Increased autoimmune activity against 5-HT: a key component of depression that is associated with inflammation and activation of cell-mediated immunity, and with severity and staging of depression.

Maes, Michael, Ringel, Karl, Kubera, Marta et al.·Journal of affective disorders·2012

This study found that people with depression have more antibodies attacking serotonin (a brain chemical) compared to healthy people, especially those with severe depression. These antibodies were linked to higher inflammation, immune activation, fatigue, and cognitive problems. The more depressive episodes someone had experienced, the more likely they were to have these antibodies, suggesting that repeated depression may change the immune system over time.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The comorbidity of self-reported chronic fatigue syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, and traumatic symptoms.

Dansie, Elizabeth J, Heppner, Pia, Furberg, Helena et al.·Psychosomatics·2012

This study found that people with ME/CFS are much more likely to have experienced trauma or PTSD than the general population. Researchers surveyed over 8,500 twins and discovered that those with a history of PTSD were 8 times more likely to report ME/CFS, and those with high trauma symptom scores were 4 times more likely to report ME/CFS. The connection remained strong even after accounting for shared family factors.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Mental quality of life in chronic fatigue is associated with an accommodative coping style and neuroticism: a path analysis.

Poppe, Carine, Crombez, Geert, Hanoulle, Ignace et al.·Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation·2012

This study looked at how personality traits and coping styles affect mental quality of life in people with ME/CFS. Researchers found that people who use an 'accepting' coping style (adjusting to their illness rather than fighting it) report better mental well-being. Importantly, people with higher levels of neuroticism (a tendency to worry or feel anxious) were less likely to use this accepting approach and had worse mental quality of life.

Chronic fatigue syndrome: acute infection and history of physical activity affect resting levels and response to exercise of plasma oxidant/antioxidant status and heat shock proteins.

Jammes, Y, Steinberg, J G, Delliaux, S·Journal of internal medicine·2012

This study examined whether a history of intense exercise or serious infections in ME/CFS patients affects how their bodies handle oxidative stress (cellular damage) and produce protective heat shock proteins. Researchers compared 43 ME/CFS patients with different backgrounds to 23 healthy controls, measuring stress markers and protective proteins both at rest and after exercise. They found that ME/CFS patients with a history of high-level sports or infections showed signs of greater cellular damage and weaker protective responses to exercise.

Post-Exertional Malaise

Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome in children.

Itoh, Yasuhiko, Shigemori, Tomoko, Igarashi, Tohru et al.·Pediatrics international : official journal of the Japan Pediatric Society·2012

This study looked at two conditions that cause long-term pain and exhaustion in children: fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Researchers tested blood samples from children with each condition to see if they had similar immune system patterns. They found that while these conditions share some symptoms, they appear to have different immune system signatures, suggesting they may be separate diseases—though some children can have both.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Cytokine expression profiles of immune imbalance in post-mononucleosis chronic fatigue.

Broderick, Gordon, Katz, Ben Z, Fernandes, Henrique et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2012

This study followed 301 teenagers who had infectious mononucleosis caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) for two years. Some developed ME/CFS after their infection while others recovered completely. Researchers measured multiple immune molecules called cytokines in the blood to see if they could identify a pattern that distinguishes people with post-infectious ME/CFS from those who fully recovered.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Prevalence, incidence, and classification of chronic fatigue syndrome in Olmsted County, Minnesota, as estimated using the Rochester Epidemiology Project.

Vincent, Ann, Brimmer, Dana J, Whipple, Mary O et al.·Mayo Clinic proceedings·2012

This study looked at how many people in one county had ME/CFS by reviewing medical records from 1998-2002. Researchers found that about 71 out of every 100,000 people had ME/CFS, and about 13 out of every 100,000 per year were newly diagnosed. Importantly, they discovered that 70% of people initially suspected of having ME/CFS actually had other medical conditions that explained their fatigue instead.

Diagnostics

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

Association of active human herpesvirus-6, -7 and parvovirus b19 infection with clinical outcomes in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chapenko, Svetlana, Krumina, Angelika, Logina, Inara et al.·Advances in virology·2012

This study tested 108 ME/CFS patients and 90 healthy people for three viruses: HHV-6, HHV-7, and parvovirus B19. The researchers found that about 65% of ME/CFS patients had active viral infections compared to only 13% of healthy people. Patients with active viral infections showed higher levels of inflammatory markers and experienced more severe symptoms, especially when infected with multiple viruses at once.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

IgM-mediated autoimmune responses directed against anchorage epitopes are greater in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) than in major depression.

Maes, Michael, Mihaylova, Ivana, Kubera, Marta et al.·Metabolic brain disease·2012

This study examined immune system markers in people with ME/CFS, depression, and healthy controls. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS had higher levels of specific immune antibodies (IgM) attacking certain body molecules compared to people with depression. These antibodies were especially high against fatty acid anchors and oxidatively damaged proteins, suggesting ME/CFS may involve distinct immune processes that differ from depression.