ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2785 studies

1581–1600 of 2,785 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

A brain MRI study of chronic fatigue syndrome: evidence of brainstem dysfunction and altered homeostasis.

Barnden, Leighton R, Crouch, Benjamin, Kwiatek, Richard et al.·NMR in biomedicine·2011

This study used specialized brain imaging (MRI) to compare 25 people with ME/CFS to 25 healthy controls, looking at brain structure and how it related to fatigue severity and other symptoms. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS showed differences in brainstem volume (a critical part of the brain controlling basic functions) that correlated with how long fatigue had lasted, and unusual patterns in how blood pressure related to brainstem structure. These findings suggest ME/CFS may involve damage to a specific brain region that disrupts the body's automatic control systems.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Cognitive deficits in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome compared to those with major depressive disorder and healthy controls.

Constant, E L, Adam, S, Gillain, B et al.·Clinical neurology and neurosurgery·2011

This study tested memory and attention in people with ME/CFS, comparing them to people with depression and healthy volunteers. People with ME/CFS showed real, measurable problems with attention and memory, but these problems were NOT simply caused by depression or by getting tired during testing. Importantly, the cognitive difficulties in ME/CFS appeared to be their own distinct issue, separate from their mood symptoms.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Assessment of a 44 gene classifier for the evaluation of chronic fatigue syndrome from peripheral blood mononuclear cell gene expression.

Frampton, Daniel, Kerr, Jonathan, Harrison, Tim J et al.·PloS one·2011

Researchers tested whether 44 genes could be used together to diagnose ME/CFS by measuring their activity in blood samples from patients and healthy people. While the combination of genes worked well when tested on the original group, it failed when applied to a new group of patients, correctly identifying only about two-thirds of cases. This suggests that a simple blood test using these genes is not yet ready for diagnosing ME/CFS in everyday medical practice.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Measuring disability in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: reliability and validity of the Work and Social Adjustment Scale.

Cella, Matteo, Sharpe, Michael, Chalder, Trudie·Journal of psychosomatic research·2011

This study tested whether a simple questionnaire called the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) accurately measures how much ME/CFS affects a person's daily life and ability to work. Researchers gave this questionnaire to over 1,000 ME/CFS patients and found it was reliable and valid—meaning it consistently measured disability and actually reflected real-world functioning.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Longitudinal health study of US 1991 Gulf War veterans: changes in health status at 10-year follow-up.

Li, Bo, Mahan, Clare M, Kang, Han K et al.·American journal of epidemiology·2011

This study followed US veterans from the 1991 Gulf War for 10 years (1995–2005) to see how their health changed over time. Deployed veterans reported more ongoing health problems, including chronic fatigue syndrome-like illness, than veterans who were not deployed. By 2005, deployed veterans were also more likely to develop new health problems compared to nondeployed veterans.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Reliability and validity of Short Form 36 Version 2 to measure health perceptions in a sub-group of individuals with fatigue.

Davenport, Todd E, Stevens, Staci R, Baroni, Katie et al.·Disability and rehabilitation·2011

This study tested whether a common health questionnaire (SF-36) could accurately measure how ME/CFS affects quality of life and symptom burden. Researchers gave the questionnaire to 16 people with ME/CFS and 14 healthy controls, then had them perform exercise tests to see how their symptoms changed. The SF-36 successfully captured differences between the two groups and predicted who would recover quickly after exercise.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Deviations in daily physical activity patterns in patients with the chronic fatigue syndrome: a case control study.

Evering, Richard M H, Tönis, Thijs M, Vollenbroek-Hutten, Miriam M R·Journal of psychosomatic research·2011

This study looked at how people with ME/CFS move and exercise throughout the day compared to healthy people, using motion-tracking devices. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients are less active in the afternoon and evening, do fewer intense activities, and experience more unpredictable activity patterns day-to-day. Interestingly, ME/CFS patients were also more aware of their activity levels than healthy controls.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Clinical characteristics of patients with medically unexplained chronic widespread pain: a primary care center study.

Lee, Kye Hwa, Kim, Cheol Hwan, Shin, Ho Cheol et al.·Korean journal of family medicine·2011

This study examined 109 patients with chronic widespread pain to understand what makes medically unexplained pain different from pain caused by known medical or psychological conditions. Researchers found that patients with unexplained pain had more tender points on their body, greater fatigue, and more functional impairment than those with pain linked to known medical causes, but were very similar to those with pain linked to psychological factors.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

The role of acceptance in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Brooks, Samantha K, Rimes, Katharine A, Chalder, Trudie·Journal of psychosomatic research·2011

This study looked at whether learning to accept ME/CFS (rather than fighting against it) helps patients feel less fatigued and function better in daily life. Researchers gave 259 patients questionnaires and then provided 90 of them with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). After treatment, patients who had learned greater acceptance reported less fatigue and better ability to work and socialize.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Increased tenderness in the left third intercostal space in adult patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis: a controlled study.

Puri, B K, Gunatilake, K D R, Fernando, K A C et al.·The Journal of international medical research·2011

Researchers examined the chests of 42 people with ME/CFS and 20 healthy people to look for physical signs. They found that 81% of people with ME/CFS had tenderness (pain when touched) in a specific area on the left side of their rib cage, while none of the healthy people had this tenderness. This suggests there may be a consistent physical finding that doctors could potentially use to help identify ME/CFS.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Absence of detectable xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus in plasma or peripheral blood mononuclear cells of human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected blood donors or individuals in Africa.

Tang, Shixing, Zhao, Jiangqin, Viswanath, Ragupathy et al.·Transfusion·2011

Researchers tested blood samples from HIV-positive individuals and blood donors in Africa to see if they carried a virus called XMRV, which had been suggested as a possible cause of ME/CFS. Using sensitive laboratory tests, they found no evidence of XMRV in any of the 268 samples they examined. This suggests that XMRV may not be common in these populations.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Gynecological history in chronic fatigue syndrome: a population-based case-control study.

Boneva, Roumiana S, Maloney, Elizabeth M, Lin, Jin-Mann et al.·Journal of women's health (2002)·2011

This study looked at whether gynecological history—including conditions like endometriosis, pelvic pain, and surgeries—might be connected to ME/CFS. Researchers compared 36 women with ME/CFS to 48 healthy women and found that women with ME/CFS reported more pelvic pain, endometriosis, and gynecological surgeries. The study suggests that gynecological health may play a role in ME/CFS and deserves closer medical attention.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

An unbiased metagenomic search for infectious agents using monozygotic twins discordant for chronic fatigue.

Sullivan, Patrick F, Allander, Tobias, Lysholm, Fredrik et al.·BMC microbiology·2011

Researchers used advanced genetic sequencing to search for viruses in the blood of 45 people with chronic fatigue syndrome, comparing each patient to their identical twin who did not have the illness. They found that a virus called GB virus C appeared in a few patients but not in their healthy twins, suggesting it might be linked to ME/CFS. However, the overall results did not strongly support the idea that a single detectable virus causes chronic fatigue.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Detection of antinuclear antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence and by solid phase assay.

Op De Beeck, Katrijn, Vermeersch, Pieter, Verschueren, Patrick et al.·Autoimmunity reviews·2011

This study compared two different blood tests for detecting antinuclear antibodies (proteins the immune system sometimes makes against the body's own cells). Researchers tested these methods in people with autoimmune diseases, healthy people, ME/CFS patients, and other disease controls. The newer solid phase test was better at correctly identifying people with certain autoimmune diseases, though both tests rarely showed false positives in ME/CFS patients.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Numbers and types of nonbladder syndromes as risk factors for interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome.

Warren, John W, Wesselmann, Ursula, Morozov, Vadim et al.·Urology·2011

This study looked at whether having multiple conditions alongside bladder pain (like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and allergies) increases the risk of developing interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS). Researchers found that people who had more of these accompanying conditions before developing IC/PBS were at higher risk, and that these conditions often appeared before the bladder symptoms started. The specific types of conditions varied, but their number seemed to matter most.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Absence of XMRV retrovirus and other murine leukemia virus-related viruses in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Shin, Clifford H, Bateman, Lucinda, Schlaberg, Robert et al.·Journal of virology·2011

This study investigated whether a virus called XMRV or related viruses might cause ME/CFS by testing blood samples from 100 ME/CFS patients and 200 healthy volunteers. The researchers used multiple methods to look for the virus itself, genetic material, and antibodies to the virus. They found no evidence of these viruses in any of the patient samples, suggesting they are not responsible for ME/CFS.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Small heart with low cardiac output for orthostatic intolerance in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Miwa, Kunihisa, Fujita, Masatoshi·Clinical cardiology·2011

This study found that ME/CFS patients who experience dizziness or fainting when standing up (orthostatic intolerance) have smaller hearts and pump less blood with each beat compared to ME/CFS patients without these symptoms and healthy people. The researchers used ultrasound imaging to measure heart size and function in different groups and discovered that about half of ME/CFS patients with orthostatic intolerance had unusually small left heart chambers.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Evidence for a heritable predisposition to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Albright, Frederick, Light, Kathleen, Light, Alan et al.·BMC neurology·2011

This study looked at family medical records in Utah to see whether ME/CFS runs in families. Researchers found that relatives of people with ME/CFS were significantly more likely to also have ME/CFS than would be expected by chance. These findings suggest that genetics plays a role in who develops ME/CFS, though having a relative with the condition doesn't mean you will definitely get it.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Personality and chronic fatigue syndrome: The role of the five-factor model.

Besharat, Mohammad Ali, Behpajooh, Ahmad, Poursharifi, Hamid et al.·Asian journal of psychiatry·2011

This study looked at whether personality traits are connected to fatigue in people with ME/CFS. Researchers compared 77 people with ME/CFS to 72 healthy people and found that those with ME/CFS tended to score higher on two personality traits: neuroticism (tendency to experience negative emotions) and conscientiousness (tendency to be organized and responsible). Both of these traits were linked to how severe their fatigue symptoms were.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus-associated chronic fatigue syndrome reveals a distinct inflammatory signature.

Lombardi, Vincent C, Hagen, Kathryn S, Hunter, Kenneth W et al.·In vivo (Athens, Greece)·2011

This 2011 study looked for a specific virus (XMRV) in the blood of ME/CFS patients and measured immune system chemicals called cytokines and chemokines. Researchers found a distinctive pattern of 10 immune chemicals that could identify XMRV-positive patients with very high accuracy (93-96%), suggesting that this virus may trigger a particular type of immune response in some people with ME/CFS.

Immune System

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A brain MRI study of chronic fatigue syndrome: evidence of brainstem dysfunction and altered homeostasis.

Cognitive deficits in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome compared to those with major depressive disorder and healthy controls.

Assessment of a 44 gene classifier for the evaluation of chronic fatigue syndrome from peripheral blood mononuclear cell gene expression.

Measuring disability in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: reliability and validity of the Work and Social Adjustment Scale.

Longitudinal health study of US 1991 Gulf War veterans: changes in health status at 10-year follow-up.

Reliability and validity of Short Form 36 Version 2 to measure health perceptions in a sub-group of individuals with fatigue.

Deviations in daily physical activity patterns in patients with the chronic fatigue syndrome: a case control study.

Clinical characteristics of patients with medically unexplained chronic widespread pain: a primary care center study.

The role of acceptance in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Increased tenderness in the left third intercostal space in adult patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis: a controlled study.

Absence of detectable xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus in plasma or peripheral blood mononuclear cells of human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected blood donors or individuals in Africa.

Gynecological history in chronic fatigue syndrome: a population-based case-control study.

An unbiased metagenomic search for infectious agents using monozygotic twins discordant for chronic fatigue.

Detection of antinuclear antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence and by solid phase assay.

Numbers and types of nonbladder syndromes as risk factors for interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome.

Absence of XMRV retrovirus and other murine leukemia virus-related viruses in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Small heart with low cardiac output for orthostatic intolerance in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Evidence for a heritable predisposition to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Personality and chronic fatigue syndrome: The role of the five-factor model.

Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus-associated chronic fatigue syndrome reveals a distinct inflammatory signature.

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