Evidence browser

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

EEG source analysis of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Flor-Henry, Pierre, Lind, John C, Koles, Zoltan J·Psychiatry research·2010

Researchers used a specialized brain-wave test (EEG) to compare 61 women with ME/CFS to 80 healthy women. The brain activity patterns were different between the two groups, especially when the women were doing mental tasks. The computer could correctly identify who had ME/CFS based on these brain patterns about 72-83% of the time.

Nitric oxide metabolite production during exercise in chronic fatigue syndrome: a case-control study.

Suárez, Andrea, Guillamó, Elisabet, Roig, Teresa et al.·Journal of women's health (2002)·2010

This study looked at a chemical called nitric oxide in the blood of people with ME/CFS and healthy controls before and after exercise. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS had much higher levels of this chemical in their blood after exercise compared to healthy people. The findings suggest that measuring nitric oxide response to exercise might help doctors diagnose ME/CFS in the future.

Post-Exertional Malaise

The increase of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in the plasma of chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

Shishioh-Ikejima, Nobue, Ogawa, Tokiko, Yamaguti, Kouzi et al.·BMC neurology·2010

Researchers measured a hormone called alpha-MSH in the blood of 55 ME/CFS patients and compared it to 30 healthy people. They found that patients diagnosed within the last 5 years had significantly higher alpha-MSH levels than healthy controls, but this difference disappeared in patients who had been ill longer. This suggests alpha-MSH might be a useful blood test for identifying ME/CFS in newly diagnosed patients.

Biomarkers

Fatigue status in relation to lifestyle in healthy Japanese adolescents.

Zou, Ning, Kubota, Masaru, Kuruma, Eriko et al.·International journal of pediatrics·2010

This study looked at fatigue in over 1,200 healthy Japanese teenagers aged 11–16 to see how common different types of fatigue were and whether lifestyle habits made a difference. Researchers found that girls reported higher fatigue scores related to ME/CFS-type symptoms than boys, and fatigue increased as teenagers got older. Sleep, exercise, diet quality, and sugary drinks were all linked to how tired teenagers felt.

Sleep

No evidence for XMRV in German CFS and MS patients with fatigue despite the ability of the virus to infect human blood cells in vitro.

Hohn, Oliver, Strohschein, Kristin, Brandt, Alexander U et al.·PloS one·2010

Researchers tested blood samples from German ME/CFS patients, multiple sclerosis patients with fatigue, and healthy people to see if a virus called XMRV was present. They looked for both antibodies (immune system markers) and viral genetic material. They found no evidence of XMRV in any of the groups, suggesting this virus is not associated with ME/CFS or MS-related fatigue in Germany.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

PCR and serology find no association between xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) and autism.

Satterfield, Brent C, Garcia, Rebecca A, Gurrieri, Fiorella et al.·Molecular autism·2010

This study tested whether a virus called XMRV is present in children with autism, particularly those born to mothers with ME/CFS. Researchers used blood tests and antibody checks on over 400 participants and found no evidence that XMRV is linked to autism. This helps clarify that despite earlier media suggestions, this particular virus does not appear to contribute to autism development.

Being homebound with chronic fatigue syndrome: A multidimensional comparison with outpatients.

Wiborg, Jan F, van der Werf, Sieberen, Prins, Judith B et al.·Psychiatry research·2010

This study looked at ME/CFS patients who are unable to leave their homes and compared them to patients who can still go to clinics for treatment. Homebound patients experienced much worse daily fatigue, were more likely to believe their symptoms were physical rather than psychological, and tended to be less active. The researchers found that homebound patients may need different treatment approaches designed specifically for their severe level of disability.

Severe ME

Plasma neuropeptide Y: a biomarker for symptom severity in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Fletcher, Mary A, Rosenthal, Martin, Antoni, Michael et al.·Behavioral and brain functions : BBF·2010

This study measured a stress-related substance called neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the blood of ME/CFS patients and compared it to healthy people and people with Gulf War Illness. The researchers found that ME/CFS patients had significantly higher NPY levels, and these levels correlated with how severe their symptoms were—including stress, depression, fatigue, and cognitive problems. This suggests NPY could be a useful blood test to help identify ME/CFS and track symptom severity.

Biomarkers

[Multiple chemical sensitivity: epidemiological, clinical and prognostic differences between occupational and non-occupational cases].

Nogué Xarau, Santiago, Alarcón Romay, María, Martínez Martínez, José-Miguel et al.·Medicina clinica·2010

This study looked at 165 people with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS)—a condition where people react badly to everyday chemicals—to see if it made a difference whether their condition started from workplace exposure or other sources. People whose MCS began at work had fewer related conditions like chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, and were less likely to become permanently disabled, compared to those whose MCS developed from non-work exposures.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Comorbid health conditions in women with syncope.

Ulas, Umit H, Chelimsky, Thomas C, Chelimsky, Gisela et al.·Clinical autonomic research : official journal of the Clinical Autonomic Research Society·2010

This study looked at hospital records of over 305,000 patients admitted for fainting (syncope) to see which health conditions were more common in women versus men. Researchers found that women were more likely to have several conditions related to nervous system problems that control blood pressure and heart rate, including chronic fatigue syndrome, migraines, and postural tachycardia syndrome (a condition where heart rate increases abnormally when standing). These autonomic conditions were especially common in women of reproductive age.

Autonomic Nervous System

Use of adaptol in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome in patients with chronic cerebral ischemia.

Mokina, T V, Antipenko, E A, Gustov, A V·Neuroscience and behavioral physiology·2010

This study looked at whether a medication called adaptol could help people with ME/CFS who also had reduced blood flow to the brain. Researchers observed patients taking adaptol and tracked whether it helped with their fatigue and other symptoms. This was an early-stage observation study designed to see if adaptol might be worth studying more carefully in the future.

Psychiatric misdiagnoses in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Lawn, Tara, Kumar, Praveen, Knight, Bernice et al.·JRSM short reports·2010

This study looked at whether doctors in ME/CFS clinics were accurately diagnosing psychiatric conditions like depression and anxiety in their ME/CFS patients. Researchers compared diagnoses made by clinic doctors with diagnoses made using a standardized psychiatric interview on 135 patients. They found that doctors missed psychiatric diagnoses in about 22% of patients, but incorrectly diagnosed them in only 10%—meaning missed diagnoses were more than twice as common as false diagnoses.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

[Effectiveness of medical rehabilitation in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome at a health resort].

Tovbushenko, M P, Merkulova, G A, Anashkin, V V et al.·Voprosy kurortologii, fizioterapii, i lechebnoi fizicheskoi kultury·2010

Researchers tested whether a spa resort program combined with specific treatments—including electrophoresis with succinic acid, mud therapy, and immune-boosting injections—could help ME/CFS patients feel better. The study found that this combination approach appeared to be effective at improving symptoms in the patients who participated.

Childhood maltreatment and migraine (part III). Association with comorbid pain conditions.

Tietjen, Gretchen E, Brandes, Jan L, Peterlin, B Lee et al.·Headache·2010

This study looked at people with migraine who came to headache clinics and asked whether childhood trauma (abuse or neglect) was connected to having multiple pain conditions at the same time, including chronic fatigue syndrome. They found that people who experienced emotional abuse or physical neglect as children were more likely to have multiple pain conditions as adults, even after accounting for depression and anxiety.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCase-Control

Vitamin D metabolites as clinical markers in autoimmune and chronic disease.

Blaney, Greg P, Albert, Paul J, Proal, Amy D·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·2009

This study measured two types of vitamin D in the blood of patients with autoimmune and chronic diseases, including ME/CFS. The researchers found that a specific form of vitamin D (1,25-D) at high levels was associated with these conditions, but the commonly-tested form of vitamin D (25-D) was not. This suggests doctors may need to test for the right type of vitamin D to properly assess autoimmune disease.

BiomarkersImmune System

Childhood trauma and risk for chronic fatigue syndrome: association with neuroendocrine dysfunction.

Heim, Christine, Nater, Urs M, Maloney, Elizabeth et al.·Archives of general psychiatry·2009

This study found that people with ME/CFS who experienced childhood trauma (such as abuse or neglect) have significantly different stress hormone levels compared to healthy people. Specifically, those with ME/CFS and childhood trauma history showed lower cortisol (a stress hormone) levels after waking up. The research suggests that early difficult experiences may damage the body's stress-response system in ways that increase vulnerability to developing ME/CFS later in life.

Endocrine Disruption

Gut MicrobiomeImmune System

Effect of supplement with lactic-acid producing bacteria on fatigue and physical activity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Sullivan, Asa, Nord, Carl E, Evengård, Birgitta·Nutrition journal·2009

This small study tested whether specific probiotic bacteria (live microorganisms that may benefit gut health) could reduce fatigue and improve physical activity in ME/CFS patients. Fifteen patients took probiotics for 4 weeks and were monitored for changes in fatigue, physical activity, and cognitive function. While some patients reported feeling better overall, the study did not find significant improvements in fatigue or activity levels, though cognitive function did improve.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Increased d-lactic Acid intestinal bacteria in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Sheedy, John R, Wettenhall, Richard E H, Scanlon, Denis et al.·In vivo (Athens, Greece)·2009

This study found that people with ME/CFS have higher levels of specific bacteria in their gut that produce a substance called D-lactic acid. These bacteria were found in much larger quantities in stool samples from ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people. The researchers suggest this excess D-lactic acid might help explain why some ME/CFS patients experience brain fog and cognitive problems.

Gut MicrobiomeEnergy Metabolism

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Health of US veterans of 1991 Gulf War: a follow-up survey in 10 years.

Kang, Han K, Li, Bo, Mahan, Clare M et al.·Journal of occupational and environmental medicine·2009

This study followed over 30,000 U.S. military veterans for 14 years after the 1991 Gulf War to track their health. Veterans who were deployed to the Gulf reported significantly more chronic fatigue, unexplained multi-symptom illness, PTSD, and other health problems compared to veterans who were not deployed. These health differences persisted over time, suggesting the Gulf deployment had lasting effects on veterans' wellbeing.