ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2795 studies

361–380 of 2,795 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Presence of endometriosis and chronic overlapping pain conditions negatively impacts the pain experience in women with chronic pelvic-abdominal pain: A cross-sectional survey.

Bartley, Emily J, Alappattu, Meryl J, Manko, Kelsey et al.·Women's health (London, England)·2024

This study looked at 525 women with chronic pelvic and abdominal pain to understand how endometriosis (a condition where tissue grows outside the uterus) affects their pain experience. Women with endometriosis reported more severe pain, greater interference with daily life, and were more likely to have other overlapping pain conditions like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. The more pain conditions a woman had, the worse her overall pain burden became, regardless of whether she had endometriosis.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic Fatigue, Depression and Anxiety Symptoms in Long COVID Are Strongly Predicted by Neuroimmune and Neuro-Oxidative Pathways Which Are Caused by the Inflammation during Acute Infection.

Al-Hakeim, Hussein Kadhem, Al-Rubaye, Haneen Tahseen, Almulla, Abbas F et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2023

This study examined whether severe COVID-19 infection—particularly high fever and low oxygen levels—can trigger lasting fatigue, depression, and anxiety through inflammation and oxidative stress in the body. Researchers compared 86 long COVID patients with 39 healthy controls and found that about one-third of long COVID patients had very high signs of immune activation and cellular damage. The study suggests that the severity of initial COVID infection may predict who develops long-term symptoms through measurable changes in inflammatory markers.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

In Schizophrenia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome- and Fibromyalgia-Like Symptoms are Driven by Breakdown of the Paracellular Pathway with Increased Zonulin and Immune Activation-Associated Neurotoxicity.

Maes, Michael, Andrés-Rodríguez, Laura, Vojdani, Aristo et al.·CNS & neurological disorders drug targets·2023

This study looked at people with schizophrenia who also experience fatigue and pain symptoms similar to ME/CFS and fibromyalgia. Researchers found that these symptoms may be caused by a breakdown in the intestinal barrier (the paracellular pathway), which allows harmful substances into the bloodstream and triggers immune system activation. This immune activation then produces neurotoxic byproducts that may cause the fatigue and pain symptoms.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Major Depressive Disorder and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Show Characteristic Heart Rate Variability Profiles Reflecting Autonomic Dysregulations: Differentiation by Linear Discriminant Analysis.

Shinba, Toshikazu, Kuratsune, Daisuke, Shinba, Shuntaro et al.·Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)·2023

This study looked at heart rhythm patterns in people with ME/CFS and depression to see if these patterns could help doctors tell the two conditions apart. Researchers measured how heart rate changes during rest, mental tasks, and recovery in both groups. They found that while both conditions affect the heart's nervous system control, the patterns are different enough that a computer analysis could correctly identify which condition a person had about 92% of the time.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Poor health-related quality of life in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome in comparison with a sex- and age-matched normative population.

Seeley, Marie-Claire, Gallagher, Celine, Ong, Eric et al.·Clinical autonomic research : official journal of the Clinical Autonomic Research Society·2023

This study compared quality of life in people with POTS (a condition causing rapid heartbeat when standing) to people without POTS. Researchers found that people with POTS reported significantly worse quality of life across all areas tested, including mobility, self-care, daily activities, pain, and mood. The impact was consistent across all age groups, and was worse in people with severe symptoms, women, those with fatigue, and those who also had ME/CFS.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Proteomics and cytokine analyses distinguish myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome cases from controls.

Giloteaux, Ludovic, Li, Jiayin, Hornig, Mady et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2023

Researchers studied tiny particles called extracellular vesicles found in the blood of ME/CFS patients and compared them to healthy controls. They found that ME/CFS patients had more of these particles and they contained different levels of immune chemicals, particularly one called IL2. Using computer algorithms to analyze 20 different blood proteins, they could correctly identify ME/CFS patients about 86% of the time, suggesting that blood tests might one day help diagnose this condition.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearLongitudinal

Investigating the factors associated with meaningful improvement on the SF-36-PFS and exploring the appropriateness of this measure for young people with ME/CFS accessing an NHS specialist service: a prospective cohort study.

Gaunt, Daisy, Brigden, Amberly, Metcalfe, Chris et al.·BMJ open·2023

This study followed 193 young people with ME/CFS at a UK NHS specialist service to see how many improved over 6-12 months and what factors predicted improvement. About 40% showed meaningful improvement at 6 months, rising to 54% at 12 months. Interestingly, young people who started with worse physical function scores were actually more likely to show improvement, but very few other patient characteristics predicted who would get better.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearLongitudinal

The relevance of pacing strategies in managing symptoms of post-COVID-19 syndrome.

Ghali, Alaa, Lacombe, Valentin, Ravaiau, Camille et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2023

This study looked at whether pacing—a strategy where patients carefully manage their activity levels to avoid overexertion—helps people recover from long COVID. Researchers followed 86 patients for about 10 months and found that about one-third returned to work and another quarter improved significantly. Patients who stuck with pacing strategies most consistently had the best outcomes, with 60% recovering compared to only 5.5% of those who didn't follow pacing closely.

Interventions

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Cognitive impairment in post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 and short duration myalgic encephalomyelitis patients is mediated by orthostatic hemodynamic changes.

Day, Heather, Yellman, Brayden, Hammer, Sarah et al.·Frontiers in neuroscience·2023

This study examined why people with ME/CFS and long COVID experience 'brain fog' and memory problems. Researchers tested how well people could think and remember before and after standing up quickly (which can make blood pressure drop). They found that people with these illnesses had more trouble thinking clearly after the standing test, and this was linked to unusual changes in their heart rate and blood pressure. The findings suggest that problems with blood flow to the brain during physical stress may be contributing to cognitive difficulties.

Autonomic Nervous SystemCognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Characteristics of Persistent Symptoms Manifested after SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination: An Observational Retrospective Study in a Specialized Clinic for Vaccination-Related Adverse Events.

Tokumasu, Kazuki, Fujita-Yamashita, Manami, Sunada, Naruhiko et al.·Vaccines·2023

Researchers at a specialized clinic in Japan studied 121 patients who experienced long-lasting symptoms after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. The most common symptoms were numbness or tingling sensations (28% of patients), extreme tiredness (25%), fever (17%), and headaches (17%). Some patients developed serious conditions including ME/CFS, and most symptoms started within a week of vaccination but lasted months or longer.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

The persistent viral infections in the development and severity of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Rasa-Dzelzkaleja, Santa, Krumina, Angelika, Capenko, Svetlana et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2023

This study examined whether three common viruses—HHV-6, HHV-7, and parvovirus B19—play a role in ME/CFS by comparing 200 ME/CFS patients with 150 healthy people. The researchers found that ME/CFS patients were much more likely to have these viruses in an active state (replicating) rather than dormant, and those with active infections had higher levels of inflammatory markers. The severity of ME/CFS symptoms appeared linked to the presence and activity level of these viral infections.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

A multicenter virome analysis of blood, feces, and saliva in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Briese, Thomas, Tokarz, Rafal, Bateman, Lucinda et al.·Journal of medical virology·2023

Researchers looked for viruses in blood, saliva, and stool samples from ME/CFS patients and compared them to healthy people. They used advanced testing methods to search for viral genetic material but found no consistent differences between the two groups, except that ME/CFS patients had fewer anelloviruses (a common, typically harmless virus). This suggests that if viruses play a role in ME/CFS, the problem may not be the presence of the virus itself, but rather how the body's immune system responds to it.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is common in post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC): Results from a post-COVID-19 multidisciplinary clinic.

Bonilla, Hector, Quach, Tom C, Tiwari, Anushri et al.·Frontiers in neurology·2023

This study looked at 140 people suffering from long COVID symptoms and found that nearly half of them (43%) met the medical criteria for ME/CFS. Most patients had severe fatigue, brain fog, and unrefreshing sleep that lasted around 9-10 months on average. People with higher body weight and greater functional decline were more likely to develop the ME/CFS form of long COVID.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Physical health of Post-9/11 U.S. Military veterans in the context of Healthy People 2020 targeted topic areas: Results from the Comparative Health Assessment Interview Research Study.

Cypel, Yasmin S, Vogt, Dawne, Maguen, Shira et al.·Preventive medicine reports·2023

This study compared the health of post-9/11 military veterans to non-veterans in the United States and found that veterans experience significantly higher rates of several health conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), back and neck pain, hearing loss, and traumatic brain injury. Women and men veterans had different patterns of illness—for example, female veterans reported more cases of CFS and other conditions, while male veterans had more heart-related problems. The researchers suggest that national health guidelines should better account for veterans' specific health needs.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not required

Health outcomes of sensory hypersensitivities in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and multiple sclerosis.

Maeda, Kensei I, Islam, Mohammed F, Conroy, Karl E et al.·Psychology, health & medicine·2023

This study looked at how common sensitivity to light and sound are in people with ME/CFS compared to people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Researchers surveyed over 2,200 people and found that people with ME/CFS experience these sensitivities much more often than people with MS. People who had both light and sound sensitivity reported feeling worse overall than those without these sensitivities.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation ameliorates symptoms in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis (chronic fatigue syndrome).

Miwa, Kunihisa, Inoue, Yukichi·IBRO neuroscience reports·2023

This small study tested a brain stimulation treatment called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in 30 ME/CFS patients. The treatment targeted specific areas of the brain involved in movement and decision-making. After treatment, most patients reported improvements in their ability to do daily activities, reduced dizziness when standing, better balance, and less pain.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Severe myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome in children and young people: a British Paediatric Surveillance Unit study.

Royston, Alexander Peter, Rai, Manmita, Brigden, Amberly et al.·Archives of disease in childhood·2023

This British study looked at how many children and young people aged 5-16 have severe ME/CFS, a condition that causes extreme tiredness and makes it very difficult to do everyday activities. Researchers found that severe ME/CFS is uncommon in children, but when it does occur, it causes major disability—most affected young people missed almost all their schooling. The study also found that children got diagnosed relatively quickly, within about 5-6 months of when their symptoms started.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Characteristics of patients with panic disorder attended in primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional multicenter study.

Roca, Miquel, Villamor, Antonio Torres, Molinera, Vicente Gasull et al.·Atencion primaria·2023

This study looked at how often panic disorder occurs in people visiting primary care clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers found that about 5.3% of patients had panic disorder, with more cases in women. People with panic disorder were more likely to have money problems, high stress, and other conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome or irritable bowel syndrome.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Mood Symptoms and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Due to Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Are Associated with Immune Activation and Aberrations in the Erythron.

Almulla, Abbas F, Abdul Jaleel, Al-Karrar Kais, Abo Algon, Ali Abbas et al.·Brain sciences·2023

This study looked at 63 people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 30 healthy controls to understand why MS patients experience chronic fatigue, depression, and anxiety. Researchers found that about half of the MS patients had signs of immune system overactivation and problems with red blood cell levels. These immune and blood abnormalities were linked to their fatigue and mood symptoms.

Immune System

E2 ModeratePEM not requiredRegistry-Resource

Robuvit® reduces fatigue after chemotherapy for colon cancer. A pilot registry study.

Belcaro, Gianni, Cox, David, Cesarone, Maria R et al.·Minerva surgery·2023

This study tested whether Robuvit®, an oak wood extract supplement, could help reduce fatigue in people recovering from chemotherapy for colon cancer. Over six weeks, patients taking Robuvit® showed greater improvements in tiredness, strength, fitness, and mood compared to those receiving standard care alone, with no reported side effects.

Interventions

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Evidence browser

Presence of endometriosis and chronic overlapping pain conditions negatively impacts the pain experience in women with chronic pelvic-abdominal pain: A cross-sectional survey.

Chronic Fatigue, Depression and Anxiety Symptoms in Long COVID Are Strongly Predicted by Neuroimmune and Neuro-Oxidative Pathways Which Are Caused by the Inflammation during Acute Infection.

In Schizophrenia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome- and Fibromyalgia-Like Symptoms are Driven by Breakdown of the Paracellular Pathway with Increased Zonulin and Immune Activation-Associated Neurotoxicity.

Major Depressive Disorder and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Show Characteristic Heart Rate Variability Profiles Reflecting Autonomic Dysregulations: Differentiation by Linear Discriminant Analysis.

Poor health-related quality of life in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome in comparison with a sex- and age-matched normative population.

Proteomics and cytokine analyses distinguish myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome cases from controls.

Investigating the factors associated with meaningful improvement on the SF-36-PFS and exploring the appropriateness of this measure for young people with ME/CFS accessing an NHS specialist service: a prospective cohort study.

The relevance of pacing strategies in managing symptoms of post-COVID-19 syndrome.

Cognitive impairment in post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 and short duration myalgic encephalomyelitis patients is mediated by orthostatic hemodynamic changes.

Characteristics of Persistent Symptoms Manifested after SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination: An Observational Retrospective Study in a Specialized Clinic for Vaccination-Related Adverse Events.

The persistent viral infections in the development and severity of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

A multicenter virome analysis of blood, feces, and saliva in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is common in post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC): Results from a post-COVID-19 multidisciplinary clinic.

Physical health of Post-9/11 U.S. Military veterans in the context of Healthy People 2020 targeted topic areas: Results from the Comparative Health Assessment Interview Research Study.

Health outcomes of sensory hypersensitivities in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and multiple sclerosis.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation ameliorates symptoms in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis (chronic fatigue syndrome).

Severe myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome in children and young people: a British Paediatric Surveillance Unit study.

Characteristics of patients with panic disorder attended in primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional multicenter study.

Mood Symptoms and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Due to Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Are Associated with Immune Activation and Aberrations in the Erythron.

Robuvit® reduces fatigue after chemotherapy for colon cancer. A pilot registry study.

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