ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2768 studies

461–480 of 2,768 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Exploring the joint potential of inflammation, immunity, and receptor-based biomarkers for evaluating ME/CFS progression.

Berkis, Uldis, Svirskis, Simons, Krumina, Angelika et al.·Frontiers in immunology·2023

This study looked for blood markers that could help doctors understand how severe ME/CFS is and track disease progression. Researchers measured inflammation-related proteins, immune system components, and antibodies against nerve receptors in blood samples from healthy people and patients with mild, moderate, and severe ME/CFS. They found that certain markers—especially antibodies against beta2-adrenergic and M4 receptors, along with specific immune proteins—showed promise for distinguishing disease severity, with over 90% accuracy in identifying who has ME/CFS versus who is healthy.

BiomarkersImmune System

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 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Beyond Anxiety and Depression: Loneliness and Psychiatric Disorders in Adults with Atopic Dermatitis.

Zhang, Junfen, Loman, Laura, Oldhoff, Jantje M et al.·Acta dermato-venereologica·2023

This study found that adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (a chronic skin condition causing itching and inflammation) were more likely to experience loneliness and several psychiatric conditions, including panic disorder, anxiety, depression, and chronic fatigue syndrome. The associations were strongest in people with more severe skin disease, while those with mild atopic dermatitis did not show these increased risks. The researchers suggest that doctors treating skin conditions should also consider screening for and addressing mental health concerns.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

High Perceived Stress and Low Self-Efficacy are Associated with Functional Somatic Disorders: The DanFunD Study.

Petersen, Marie Weinreich, Carstensen, Tina Birgitte Wisbech, Frostholm, Lisbeth et al.·Clinical epidemiology·2023

This study of over 9,600 Danish people examined whether stress and confidence in one's abilities are connected to functional somatic disorders—conditions like chronic fatigue, widespread pain, and irritable bowel syndrome where symptoms are real but don't have a clear physical cause. The researchers found that people with these conditions tend to feel more stressed and have lower confidence in their abilities compared to healthy people, though their stress levels were not necessarily higher than people with serious physical diseases.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Influence of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Codiagnosis on the Relationship between Perceived and Objective Psychoneuro-Immunoendocrine Disorders in Women with Fibromyalgia.

Otero, Eduardo, Gálvez, Isabel, Ortega, Eduardo et al.·Biomedicines·2023

This study compared women with fibromyalgia (FM), some of whom also had been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), to healthy women. Researchers measured both what patients reported feeling (like stress and pain levels) and actual biological markers in their blood (like stress hormones and immune chemicals). They found that FM patients generally felt worse than healthy women, and their blood work matched this—showing higher stress hormones and lower mood-boosting chemicals. Interestingly, FM patients who also had a CFS diagnosis showed different blood markers than those with FM alone, suggesting these two conditions may overlap in ways that current diagnosis methods don't catch.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Observational Study of Repeat Immunoadsorption (RIA) in Post-COVID ME/CFS Patients with Elevated ß2-Adrenergic Receptor Autoantibodies-An Interim Report.

Stein, Elisa, Heindrich, Cornelia, Wittke, Kirsten et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2023

This study tested a blood-cleaning procedure called immunoadsorption in 10 patients with ME/CFS that developed after COVID-19. The treatment removes harmful antibodies from the blood that may be attacking the body's nerve receptors. Seven patients showed meaningful improvement in physical function within four weeks, suggesting this approach may help some people with post-COVID ME/CFS.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Severe and Very Severe Myalgic Encephalopathy/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ME/CFS in Norway: Symptom Burden and Access to Care.

Sommerfelt, Kristian, Schei, Trude, Angelsen, Arild·Journal of clinical medicine·2023

This Norwegian study surveyed 491 patients with severe ME/CFS and their family caregivers to understand how the disease affects their daily lives and what support they receive. The researchers found that the most severely ill patients are often completely bedridden, unable to speak, and experience severe symptom flare-ups from even minimal activity or sensory stimulation. Many patients and caregivers reported that healthcare services were inadequate or sometimes made symptoms worse, though some found help from occupational therapists and family doctors useful.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredObservational

A 2-day cardiopulmonary exercise test in chronic fatigue syndrome patients who were exposed to humidifier disinfectants.

Leem, Jong-Han, Jeon, Hyoung-Eun, Nam, Hun et al.·Environmental analysis, health and toxicology·2022

This study tested whether a special two-day exercise test could detect post-exertional malaise (PEM)—the worsening of symptoms after physical activity—in people with ME/CFS who had been exposed to humidifier disinfectants. The researchers had 29 participants complete an exercise test, rest for 24 hours, then repeat it. They found that performance noticeably declined on the second day, showing that PEM is real and measurable.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Regional gray matter volume correlates to physical and mental fatigue in healthy middle-aged adults.

Putra, Handityo Aulia, Park, Kaechang, Yamashita, Fumio et al.·Neuroimage. Reports·2022

Researchers used brain scans to examine whether the size of certain brain regions relates to how tired people feel, both physically and mentally. In a large group of nearly 1,900 healthy middle-aged adults, they found that specific brain areas showed different sizes depending on fatigue levels—some areas were smaller in people reporting more fatigue, while others were larger. This suggests that brain structure may be connected to how tired we feel, even before someone develops a condition like ME/CFS.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The psychological features of distinct somatic syndromes: A cluster analysis according to population-based somatic symptom profiles in Taiwan.

Huang, Wei-Lieh, Chang, Shu-Sen, Liao, Shih-Cheng·Journal of the Formosan Medical Association = Taiwan yi zhi·2022

This study looked at whether different types of physical symptoms (like fatigue, pain, digestive problems, and heart-related symptoms) represent separate conditions or are all part of one bigger syndrome. Researchers analyzed survey data from 550 people in Taiwan and found that people tend to cluster into four different groups based on their symptom patterns, and each group had different levels of depression, anxiety, and health worry.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Vaccine Vigilance System: Considerations on the Effectiveness of Vigilance Data Use in COVID-19 Vaccination.

Araja, Diana, Krumina, Angelika, Nora-Krukle, Zaiga et al.·Vaccines·2022

Researchers analyzed publicly available European vaccine safety reports to see which health problems were most commonly reported after COVID-19 vaccination. They found that the most frequently reported issues involved general symptoms (like injection site reactions and fever), nervous system problems (like headaches), and muscle/joint pain. The study notes that while ME/CFS wasn't specifically tracked in the database, reports of chronic fatigue syndrome were present and could be studied.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredObservational

Long-term neuromuscular consequences of SARS-Cov-2 and their similarities with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: results of the retrospective CoLGEM study.

Retornaz, Frédérique, Rebaudet, Stanislas, Stavris, Chloé et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2022

This study found that long-COVID patients and ME/CFS patients have very similar symptoms and muscle problems. Researchers measured electrical activity in leg muscles during and after exercise in both groups and found comparable patterns of muscle fatigue. This suggests that COVID-19 infection may trigger ME/CFS-like illness in some people.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Anti-Correlated Myelin-Sensitive MRI Levels in Humans Consistent with a Subcortical to Sensorimotor Regulatory Process-Multi-Cohort Multi-Modal Evidence.

Barnden, Leighton, Crouch, Benjamin, Kwiatek, Richard et al.·Brain sciences·2022

This study looked at brain scans from people with ME/CFS and healthy people to understand how the brain protects and maintains nerve fibers (myelin). Researchers found that healthy people show a balancing pattern: when one part of the brain has less myelin coverage, another part compensates by having more. The study suggests this balance may be disrupted in ME/CFS, which could contribute to symptom severity.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Brain fog of post-COVID-19 condition and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, same medical disorder?

Azcue, N, Gómez-Esteban, J C, Acera, M et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2022

This study compared brain fog and fatigue symptoms in people with ME/CFS and those recovering from COVID-19 to see if they might be the same condition triggered by different causes. Both groups showed similar problems with fatigue, sleep, and muscle pain, but people with ME/CFS had more severe cognitive difficulties like trouble concentrating and processing information. Interestingly, loss of smell that lasted a long time in COVID-19 patients appeared connected to their cognitive problems.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearObservational

Graded exercise therapy for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome in secondary care - a benchmarking study.

Smakowski, Abigail, Adamson, James, Turner, Tracey et al.·Disability and rehabilitation·2022

This study looked at how graded exercise therapy (gradually increasing physical activity) helped ME/CFS patients who were treated at a specialist clinic in London. Researchers tracked patients' fatigue levels, physical ability, and ability to work and socialize over the course of treatment. The results showed that patients improved significantly, with fatigue decreasing and daily functioning improving by the end of treatment.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Prevalence of Aspergillus-Derived Mycotoxins (Ochratoxin, Aflatoxin, and Gliotoxin) and Their Distribution in the Urinalysis of ME/CFS Patients.

Wu, Ting Yu, Khorramshahi, Taura, Taylor, Lindsey A et al.·International journal of environmental research and public health·2022

This study looked for mold-related toxins in the urine of 236 ME/CFS patients who had been exposed to mold in water-damaged buildings. Researchers found evidence of these toxins in 92.4% of the patients tested, with a toxin called ochratoxin A being the most common. The study provides preliminary evidence that mold exposure may be connected to ME/CFS in this patient group, though more research is needed to understand if mold actually causes the illness.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Differences in Symptoms among Black and White Patients with ME/CFS.

Jason, Leonard A, Torres, Chelsea·Journal of clinical medicine·2022

This study looked at whether ME/CFS symptoms differ between Black and White patients. Researchers compared 19 Black patients with ME/CFS to White patients with ME/CFS and healthy people without the condition. They found that ME/CFS patients had notably different symptoms compared to healthy controls, but Black and White ME/CFS patients reported very similar symptom patterns.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Altered Effective Connectivity of Resting-State Networks by Tai Chi Chuan in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients: A Multivariate Granger Causality Study.

Li, Yuanyuan, Wu, Kang, Hu, Xiaojie et al.·Frontiers in neurology·2022

This study looked at how a traditional Chinese exercise called Tai Chi Chuan affects the brain in ME/CFS patients. Using brain imaging, researchers found that ME/CFS patients had weaker communication between two important brain networks compared to healthy people. After just one month of Tai Chi Chuan training, this brain communication improved, and patients reported better quality of life, especially with less pain and better physical function.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Cerebral gray matter volume correlates with fatigue and varies between desk workers and non-desk workers.

Putra, Handityo A, Park, Kaechang, Yamashita, Fumio et al.·Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience·2022

This study looked at how fatigue is connected to the size of different brain regions in 1,618 healthy people. Researchers found that people who reported more fatigue had smaller volume in one brain area (supplementary motor area) but larger volume in two other areas (superior parietal lobule and basal forebrain). Interestingly, desk workers and non-desk workers showed different patterns, suggesting that work environment may influence how fatigue affects the brain.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not required

Risk factors for suicide in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Johnson, Madeline L, Cotler, Joseph, Terman, Julia M et al.·Death studies·2022

This study looked at 64 people with ME/CFS to understand why some experience suicidal thoughts, with 17 having died by suicide. Researchers found that people who identified as having CFS (rather than ME), those with severe functional limitations, and those without other medical conditions were at higher risk. The study suggests that stigma around the illness and difficulty accessing care and support may contribute to these serious mental health risks.

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Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

Exploring the joint potential of inflammation, immunity, and receptor-based biomarkers for evaluating ME/CFS progression.

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

Beyond Anxiety and Depression: Loneliness and Psychiatric Disorders in Adults with Atopic Dermatitis.

High Perceived Stress and Low Self-Efficacy are Associated with Functional Somatic Disorders: The DanFunD Study.

Influence of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Codiagnosis on the Relationship between Perceived and Objective Psychoneuro-Immunoendocrine Disorders in Women with Fibromyalgia.

Observational Study of Repeat Immunoadsorption (RIA) in Post-COVID ME/CFS Patients with Elevated ß2-Adrenergic Receptor Autoantibodies-An Interim Report.

Severe and Very Severe Myalgic Encephalopathy/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ME/CFS in Norway: Symptom Burden and Access to Care.

A 2-day cardiopulmonary exercise test in chronic fatigue syndrome patients who were exposed to humidifier disinfectants.

Regional gray matter volume correlates to physical and mental fatigue in healthy middle-aged adults.

The psychological features of distinct somatic syndromes: A cluster analysis according to population-based somatic symptom profiles in Taiwan.

Vaccine Vigilance System: Considerations on the Effectiveness of Vigilance Data Use in COVID-19 Vaccination.

Long-term neuromuscular consequences of SARS-Cov-2 and their similarities with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: results of the retrospective CoLGEM study.

Anti-Correlated Myelin-Sensitive MRI Levels in Humans Consistent with a Subcortical to Sensorimotor Regulatory Process-Multi-Cohort Multi-Modal Evidence.

Brain fog of post-COVID-19 condition and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, same medical disorder?

Graded exercise therapy for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome in secondary care - a benchmarking study.

Prevalence of Aspergillus-Derived Mycotoxins (Ochratoxin, Aflatoxin, and Gliotoxin) and Their Distribution in the Urinalysis of ME/CFS Patients.

Differences in Symptoms among Black and White Patients with ME/CFS.

Altered Effective Connectivity of Resting-State Networks by Tai Chi Chuan in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients: A Multivariate Granger Causality Study.

Cerebral gray matter volume correlates with fatigue and varies between desk workers and non-desk workers.

Risk factors for suicide in chronic fatigue syndrome.

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