ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2768 studies

501–520 of 2,768 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Long-term sequelae of COVID-19 (myalgic encephalomyelitis): An international cross-sectional study.

Shaheen, Nour, Shaheen, Ahmed·Medicine·2022

This study examined how COVID-19 affects people's health long after the initial infection, including whether some people develop ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis) as a result. Researchers planned to survey 20,000 people worldwide about their ongoing symptoms weeks to months after COVID-19 infection, using detailed questionnaires to capture a wide range of both common and unusual long-term effects. The goal was to understand who develops long-term problems and whether COVID-19 can trigger ME/CFS in previously healthy people.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Alteration of Cortical Volume and Thickness in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Thapaliya, Kiran, Marshall-Gradisnik, Sonya, Staines, Donald et al.·Frontiers in neuroscience·2022

Researchers used brain imaging to compare the brains of people with ME/CFS to healthy people. They found that people with ME/CFS had some areas of the brain that were thinner and other areas that were larger, particularly in regions involved in thinking and emotion. These brain differences were also connected to how severe symptoms like fatigue, sleep problems, and cognitive difficulties were in each person.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Incidence of Lyme disease in the United Kingdom and association with fatigue: A population-based, historical cohort study.

Brellier, Florence, Pujades-Rodriguez, Mar, Powell, Emma et al.·PloS one·2022

This study tracked over 2,100 people in the UK who were diagnosed with Lyme disease and compared them to similar people without Lyme disease. Researchers found that people with Lyme disease were much more likely to develop fatigue symptoms afterward, and some developed ME/CFS. Interestingly, the risk was highest when Lyme disease occurred in autumn or winter, though fatigue risks remained elevated even months after the initial infection.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Characteristics of Sleep Disturbance in Patients with Long COVID: A Retrospective Observational Study in Japan.

Sunada, Naruhiko, Nakano, Yasuhiro, Otsuka, Yuki et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2022

This study looked at sleep problems in 363 long COVID patients in Japan and found that about 16.5% had significant sleep disturbance. People infected during the Omicron wave were twice as likely to have sleep problems compared to those infected during the Delta wave. Patients with sleep disturbance also reported more fatigue, brain fog, headaches, and anxiety, and had abnormal stress hormone levels suggesting their bodies were under persistent stress.

SleepCognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Findings from a survey about hidradenitis suppurativa in the Netherlands.

The British journal of dermatology·2022

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a painful skin condition that causes recurrent boils, drainage, and scarring in areas like armpits and groin. This Dutch study surveyed over 167,000 people and found that HS is more common than previously thought (2% rather than 1%), and that people with HS often have other conditions including chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and depression. The study also found that many people with HS have not yet been diagnosed or treated.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Pre-illness data reveals differences in multiple metabolites and metabolic pathways in those who do and do not recover from infectious mononucleosis.

Jason, Leonard A, Conroy, Karl E, Furst, Jacob et al.·Molecular omics·2022

This study looked at blood samples taken from college students before they got sick to see if certain chemical markers could predict who would recover from mononucleosis and who would develop ME/CFS instead. Researchers found that people who later developed ME/CFS had different levels of certain chemicals in their blood before they even got sick, particularly those involved in energy production and immune function. Using a computer model based on these chemical differences, they could correctly predict with 97% accuracy which people would recover and which would develop ME/CFS.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredObservational

A prospective observational study of post-COVID-19 chronic fatigue syndrome following the first pandemic wave in Germany and biomarkers associated with symptom severity.

Kedor, Claudia, Freitag, Helma, Meyer-Arndt, Lil et al.·Nature communications·2022

This study followed 42 people with long-lasting fatigue after COVID-19 infection for six months and compared them to people with similar chronic fatigue from other causes. Most participants experienced moderate to severe fatigue that interfered with daily life. The researchers found that many of these post-COVID patients had reduced hand grip strength and blood markers suggesting possible inflammation and poor blood flow, which may help explain why their bodies struggle to recover.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Chronic fatigue syndrome and cognitive deficit are associated with acute-phase neuropsychiatric manifestations of COVID-19: A 9-month follow-up study.

Mirfazeli, Fatemeh Sadat, Sarabi-Jamab, Atiye, Pereira-Sanchez, Victor et al.·Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology·2022

This study followed 95 COVID-19 patients for 9 months to see which ones developed long-COVID symptoms like fatigue and brain fog. The most common symptom was extreme tiredness (affecting about half the patients), followed by anxiety, shortness of breath, and headaches. Interestingly, how sick someone was during acute COVID didn't predict whether they'd have long-COVID problems—but certain early warning signs (like psychiatric symptoms during the acute phase) did predict who would develop chronic fatigue and memory problems later.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearLongitudinal

Physiological assessment of orthostatic intolerance in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Natelson, Benjamin H, Lin, Jin-Mann S, Blate, Michelle et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2022

This study tested how the bodies of ME/CFS patients respond when they shift from lying down to leaning upright for 10 minutes. Researchers measured heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and carbon dioxide levels in the blood. They found that 60% of patients showed abnormal responses, with low blood carbon dioxide levels being the most common problem, followed by an excessively fast heartbeat when standing.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Genetic risk factors for ME/CFS identified using combinatorial analysis.

Das, Sayoni, Taylor, Krystyna, Kozubek, James et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2022

Researchers identified 199 genetic variations in 14 genes that are associated with ME/CFS by analyzing genetic data from thousands of people in UK Biobank. These genetic variations work together in groups to influence ME/CFS risk and were found in 91% of people with ME/CFS in the study. The identified genes are involved in processes the body uses to handle stress, infection, energy production in cells, sleep, and immune function—all areas that scientists think may go wrong in ME/CFS.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

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 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Somatic symptom disorder in patients with post-COVID-19 neurological symptoms: a preliminary report from the somatic study (Somatic Symptom Disorder Triggered by COVID-19).

Kachaner, Alexandra, Lemogne, Cédric, Dave, Julie et al.·Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry·2022

This study examined whether patients with long-lasting neurological symptoms after COVID-19 meet diagnostic criteria for somatic symptom disorder (SSD), a condition where psychological distress can amplify physical symptoms. Researchers evaluated 50 patients and found that about two-thirds met SSD criteria, though brain imaging and standard neurological tests were mostly normal. Most patients also had fatigue meeting chronic fatigue syndrome criteria, sleep problems, and significant work loss.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Comparative Analysis of Extracellular Vesicles in Patients with Severe and Mild Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Bonilla, Hector, Hampton, Dylan, Marques de Menezes, Erika G et al.·Frontiers in immunology·2022

Researchers looked for tiny particles called extracellular vesicles in the blood of people with ME/CFS to see if they could help diagnose or understand the disease. They found that people with severe ME/CFS had higher levels of certain vesicles that come from B cells (immune cells) and platelets (blood clotting cells) compared to healthy people. While these differences were promising, they weren't strong enough to confirm they're reliable markers yet.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Assessment of systemic joint laxity in the clinical context: Relevance and replicability of the Beighton score in chronic fatigue.

Bernhoff, Gabriella, Huhmar, Helena, Käll, Lina Bunketorp·Journal of back and musculoskeletal rehabilitation·2022

Some ME/CFS patients have joints that are unusually flexible or loose, which doctors call systemic joint laxity. This study tested whether a simple physical exam called the Beighton score—where doctors check how flexible your joints are—accurately identifies this condition. The researchers found that the Beighton score alone isn't reliable enough on its own and works better when combined with questions about your medical history.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

No replication of previously reported association with genetic variants in the T cell receptor alpha (TRA) locus for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Ueland, Marthe, Hajdarevic, Riad, Mella, Olav et al.·Translational psychiatry·2022

Researchers wanted to confirm whether certain genetic changes in a gene called TRA (involved in immune system function) were linked to ME/CFS, based on earlier findings. They tested this in large groups of people from Norway and the UK, but found that the genetic changes previously reported were not reliably associated with ME/CFS. While they found some other genetic variations that showed weak signals of association, none were strong enough to be considered genuine findings.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Intersections between pneumonia, lowered oxygen saturation percentage and immune activation mediate depression, anxiety, and chronic fatigue syndrome-like symptoms due to COVID-19: A nomothetic network approach.

Al-Jassas, Hawraa Kadhem, Al-Hakeim, Hussein Kadhem, Maes, Michael·Journal of affective disorders·2022

This study examined 60 COVID-19 patients and 30 healthy controls to understand why some people develop depression, anxiety, and fatigue-like symptoms after COVID-19 infection. The researchers found that lung damage (seen on CT scans), low oxygen levels, and an overactive immune response are connected to these mental health and fatigue symptoms. Essentially, the physical damage to the lungs may trigger immune system activation, which then leads to depression, anxiety, and fatigue.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Orthostatic intolerance and neurocognitive impairment in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Gaglio, Caroline L, Islam, Mohammed F, Cotler, Joseph et al.·Epidemiologic methods·2022

This study looked at how often people with ME/CFS experience two symptoms that doctors use to diagnose the condition: difficulty thinking clearly (brain fog, memory problems) and dizziness when standing up. The researchers found that nearly all participants reported thinking and memory problems, while only a small number had standing-up dizziness without also having cognitive problems. This suggests these two symptoms overlap heavily in ME/CFS patients.

Autonomic Nervous SystemDiagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Genetic and epigenetic regulation of Catechol-O-methyltransferase in relation to inflammation in chronic fatigue syndrome and Fibromyalgia.

Polli, Andrea, Hendrix, Jolien, Ickmans, Kelly et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2022

This study looked at how genes and chemical changes in DNA affect a protein called COMT, which plays a role in pain and inflammation in ME/CFS and fibromyalgia. Researchers compared 28 patients with these conditions to 26 healthy people and measured pain sensitivity, genetic variants, and immune markers. They found that certain genetic patterns and DNA changes were linked to symptoms and immune responses, suggesting that how our genes are "switched on or off" may contribute to these conditions.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

The Significance of Pain Drawing as a Screening Tool for Cervicogenic Headache and Associated Symptoms in Chronic Fatigue.

Bernhoff, Gabriella, Huhmar, Helena M, Rasmussen-Barr, Eva et al.·Journal of pain research·2022

This study looked at whether a simple drawing tool could help identify a specific type of headache (cervicogenic headache) in people with ME/CFS. Researchers found that 42% of ME/CFS patients had a particular pain pattern on their drawings that suggested their headache came from their neck. Patients with this neck-related pain pattern also experienced more dizziness, worse pain, and lower quality of life compared to others.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Microbiome and metabolome profiles of high screen time in a cohort of healthy college students.

Jasbi, Paniz, Mohr, Alex E, Shi, Xiaojian et al.·Scientific reports·2022

This study looked at gut bacteria and their chemical byproducts in 60 college students who spent either a lot of time on screens (more than 75 minutes daily) or very little time. The researchers found that students with high screen time had different gut bacteria and metabolites than those with low screen time. The findings suggest high screen time might be linked to problems with how cells produce energy and process amino acids, which could connect to conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease.

Energy Metabolism

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Long-term sequelae of COVID-19 (myalgic encephalomyelitis): An international cross-sectional study.

Alteration of Cortical Volume and Thickness in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Incidence of Lyme disease in the United Kingdom and association with fatigue: A population-based, historical cohort study.

Characteristics of Sleep Disturbance in Patients with Long COVID: A Retrospective Observational Study in Japan.

Findings from a survey about hidradenitis suppurativa in the Netherlands.

Pre-illness data reveals differences in multiple metabolites and metabolic pathways in those who do and do not recover from infectious mononucleosis.

A prospective observational study of post-COVID-19 chronic fatigue syndrome following the first pandemic wave in Germany and biomarkers associated with symptom severity.

Chronic fatigue syndrome and cognitive deficit are associated with acute-phase neuropsychiatric manifestations of COVID-19: A 9-month follow-up study.

Physiological assessment of orthostatic intolerance in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Genetic risk factors for ME/CFS identified using combinatorial analysis.

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

Somatic symptom disorder in patients with post-COVID-19 neurological symptoms: a preliminary report from the somatic study (Somatic Symptom Disorder Triggered by COVID-19).

Comparative Analysis of Extracellular Vesicles in Patients with Severe and Mild Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Assessment of systemic joint laxity in the clinical context: Relevance and replicability of the Beighton score in chronic fatigue.

No replication of previously reported association with genetic variants in the T cell receptor alpha (TRA) locus for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Intersections between pneumonia, lowered oxygen saturation percentage and immune activation mediate depression, anxiety, and chronic fatigue syndrome-like symptoms due to COVID-19: A nomothetic network approach.

Orthostatic intolerance and neurocognitive impairment in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Genetic and epigenetic regulation of Catechol-O-methyltransferase in relation to inflammation in chronic fatigue syndrome and Fibromyalgia.

The Significance of Pain Drawing as a Screening Tool for Cervicogenic Headache and Associated Symptoms in Chronic Fatigue.

Microbiome and metabolome profiles of high screen time in a cohort of healthy college students.

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