ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2807 studies

581–600 of 2,807 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Oxaloacetate Treatment For Mental And Physical Fatigue In Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Long-COVID fatigue patients: a non-randomized controlled clinical trial.

Cash, Alan, Kaufman, David Lyons·Journal of translational medicine·2022

This study tested whether a supplement called oxaloacetate could help reduce fatigue in ME/CFS and Long COVID patients. Over 6 weeks, patients taking oxaloacetate showed significant improvements in both mental and physical fatigue—with ME/CFS patients improving by 22–33% depending on dose, and Long COVID patients improving by up to 47%—compared to expected placebo improvements of about 6%.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Volumetric differences in hippocampal subfields and associations with clinical measures in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Thapaliya, Kiran, Staines, Donald, Marshall-Gradisnik, Sonya et al.·Journal of neuroscience research·2022

Researchers used brain imaging to examine a part of the brain called the hippocampus, which is important for memory and thinking. They found that people with ME/CFS who met stricter diagnostic criteria had some structural differences in specific regions of their hippocampus compared to healthy people, and these differences were connected to how severe their fatigue and pain were. This finding supports the idea that ME/CFS involves real physical changes in the brain that may explain memory and cognitive problems patients experience.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM required

Causal attributions and perceived stigma for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Froehlich, Laura, Hattesohl, Daniel Br, Cotler, Joseph et al.·Journal of health psychology·2022

This study looked at how ME/CFS patients are affected by what others think about their illness. Researchers found that when people believe others think ME/CFS is something the patient can control (like a psychological problem rather than a real disease), it increases feelings of shame and stigma. These negative feelings then lead to worse health outcomes and less satisfaction with daily activities.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Pathway Phenotypes Underpinning Depression, Anxiety, and Chronic Fatigue Symptoms Due to Acute Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Precision Nomothetic Psychiatry Analysis.

Smesam, Hasan Najah, Qazmooz, Hasan Abbas, Khayoon, Sinan Qayes et al.·Journal of personalized medicine·2022

This study looked at 118 people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA, an autoimmune disease affecting joints) and 50 healthy people to understand why RA patients often experience depression, anxiety, and fatigue. Researchers measured immune system markers and psychological symptoms, finding that about 70% of these mental and fatigue symptoms could be explained by the same immune system problems that cause RA itself.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Incidence of post-COVID syndrome and associated symptoms in outpatient care in Bavaria, Germany: a retrospective cohort study using routinely collected claims data.

Donnachie, Ewan, Hapfelmeier, Alexander, Linde, Klaus et al.·BMJ open·2022

This study looked at health insurance records from nearly 400,000 people in Germany who had COVID-19 to see how many developed long COVID symptoms lasting at least 12 weeks. About 14% of COVID-19 patients received a diagnosis of post-COVID syndrome, with the most common symptoms being fatigue, breathing problems, and loss of taste or smell. These symptoms occurred much more often in COVID-19 patients compared to people who had other respiratory infections or no respiratory illness.

Cognitive Impairment

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 ModerateDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Comparing Operationalized Approaches for Substantial Reduction of Functioning in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

Wiedbusch, Elzbieta, Jason, Leonard A·Archives of community medicine·2022

This study looked at five different ways to measure how much ME/CFS reduces a person's ability to function in daily life—something that is a key part of diagnosis. Using a large international group of over 2,300 patients and 359 healthy controls, researchers found that all five methods worked reasonably well, but a simple single-question approach was the best at identifying who actually had ME/CFS. This suggests doctors could use an easier, faster method to assess this important symptom.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

ME/CFS and Post-Exertional Malaise among Patients with Long COVID.

Jason, Leonard A, Dorri, Joseph A·Neurology international·2022

Researchers studied 465 people with long-term COVID symptoms to see how many also had ME/CFS (a serious condition causing extreme fatigue and worsening after activity). They found that about 6 in 10 people with long COVID met the medical criteria for ME/CFS. Interestingly, some people thought they had ME/CFS when they didn't, while others had ME/CFS without realizing it—showing that self-diagnosis alone isn't reliable.

Long COVID OverlapPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Association of SARS-CoV-2 Seropositivity With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and/or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Among Children and Adolescents in Germany.

Sorg, Anna-Lisa, Becht, Selina, Jank, Marietta et al.·JAMA network open·2022

This study looked at whether children and teenagers who had been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 were more likely to develop ME/CFS symptoms like severe fatigue and muscle pain. Researchers tested 634 young people in Germany and found that those who had been infected with COVID-19 showed only slightly higher rates of ME/CFS symptoms compared to those who hadn't been infected. The increase was small enough that other factors—like stress from lockdowns—might explain the symptoms just as well.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Endothelial dysfunction and altered endothelial biomarkers in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Haffke, Milan, Freitag, Helma, Rudolf, Gordon et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2022

This study looked at whether blood vessel function is damaged in people with long COVID and ME/CFS. Researchers tested blood vessel function and measured specific proteins in the blood that reflect endothelial (blood vessel lining) health. They found that some patients with both conditions showed signs of blood vessel dysfunction, and had abnormal levels of certain proteins compared to healthy people.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Autoimmune gene expression profiling of fingerstick whole blood in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Wang, Zheng, Waldman, Michelle F, Basavanhally, Tara J et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2022

Researchers tested blood samples from 166 ME/CFS patients and 83 healthy people to look for immune system clues that might explain the disease. They found that six specific genes related to immune function were more active in patients with severe, bedridden ME/CFS compared to those with milder disease. The study suggests these genes could potentially be used as biomarkers to identify how severe someone's ME/CFS is and might point toward new treatments.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

A comparative study of valaciclovir, valganciclovir, and artesunate efficacy in reactivated HHV-6 and HHV-7 infections associated with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Maltsev, Dmitry·Microbiology and immunology·2022

This study tested three antiviral medications in ME/CFS patients who had reactivated herpesvirus infections (HHV-6 and HHV-7). Over three months, the drug artesunate was more effective at clearing the virus from the blood than two other antivirals (valaciclovir and valganciclovir). By the third month, artesunate cleared the virus in about 68% of HHV-6 cases and 63% of HHV-7 cases, compared to 37% and 34% with valaciclovir.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Biomarkers in the diagnostic algorithm of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Gravelsina, Sabine, Vilmane, Anda, Svirskis, Simons et al.·Frontiers in immunology·2022

This study looked for biological markers (measurable signs in the blood) that could help doctors diagnose ME/CFS more easily. Researchers tested 134 ME/CFS patients and 33 healthy people for a virus called HHV-6 and specific antibodies that attack nerve receptors. They found that ME/CFS patients had higher levels of certain antibodies compared to healthy controls, and patients with more virus in their blood tended to have more severe symptoms.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

A Comprehensive Report of German Nationwide Inpatient Data on the Post-COVID-19 Syndrome Including Annual Direct Healthcare Costs.

Walter, Nike, Rupp, Markus, Lang, Siegmund et al.·Viruses·2022

This study looked at hospital records across Germany to understand how many people were hospitalized with Post-COVID Syndrome (PCS), what treatments they received, and how much it cost the healthcare system. Researchers found nearly 30,000 hospitalized PCS patients in one year, with common problems including pneumonia, fatigue, and breathing difficulties. The total cost to the healthcare system was over €136 million, averaging about €4,583 per patient.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Separating Patients with SEID from Those with CFS in the French ME/CFS Association, with Some Thoughts on Nomenclature.

Campagne, Julien, Fornasieri, Isabelle, Andreani, Barbara et al.·Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)·2022

Researchers surveyed French ME/CFS patients to see how many met the newer diagnostic criteria called SEID (Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease), proposed in 2015. They found that about 84% of patients in the survey met SEID criteria, and certain symptoms like unrefreshing sleep, brain fog, and problems with blood pressure changes were especially useful for identifying SEID patients. However, most patients didn't strongly prefer the new SEID name over ME/CFS, suggesting the medical community should work with patients to find better terminology.

Diagnostics

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 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 not requiredLongitudinal

Impact of a mid-urethral synthetic mesh sling on long-term risk of systemic conditions in women with stress urinary incontinence: a national cohort study.

Muller, P, Gurol-Urganci, I, Thakar, R et al.·BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology·2022

This study looked at whether a surgical mesh implant used to treat urinary leakage in women increases the risk of developing systemic diseases like autoimmune conditions, fibromyalgia, or ME/CFS. Researchers compared nearly 89,000 women who received mesh surgery to about 3,400 women who had surgery without mesh, following them for up to 10 years. The study found no evidence that mesh surgery increased the risk of these systemic conditions.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCase-Control

Treatments of chronic fatigue syndrome and its debilitating comorbidities: a 12-year population-based study.

Leong, Kam-Hang, Yip, Hei-Tung, Kuo, Chien-Feng et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2022

This study looked at over 12,000 people in Taiwan with ME/CFS and compared them to an equal number of similar people without the condition. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS are much more likely to also have depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and certain other illnesses like diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. The study also found that doctors commonly prescribed antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, pain relievers, and recommended exercise and therapy—treatments that earlier research suggested might help with ME/CFS symptoms.

Interventions

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

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Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

Oxaloacetate Treatment For Mental And Physical Fatigue In Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Long-COVID fatigue patients: a non-randomized controlled clinical trial.

Volumetric differences in hippocampal subfields and associations with clinical measures in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Causal attributions and perceived stigma for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Pathway Phenotypes Underpinning Depression, Anxiety, and Chronic Fatigue Symptoms Due to Acute Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Precision Nomothetic Psychiatry Analysis.

Incidence of post-COVID syndrome and associated symptoms in outpatient care in Bavaria, Germany: a retrospective cohort study using routinely collected claims data.

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

Comparing Operationalized Approaches for Substantial Reduction of Functioning in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

ME/CFS and Post-Exertional Malaise among Patients with Long COVID.

Association of SARS-CoV-2 Seropositivity With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and/or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Among Children and Adolescents in Germany.

Endothelial dysfunction and altered endothelial biomarkers in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Autoimmune gene expression profiling of fingerstick whole blood in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

A comparative study of valaciclovir, valganciclovir, and artesunate efficacy in reactivated HHV-6 and HHV-7 infections associated with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Biomarkers in the diagnostic algorithm of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

A Comprehensive Report of German Nationwide Inpatient Data on the Post-COVID-19 Syndrome Including Annual Direct Healthcare Costs.

Separating Patients with SEID from Those with CFS in the French ME/CFS Association, with Some Thoughts on Nomenclature.

Physiological assessment of orthostatic intolerance in chronic fatigue syndrome.

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

Impact of a mid-urethral synthetic mesh sling on long-term risk of systemic conditions in women with stress urinary incontinence: a national cohort study.

Treatments of chronic fatigue syndrome and its debilitating comorbidities: a 12-year population-based study.

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

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