ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2807 studies

601–620 of 2,807 studies

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 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 not requiredCross-Sectional

Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection: relationship of central nervous system manifestations with physical disability and systemic inflammation.

Busatto, Geraldo F, de Araujo, Adriana Ladeira, Castaldelli-Maia, João Mauricio et al.·Psychological medicine·2022

Researchers studied 749 people who had been hospitalized with COVID-19 and assessed them 6-11 months later. They found that 30 different symptoms—including fatigue, brain fog, depression, and anxiety—tend to occur together as part of one underlying condition. People with more severe symptoms also showed signs of ongoing inflammation in their blood and had greater physical disability, suggesting a real biological basis for their illness.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Lowered Quality of Life in Long COVID Is Predicted by Affective Symptoms, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Inflammation and Neuroimmunotoxic Pathways.

Maes, Michael, Al-Rubaye, Haneen Tahseen, Almulla, Abbas F et al.·International journal of environmental research and public health·2022

This study found that Long COVID patients have significantly lower quality of life compared to healthy people, and this decline is mostly explained by three factors: mood and pain-related symptoms (like depression, anxiety, and fatigue), signs of ongoing inflammation in the body, and problems with how the body processes calcium. The severity of the initial infection—measured by high fever and low oxygen levels—also plays a role by triggering these inflammatory and immune problems that persist afterward.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Post-COVID-19 Syndrome: Retinal Microcirculation as a Potential Marker for Chronic Fatigue.

Schlick, Sarah, Lucio, Marianna, Wallukat, Gerd et al.·International journal of molecular sciences·2022

Researchers studied whether tiny blood vessels in the eye could be a measurable sign of fatigue in people with long COVID. Using a special imaging technique to look at blood vessels in the retina (back of the eye), they found that people with long COVID—especially women—had reduced blood flow in these tiny vessels compared to healthy people. Those with long COVID who reported severe fatigue had even lower blood vessel density than those with milder fatigue, suggesting the eye scan might objectively confirm what patients report feeling.

Biomarkers

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

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 requiredObservational

Endometriosis: A Retrospective Analysis of Clinical Data from a Cohort of 4,083 Patients, With Focus on Symptoms.

Signorile, Pietro G, Cassano, Maria, Viceconte, Rosa et al.·In vivo (Athens, Greece)·2022

This study looked at health records from over 4,000 women with endometriosis (a painful condition where tissue grows outside the uterus) to understand which symptoms are most common. The researchers found that chronic fatigue, painful intercourse, and bowel problems are major symptoms of endometriosis, and interestingly, symptoms tend to peak in women aged 25-44 years before declining. The study suggests that having children may help reduce fatigue in women with endometriosis.

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 requiredObservational

Factors Influencing the Prognosis of Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Ghali, Alaa, Lacout, Carole, Fortrat, Jacques-Olivier et al.·Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)·2022

This study looked at 168 ME/CFS patients to understand what factors help people recover or significantly improve. The research found that only about 13% of patients experienced recovery or substantial improvement over time. Interestingly, patients who were older when they first got sick were more likely to improve, and people who received a diagnosis sooner (without long delays) also had better outcomes. The study confirms that ME/CFS is generally a serious condition with poor prognosis, but suggests that improvement is possible at any age.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Orthostatic Intolerance in Long-Haul COVID after SARS-CoV-2: A Case-Control Comparison with Post-EBV and Insidious-Onset Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients.

van Campen, C Linda M C, Visser, Frans C·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2022

This study compared patients with long-haul COVID to two groups of ME/CFS patients (those who got sick after Epstein-Barr virus infection and those who became ill gradually) to understand a common symptom called orthostatic intolerance—dizziness or fainting when standing up. Researchers found that long-haul COVID patients had similar symptoms and physical responses to standing as ME/CFS patients, and all three groups showed comparable problems with blood flow and heart function during the standing test. The findings suggest that long-haul COVID and ME/CFS may be essentially the same underlying condition.

Autonomic Nervous System

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 unclearCross-Sectional

Saliva antibody-fingerprint of reactivated latent viruses after mild/asymptomatic COVID-19 is unique in patients with myalgic-encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Apostolou, Eirini, Rizwan, Muhammad, Moustardas, Petros et al.·Frontiers in immunology·2022

This study found that people with ME/CFS have a different immune response to COVID-19 compared to healthy people, even when the COVID infection is mild. Specifically, the researchers discovered that after COVID-19, dormant viruses (like EBV and others) reactivate more strongly in people with ME/CFS, as shown by antibody patterns in saliva. This suggests that COVID-19 may trigger hidden virus reactivation that could contribute to fatigue symptoms in ME/CFS patients.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Survey of Anti-Pathogen Antibody Levels in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

O'Neal, Adam J, Glass, Katherine A, Emig, Christopher J et al.·Proteomes·2022

Researchers tested blood samples from ME/CFS patients to look for antibodies against 122 different germs that might trigger the illness. They compared the results to healthy people of similar age, sex, and weight. While they found differences in how men and women with ME/CFS respond to infections, they couldn't identify one specific germ as the culprit.

Immune System

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 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 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

The Impact of COVID Vaccination on Symptoms of Long COVID: An International Survey of People with Lived Experience of Long COVID.

Strain, William David, Sherwood, Ondine, Banerjee, Amitava et al.·Vaccines·2022

This survey asked 812 people with long COVID about how COVID-19 vaccination affected their symptoms. Overall, 58% reported feeling better after vaccination, 18% felt worse, and the rest noticed no change. People who received mRNA vaccines (like Pfizer and Moderna) tended to see more improvement than those who received other types of vaccines. However, responses varied greatly from person to person.

Immune System

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 unclearCross-Sectional

A comparison of health-related factors between patients diagnosed with ME/CFS and patients with a related symptom picture but no ME/CFS diagnosis: a cross-sectional exploratory study.

Bernhoff, Gabriella, Rasmussen-Barr, Eva, Bunketorp Käll, Lina·Journal of translational medicine·2022

This study compared 205 people diagnosed with ME/CFS to 57 people with similar symptoms who were not diagnosed with ME/CFS. The researchers found that those with an ME/CFS diagnosis reported greater difficulties with physical and mental effort, more pain, and worse overall health than the undiagnosed group. Interestingly, both groups reported similar levels of anxiety, depression, and weekly physical activity, suggesting that what makes ME/CFS distinct may be specifically how the body reacts to exertion rather than activity levels alone.

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

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

Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection: relationship of central nervous system manifestations with physical disability and systemic inflammation.

Lowered Quality of Life in Long COVID Is Predicted by Affective Symptoms, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Inflammation and Neuroimmunotoxic Pathways.

Post-COVID-19 Syndrome: Retinal Microcirculation as a Potential Marker for Chronic Fatigue.

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

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

Endometriosis: A Retrospective Analysis of Clinical Data from a Cohort of 4,083 Patients, With Focus on Symptoms.

Findings from a survey about hidradenitis suppurativa in the Netherlands.

Factors Influencing the Prognosis of Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Orthostatic Intolerance in Long-Haul COVID after SARS-CoV-2: A Case-Control Comparison with Post-EBV and Insidious-Onset Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients.

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

Saliva antibody-fingerprint of reactivated latent viruses after mild/asymptomatic COVID-19 is unique in patients with myalgic-encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Survey of Anti-Pathogen Antibody Levels in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

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

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

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

The Impact of COVID Vaccination on Symptoms of Long COVID: An International Survey of People with Lived Experience of Long COVID.

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

A comparison of health-related factors between patients diagnosed with ME/CFS and patients with a related symptom picture but no ME/CFS diagnosis: a cross-sectional exploratory study.

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