ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2807 studies

621–640 of 2,807 studies

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 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

Combination of whole body cryotherapy with static stretching exercises reduces fatigue and improves functioning of the autonomic nervous system in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Kujawski, Sławomir, Słomko, Joanna, Godlewska, Beata R et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2022

This study tested whether combining cold therapy (whole body cryotherapy) with stretching exercises could help people with ME/CFS. Over 2 weeks, 32 people with ME/CFS and 18 healthy people did 10 sessions of stretching and cold exposure. People with ME/CFS experienced less fatigue and some improvements in thinking speed after the treatment, and the cold therapy was well-tolerated with no serious safety concerns.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Transitional Changes in Fatigue-Related Symptoms Due to Long COVID: A Single-Center Retrospective Observational Study in Japan.

Nakano, Yasuhiro, Otsuka, Yuki, Honda, Hiroyuki et al.·Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)·2022

This study compared long COVID symptoms in patients infected with different COVID-19 variants (Delta vs. Omicron) in Japan. Patients infected with Omicron had milder initial illness but were more likely to experience fatigue, sleep problems, and ongoing cough. Those infected with Delta were more likely to lose their sense of taste or smell and experience hair loss.

Sleep

E2 ModeratePEM unclearRegistry-Resource

The Facilitation of Clinical and Therapeutic Discoveries in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Related Diseases: Protocol for the You + ME Registry Research Platform.

Ramiller, Allison, Mudie, Kathleen, Seibert, Elle et al.·JMIR research protocols·2022

Researchers created a registry called 'You + ME' to collect health information from thousands of people with ME/CFS, long COVID, and healthy volunteers over time. By gathering this large amount of data in one place, researchers hope to better understand why people get sick differently and develop new treatments. As of September 2021, over 4,200 people had joined, with most participants finding the registry helpful and likely to recommend it to others.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Exposure-response relationship between K. brevis blooms and reporting of upper respiratory and neurotoxin-associated symptoms.

Abdullah, L, Ferguson, S, Niedospial, D et al.·Harmful algae·2022

Researchers studied whether harmful algal blooms caused by Karenia brevis (a type of seaweed) in Florida's Gulf waters trigger respiratory symptoms, headaches, and nerve-related illness symptoms in people living nearby. They surveyed 258 residents in five coastal counties and found a clear link: when blooms were stronger, more people reported these symptoms. People with previous diagnoses of migraines, chronic fatigue syndrome, or memory problems were more likely to report these symptoms during blooms.

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

Long COVID: Association of Functional Autoantibodies against G-Protein-Coupled Receptors with an Impaired Retinal Microcirculation.

Szewczykowski, Charlotte, Mardin, Christian, Lucio, Marianna et al.·International journal of molecular sciences·2022

Some people with Long COVID have abnormal immune proteins called autoantibodies that attack blood vessel control systems in their bodies. This study found that patients with these specific autoantibodies had reduced blood flow in the tiny vessels at the back of the eye, which may reflect similar problems throughout their whole body and could explain some of their symptoms.

Immune System

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

Chronic fatigue syndrome and occupational status: a retrospective longitudinal study.

Stevelink, S A M, Mark, K M, Fear, N T et al.·Occupational medicine (Oxford, England)·2022

This study looked at whether people with ME/CFS could work or return to work over time. Researchers tracked 316 patients for about 9.5 months and found that just over half of those working at the start stayed employed, while only 9% of those not working returned to a job. The study shows that while ME/CFS makes work very difficult, it is possible for some people to maintain or regain employment with the right support.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Comparison of the finger plethysmography derived stroke volumes by Nexfin CO Trek and suprasternal aortic Doppler derived stroke volume measurements in adults with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and in healthy controls.

van Campen, C Linda M C, Verheugt, Freek W A, Rowe, Peter C et al.·Technology and health care : official journal of the European Society for Engineering and Medicine·2021

This study compared two different ways of measuring how much blood the heart pumps with each beat during a tilt table test (where patients lie down then are tilted upright). Researchers tested 154 ME/CFS patients and 39 healthy people using finger cuff measurements and ultrasound of the heart. They found that the finger cuff method gave higher readings than ultrasound, but after adjusting the finger cuff numbers to match ultrasound values, the device became reliable enough to track changes during tilt testing.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Central sensitisation in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia; a case control study.

Bourke, Julius H, Wodehouse, Theresa, Clark, Lucy V et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2021

This study tested whether ME/CFS and fibromyalgia involve a condition called 'central sensitisation,' where the nervous system becomes overly sensitive to pain signals. Researchers compared pain sensitivity in 19 ME/CFS patients, 19 fibromyalgia patients, and 20 healthy people using physical tests. They found that 84% of ME/CFS patients and 95% of fibromyalgia patients showed signs of central sensitisation, while none of the healthy controls did.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModeratePEM unclearRegistry-Resource

Prevalence and characteristics of self-reported hypothyroidism and its association with nonorgan-specific manifestations in US sarcoidosis patients: a nationwide registry study.

Alzghoul, Bashar N, Amer, Farah N, Barb, Diana et al.·ERJ open research·2021

This study looked at how common thyroid problems are in sarcoidosis patients and how they relate to other symptoms. Researchers found that about 1 in 7 sarcoidosis patients reported having an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), and these patients were more likely to experience fatigue, depression, sleep problems, and difficulty with physical activities. The study suggests that checking for thyroid problems might help doctors better manage sarcoidosis symptoms.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

A Comprehensive Examination of Severely Ill ME/CFS Patients.

Chang, Chia-Jung, Hung, Li-Yuan, Kogelnik, Andreas M et al.·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2021

This study examined severely ill ME/CFS patients who are mostly housebound or bedbound—a group that hasn't received much research attention. Researchers found that fatigue, pain, and thinking difficulties were the most common complaints, and patients showed distinct sleep problems and hormone imbalances. The study suggests that ME/CFS and long COVID may share similar mechanisms, meaning treatments discovered for one condition could potentially help the other.

Long COVID OverlapPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Comorbidities in a Nationwide, Heterogenous Population of Veterans with Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome.

Laden, Bethany F, Bresee, Catherine, De Hoedt, Amanda et al.·Urology·2021

This study looked at how often people with bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) also have other health conditions, using data from a large group of veterans. Researchers found that people with IC/BPS are much more likely to have multiple overlapping conditions—including chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, IBS, and migraines—as well as mental health challenges like depression and trauma. These patterns were especially strong in women.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome in patients of orthostatic intolerance symptoms: an ambispective study.

Chouksey, Dinesh, Rathi, Pankaj, Sodani, Ajoy et al.·AIMS neuroscience·2021

This study looked at patients who experience dizziness, fainting, or heart racing when standing up—symptoms of a condition called POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). Researchers tested 246 patients with these symptoms and confirmed POTS in 40 of them using a special tilt-table test. Most POTS patients experienced fainting, lightheadedness, and heart palpitations, and nearly half also had a related condition causing fainting.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Lasting Immunological Imprint of Primary Epstein-Barr Virus Infection With Associations to Chronic Low-Grade Inflammation and Fatigue.

Fevang, Børre, Wyller, Vegard Bruun Bratholm, Mollnes, Tom Eirik et al.·Frontiers in immunology·2021

This study tracked 200 teenagers with mononucleosis (caused by Epstein-Barr virus) for 6 months to understand why some developed chronic fatigue. Researchers found that teenagers who developed chronic fatigue showed persistent signs of immune system activation and inflammation, particularly elevated levels of RANTES (a signaling protein) and other inflammatory markers, both at the start of illness and 6 months later.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Exploring anhedonia in adolescents with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): A mixed-methods study.

Smith, Lucie, Crawley, Esther, Riley, Madeleine et al.·Clinical child psychology and psychiatry·2021

This study looked at whether teenagers with ME/CFS lose the ability to enjoy activities they once loved. Researchers surveyed 164 young people and found that 42% experienced some loss of enjoyment, with 15% experiencing significant loss. Many of these teenagers said their condition either stopped them from doing activities or made it hard to enjoy them, even when they did participate.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Associations between the gut microbiome and fatigue in cancer patients.

Hajjar, Joud, Mendoza, Tito, Zhang, Liangliang et al.·Scientific reports·2021

Researchers studied 88 cancer patients to see if the bacteria living in their gut were connected to cancer-related fatigue. They found that certain beneficial bacteria (Eubacterium hallii) were linked to lower fatigue levels, while other bacteria (Cosenzaea) were linked to higher fatigue. This suggests that the mix of gut bacteria might play a role in how tired cancer patients feel, opening the door to new treatments.

Gut Microbiome

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Anticipation of and response to exercise in adolescents with CFS: An experimental study.

Loades, M E, Chalder, T, Smakowski, A et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2021

This study looked at how adolescents with ME/CFS approach and perform a simple exercise task (standing up and sitting down repeatedly) compared to healthy teenagers and those with asthma. Teens with ME/CFS took longer to complete the task, expected to do worse beforehand, felt the effort was much harder, and felt more anxious about it—patterns that parents noticed too. The researchers suggest that difficult past experiences with exercise may lead to lower confidence and worry that affects how people with ME/CFS approach physical activity.

Post-Exertional Malaise

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

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

Combination of whole body cryotherapy with static stretching exercises reduces fatigue and improves functioning of the autonomic nervous system in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Transitional Changes in Fatigue-Related Symptoms Due to Long COVID: A Single-Center Retrospective Observational Study in Japan.

The Facilitation of Clinical and Therapeutic Discoveries in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Related Diseases: Protocol for the You + ME Registry Research Platform.

Exposure-response relationship between K. brevis blooms and reporting of upper respiratory and neurotoxin-associated symptoms.

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

Long COVID: Association of Functional Autoantibodies against G-Protein-Coupled Receptors with an Impaired Retinal Microcirculation.

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

Chronic fatigue syndrome and occupational status: a retrospective longitudinal study.

Comparison of the finger plethysmography derived stroke volumes by Nexfin CO Trek and suprasternal aortic Doppler derived stroke volume measurements in adults with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and in healthy controls.

Central sensitisation in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia; a case control study.

Prevalence and characteristics of self-reported hypothyroidism and its association with nonorgan-specific manifestations in US sarcoidosis patients: a nationwide registry study.

A Comprehensive Examination of Severely Ill ME/CFS Patients.

Comorbidities in a Nationwide, Heterogenous Population of Veterans with Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome.

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome in patients of orthostatic intolerance symptoms: an ambispective study.

Lasting Immunological Imprint of Primary Epstein-Barr Virus Infection With Associations to Chronic Low-Grade Inflammation and Fatigue.

Exploring anhedonia in adolescents with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): A mixed-methods study.

Associations between the gut microbiome and fatigue in cancer patients.

Anticipation of and response to exercise in adolescents with CFS: An experimental study.

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