ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2795 studies

701–720 of 2,795 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Sex-specific plasma lipid profiles of ME/CFS patients and their association with pain, fatigue, and cognitive symptoms.

Nkiliza, Aurore, Parks, Megan, Cseresznye, Adam et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2021

This study analyzed fatty substances in the blood of ME/CFS patients and healthy controls to see if they differ in ways that might explain symptoms. Researchers found that men and women with ME/CFS had different patterns of these blood fats compared to healthy people. Importantly, certain blood fats were connected to the severity of fatigue, headaches, and thinking difficulties, suggesting that problems with how the body processes fats may play a role in ME/CFS symptoms.

BiomarkersEnergy MetabolismImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

A retrospective cross-sectional study on tinnitus prevalence and disease associations in the Dutch population-based cohort Lifelines.

Schubert, Nick M A, Rosmalen, Judith G M, van Dijk, Pim et al.·Hearing research·2021

This study looked at how common tinnitus (ringing in the ears) is in a large group of Dutch adults and found that about one-third experience it at some point. The researchers discovered that tinnitus is linked to various conditions including hearing problems, heart issues, depression, and notably, chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Understanding these connections may help doctors better treat tinnitus and related conditions.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Clinical Heterogeneity in ME/CFS. A Way to Understand Long-COVID19 Fatigue.

Murga, Iñigo, Aranburu, Larraitz, Gargiulo, Pascual A et al.·Frontiers in psychiatry·2021

This study examined 84 ME/CFS patients and 22 healthy controls using questionnaires to measure fatigue, pain, sleep quality, heart rate problems, thinking difficulties, mood, and other symptoms. Researchers used statistical clustering to group patients into five distinct subtypes based on their symptom patterns. The findings suggest that ME/CFS is not one-size-fits-all—some patients have high anxiety and depression without fibromyalgia, while others have fibromyalgia combined with heart rate regulation problems, hormone imbalances, or immune issues.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Health, Wellbeing, and Prognosis of Australian Adolescents with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): A Case-Controlled Follow-Up Study.

Josev, Elisha K, Cole, Rebecca C, Scheinberg, Adam et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2021

This study followed Australian teenagers with ME/CFS for about two years after diagnosis to see how they were doing. While many young people improved in mood and some symptoms, fatigue, pain, and overall quality of life stayed significantly worse compared to healthy teenagers. About two-thirds of the teens still had ME/CFS at follow-up, suggesting the condition often persists in the early years after diagnosis.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Male vs. Female Differences in Responding to Oxygen-Ozone Autohemotherapy (O2-O3-AHT) in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Chirumbolo, Salvatore, Valdenassi, Luigi, Franzini, Marianno et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2021

This study looked at how well a treatment called oxygen-ozone autohemotherapy (O₂-O₃-AHT) worked for ME/CFS fatigue in men versus women. Two hundred patients received this treatment and filled out a fatigue questionnaire before and one month after. The results showed that women experienced more improvement in their fatigue than men did, especially among younger patients aged 14-29.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Sex-Based Differences in Plasma Autoantibodies to Central Nervous System Proteins in Gulf War Veterans versus Healthy and Symptomatic Controls.

Abou-Donia, Mohamed B, Krengel, Maxine H, Lapadula, Elizabeth S et al.·Brain sciences·2021

Researchers found that Gulf War veterans with Gulf War illness have abnormal immune proteins in their blood that attack brain cells, and these patterns differ between men and women. The study also found that these same immune markers can help distinguish Gulf War illness from other similar conditions like ME/CFS and IBS. This discovery is important because it offers a possible objective blood test that doctors could use to identify and diagnose these difficult-to-recognize illnesses.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Potential role of microbiome in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelits (CFS/ME).

Lupo, Giuseppe Francesco Damiano, Rocchetti, Gabriele, Lucini, Luigi et al.·Scientific reports·2021

This study looked at the bacteria living in the gut and mouth of people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS have different types and amounts of bacteria in their intestines, including fewer beneficial bacteria and more of certain harmful ones. They also found differences in the chemical makeup of patients' stool samples. These differences suggest that gut bacteria imbalance may play a role in ME/CFS, though scientists don't yet know if this is a cause or a result of the illness.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredObservational

Predicting post-exertional malaise in Gulf War Illness based on acute exercise responses.

Boruch, Alexander E, Lindheimer, Jacob B, Klein-Adams, Jacquelyn C et al.·Life sciences·2021

This study looked at how Gulf War Veterans' bodies responded during exercise and whether those responses could predict post-exertional malaise (PEM)—the worsening of symptoms after physical activity. Veterans with Gulf War Illness had more severe symptom flare-ups after exercising compared to healthy veterans, but the researchers found that common exercise measurements like breathing patterns and muscle pain didn't reliably predict who would experience worse PEM.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Potential of Activin B as a Clinical Biomarker in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Gravelsina, Sabine, Nora-Krukle, Zaiga, Vilmane, Anda et al.·Biomolecules·2021

Researchers tested whether a protein called activin B could be used as a simple blood test to diagnose ME/CFS. They compared activin B levels in 134 people with ME/CFS and 54 healthy people, but found no meaningful difference between the two groups. Based on these results, activin B does not appear to be a useful diagnostic tool for ME/CFS.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Kynurenine metabolites and ratios differ between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and healthy controls.

Groven, Nina, Reitan, Solveig Klæbo, Fors, Egil Andreas et al.·Psychoneuroendocrinology·2021

This study examined a specific metabolic pathway in the blood called the kynurenine pathway, which affects how the brain functions. Researchers compared blood samples from people with ME/CFS, people with fibromyalgia, and healthy people to see if the chemical breakdown products in this pathway differed. They found that the balance of certain chemicals was different in people with these conditions, and these differences may relate to fatigue and pain symptoms.

NeuroinflammationEnergy Metabolism

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Association between chronic fatigue syndrome and suicidality among survivors of Middle East respiratory syndrome over a 2-year follow-up period.

Ahn, So-Hyun, Kim, Jeong Lan, Kim, Jang Rae et al.·Journal of psychiatric research·2021

This study followed people who recovered from MERS (a serious respiratory illness) for 2 years to see if chronic fatigue increased their risk of suicidal thoughts. Researchers found that people who had chronic fatigue were about 7.5 times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts than those without fatigue. This connection remained strong even when accounting for other factors that might affect mental health.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Relationship between Cardiopulmonary, Mitochondrial and Autonomic Nervous System Function Improvement after an Individualised Activity Programme upon Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients.

Kujawski, Sławomir, Cossington, Jo, Słomko, Joanna et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2021

This study tested whether a personalized activity program could help ME/CFS patients feel less tired and function better. Thirty-four patients followed a 16-week program tailored to their individual abilities. After the program, patients reported significant improvements in fatigue, and blood tests showed improvements in mitochondrial markers (Mfn1 and Mfn2)—the energy-producing components of cells. However, about half of the patients found exercise difficult to tolerate.

Autonomic Nervous SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Characterizing long COVID in an international cohort: 7 months of symptoms and their impact.

Davis, Hannah E, Assaf, Gina S, McCorkell, Lisa et al.·EClinicalMedicine·2021

This study surveyed nearly 3,800 people from around the world who had long-lasting COVID-19 symptoms lasting more than 28 days. By seven months after illness onset, most participants had not fully recovered and experienced an average of 56 symptoms affecting multiple body systems. The three most persistent symptoms were fatigue, post-exertional malaise (feeling worse after activity), and cognitive problems, with nearly 86% experiencing relapses triggered by exercise, physical activity, mental stress, or other exertion.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Post-Exertional Malaise May Be Related to Central Blood Pressure, Sympathetic Activity and Mental Fatigue in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients.

Kujawski, Sławomir, Słomko, Joanna, Hodges, Lynette et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2021

This study looked at 101 ME/CFS patients to understand post-exertional malaise (PEM)—the worsening of symptoms after activity that many patients experience. Researchers measured blood pressure, nervous system function, and fatigue levels in patients with and without PEM. They found that patients with PEM had higher mental fatigue, lower central blood pressure, and greater nervous system imbalance at rest, but the researchers caution that these findings need to be confirmed by larger studies.

Autonomic Nervous SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Inflammation-type dysbiosis of the oral microbiome associates with the duration of COVID-19 symptoms and long COVID.

Haran, John P, Bradley, Evan, Zeamer, Abigail L et al.·JCI insight·2021

This study looked at bacteria in the mouth of people with COVID-19 to understand why some people develop long COVID. Researchers found that people with long COVID had higher levels of inflammation-causing bacteria, particularly types called Prevotella and Veillonella. Interestingly, the oral bacteria patterns in long COVID patients resembled those seen in chronic fatigue syndrome patients, suggesting the microbiome may play a role in prolonged illness.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Off label use of Aripiprazole shows promise as a treatment for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): a retrospective study of 101 patients treated with a low dose of Aripiprazole.

Crosby, L D, Kalanidhi, S, Bonilla, A et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2021

This study looked back at medical records of 101 ME/CFS patients who were prescribed a low dose of aripiprazole, a medication typically used for other conditions. The researchers found that some patients reported improvements in their symptoms. While these results are encouraging, the study design means we need to be cautious about how much weight to give these findings.

Interventions

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue syndrome: an emerging sequela in COVID-19 survivors?

Mantovani, Elisa, Mariotto, Sara, Gabbiani, Daniele et al.·Journal of neurovirology·2021

Some people who recover from COVID-19 continue to experience symptoms that look very similar to ME/CFS, including severe tiredness, pain, and difficulty thinking clearly. This study found that about 27% of COVID-19 survivors had these ME/CFS-like symptoms, and they reported worse sleep, more fatigue, and more difficulty with basic activities compared to those who recovered normally. The researchers measured markers of nerve damage and inflammation to understand what might be causing these symptoms.

Long COVID OverlapPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Are Circulating Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 and N-Terminal Prohormone of Brain Natriuretic Peptide Promising Novel Biomarkers in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Domingo, Joan Carles, Cordobilla, Begoña, Ferrer, Roser et al.·Antioxidants & redox signaling·2021

This study looked for new blood markers that could help identify ME/CFS by measuring two proteins called FGF21 and NT-proBNP in patients and healthy people. The researchers found that ME/CFS patients had significantly higher levels of both proteins and showed signs of increased inflammation and oxidative stress (cellular damage). These findings suggest these proteins might be useful tools for diagnosing ME/CFS or developing new treatments.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Analysis of Gender Differences in HRV of Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Using Mobile-Health Technology.

Capdevila, Lluis, Castro-Marrero, Jesús, Alegre, José et al.·Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)·2021

Researchers used a smartphone app connected to a heart monitor to measure heart rate variability (how much the time between heartbeats varies) in ME/CFS patients and healthy people. They found that women with ME/CFS showed different heart patterns than healthy women, but men with ME/CFS did not show the same clear difference. This suggests that ME/CFS may affect the heart's nervous system control differently in men versus women.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Evaluation of Immune Dysregulation in an Austrian Patient Cohort Suffering from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Lutz, Lena, Rohrhofer, Johanna, Zehetmayer, Sonja et al.·Biomolecules·2021

This study looked at blood test results from 262 ME/CFS patients to understand problems with their immune systems. Researchers found that nearly two-thirds of patients had low levels of certain immune proteins or cells, while about one-quarter showed signs of inflammation. These findings suggest that immune system dysfunction is a common feature of ME/CFS and could potentially be used to help diagnose or treat the condition.

BiomarkersImmune System

← Previous Next 20 studies →

Or browse by topic

PEM Immune Neuro Metabolic Biomarkers Severe ME Long COVID Cognitive

Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

Sex-specific plasma lipid profiles of ME/CFS patients and their association with pain, fatigue, and cognitive symptoms.

A retrospective cross-sectional study on tinnitus prevalence and disease associations in the Dutch population-based cohort Lifelines.

Clinical Heterogeneity in ME/CFS. A Way to Understand Long-COVID19 Fatigue.

Health, Wellbeing, and Prognosis of Australian Adolescents with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): A Case-Controlled Follow-Up Study.

Male vs. Female Differences in Responding to Oxygen-Ozone Autohemotherapy (O2-O3-AHT) in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Sex-Based Differences in Plasma Autoantibodies to Central Nervous System Proteins in Gulf War Veterans versus Healthy and Symptomatic Controls.

Potential role of microbiome in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelits (CFS/ME).

Predicting post-exertional malaise in Gulf War Illness based on acute exercise responses.

Potential of Activin B as a Clinical Biomarker in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Kynurenine metabolites and ratios differ between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and healthy controls.

Association between chronic fatigue syndrome and suicidality among survivors of Middle East respiratory syndrome over a 2-year follow-up period.

Relationship between Cardiopulmonary, Mitochondrial and Autonomic Nervous System Function Improvement after an Individualised Activity Programme upon Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients.

Characterizing long COVID in an international cohort: 7 months of symptoms and their impact.

Post-Exertional Malaise May Be Related to Central Blood Pressure, Sympathetic Activity and Mental Fatigue in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients.

Inflammation-type dysbiosis of the oral microbiome associates with the duration of COVID-19 symptoms and long COVID.

Off label use of Aripiprazole shows promise as a treatment for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): a retrospective study of 101 patients treated with a low dose of Aripiprazole.

Chronic fatigue syndrome: an emerging sequela in COVID-19 survivors?

Are Circulating Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 and N-Terminal Prohormone of Brain Natriuretic Peptide Promising Novel Biomarkers in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Analysis of Gender Differences in HRV of Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Using Mobile-Health Technology.

Evaluation of Immune Dysregulation in an Austrian Patient Cohort Suffering from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Curated Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

PEM-Specific Research