ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2784 studies

721–740 of 2,784 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearLongitudinal

Salivary DNA Loads for Human Herpesviruses 6 and 7 Are Correlated With Disease Phenotype in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Lee, Ji-Sook, Lacerda, Eliana M, Nacul, Luis et al.·Frontiers in medicine·2021

This study tested saliva samples from people with ME/CFS and healthy people to measure levels of common viruses that stay dormant in the body. Researchers found that two viruses (HHV-6B and HHV-7) were present at higher levels in people with ME/CFS, especially in those whose viral levels went up and down over time. Importantly, when these viral levels were higher, patients reported worse symptoms like pain, brain fog, and heart/blood pressure problems.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Autoantibodies to Vasoregulative G-Protein-Coupled Receptors Correlate with Symptom Severity, Autonomic Dysfunction and Disability in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Freitag, Helma, Szklarski, Marvin, Lorenz, Sebastian et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2021

This study examined whether certain antibodies in ME/CFS patients' blood relate to how severe their symptoms are. The researchers tested 116 ME/CFS patients for antibodies that target receptors controlling blood vessel function and other vital processes. They found that patients whose ME/CFS started after an infection had stronger connections between these antibodies and key symptoms like fatigue and muscle pain, suggesting these antibodies might play a role in how the disease develops.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Skewing of the B cell receptor repertoire in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Sato, Wakiro, Ono, Hirohiko, Matsutani, Takaji et al.·Brain, behavior, and immunity·2021

This study looked at immune cells called B cells in people with ME/CFS and compared them to healthy people. The researchers found that ME/CFS patients have an unusual pattern of B cells—certain types are overrepresented while others are underrepresented. These abnormal B cell patterns were especially strong in patients whose ME/CFS started after an infection, suggesting the immune system may be stuck responding to something from that earlier infection.

Immune System

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 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearObservational

Effectiveness of Internet-Based Cognitive Behavior Therapy (Fatigue in Teenagers on the Internet) for Adolescents With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Routine Clinical Care: Observational Study.

Albers, Eline, Nijhof, Linde N, Berkelbach van der Sprenkel, Emma E et al.·Journal of medical Internet research·2021

This study tested whether an internet-based therapy program called FITNET, delivered through routine clinical care, works as well as it did in earlier controlled research. The program helps teenagers with ME/CFS through structured cognitive behavioral therapy done online. Results showed that teenagers improved significantly with similar outcomes to the original research study, and very few got worse during treatment.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Evolving phenotypes of non-hospitalized patients that indicate long COVID.

Estiri, Hossein, Strasser, Zachary H, Brat, Gabriel A et al.·BMC medicine·2021

This study looked at medical records from over 96,000 people to identify which health problems are more common in people who had COVID-19 compared to those who didn't. Researchers found that certain symptoms and conditions—including loss of taste and smell, hair loss, chest pain, extreme tiredness, shortness of breath, pneumonia, and new-onset diabetes—appear more frequently in COVID-19 survivors months after infection. Younger people under 65 developed more of these long-term problems than older adults.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Accurate and objective determination of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome disease severity with a wearable sensor.

Palombo, Turner, Campos, Andrea, Vernon, Suzanne D et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2020

Researchers developed a wearable sensor that measures how much time ME/CFS patients spend standing or walking each day (called UpTime). In a small study of 15 people, they found that severely ill ME/CFS patients spend less than 20% of their day upright, moderately ill patients spend 20-30%, while healthy people spend more than 30%. This sensor measurement was more accurate than asking patients to estimate their activity themselves, suggesting it could be a reliable way to track disease severity and test new treatments.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Do adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME) and co-morbid anxiety and/or depressive symptoms think differently to those who do not have co-morbid psychopathology?

Loades, Maria E, Stallard, Paul, Morris, Richard et al.·Journal of affective disorders·2020

This study looked at how adolescents with ME/CFS think about their symptoms, comparing those who also have anxiety or depression with those who don't. Teenagers with both ME/CFS and anxiety/depression were more likely to have negative thoughts in general and worry more about their fatigue causing damage or embarrassment. The thinking patterns of both groups together explained about 43% of why some teens developed anxiety or depression alongside their ME/CFS.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearLongitudinal

Longitudinal outcomes associated with significant other responses to chronic fatigue and pain.

Schmaling, Karen B, Fales, Jessica L, McPherson, Sterling·Journal of health psychology·2020

This study followed 68 people with chronic fatigue (some also with fibromyalgia) for 18 months to see how their loved ones' responses affected their health outcomes. The researchers found that when significant others responded negatively to fatigue and pain, patients experienced more pain, worse mental health, and worse fatigue symptoms over time. Interestingly, when loved ones were more helpful and comforting (solicitous), patients with more fibromyalgia tender points tended to have this response, and when loved ones helped distract patients, mental health was better.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Joint Assessment of Equilibrium and Neuromotor Function: A Validation Study in Patients with Fibromyalgia.

Lomas-Vega, Rafael, Rodríguez-Almagro, Daniel, Peinado-Rubia, Ana Belén et al.·Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)·2020

Researchers created and tested a new 20-question tool to measure balance problems and nerve-muscle coordination in people with fibromyalgia. The tool was tested on 62 fibromyalgia patients, 22 older adults, and 24 healthy people. The results show the tool works well at identifying balance issues in fibromyalgia patients, especially problems related to head movements.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Preliminary ICF core set for patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome in rehabilitation medicine.

Bileviciute-Ljungar, Indre, Schult, Marie-Louise, Borg, Kristian et al.·Journal of rehabilitation medicine·2020

Researchers studied 100 ME/CFS patients to identify which body functions, activities, and life areas are most affected by the illness. They found that nearly all patients experience severe fatigue, poor sleep, and pain, while most struggle with work, household tasks, and socializing. This study created a standardized checklist that doctors can use to understand and measure how ME/CFS impacts different aspects of patients' lives.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Autoimmunity-Related Risk Variants in PTPN22 and CTLA4 Are Associated With ME/CFS With Infectious Onset.

Steiner, Sophie, Becker, Sonya C, Hartwig, Jelka et al.·Frontiers in immunology·2020

This study looked at specific genetic variations that are known to affect how the immune system works. Researchers compared DNA from ME/CFS patients and healthy controls, and found that certain genetic variations were more common in ME/CFS patients whose illness started with an infection. These genetic changes affect how immune cells are controlled, suggesting that autoimmunity may play a role specifically in ME/CFS cases that begin with an infection.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and human herpesvirus-6 infections in patients with myalgic еncephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Shikova, Evelina, Reshkova, Valentina, Kumanova, Аntoniya et al.·Journal of medical virology·2020

Researchers tested 58 ME/CFS patients and 50 healthy people for three common viruses (EBV, CMV, and HHV-6) that have been suspected of triggering ME/CFS. They found that ME/CFS patients had significantly higher rates of active EBV infection in their bloodstream compared to healthy people, though most people in both groups carried these viruses in a dormant state. This suggests that for some patients, active EBV infection may play a role in ME/CFS development.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic Pain Syndromes and Their Laryngeal Manifestations.

Piersiala, Krzysztof, Akst, Lee M, Hillel, Alexander T et al.·JAMA otolaryngology-- head & neck surgery·2020

This study looked at whether fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and ME/CFS patients have similar voice and throat problems. Researchers reviewed medical records of over 4,000 patients at a voice center and found that patients with these three conditions were more likely to have functional voice disorders (problems with how the voice works rather than visible damage) compared to other patients.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Cytokine profiling of extracellular vesicles isolated from plasma in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a pilot study.

Giloteaux, Ludovic, O'Neal, Adam, Castro-Marrero, Jesús et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2020

This study looked at tiny particles called extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the blood of ME/CFS patients and compared them to healthy people. The researchers found that ME/CFS patients had more of these small particles, and the chemical messengers (cytokines) inside and around them showed unusual patterns of interaction that differed from healthy controls. This suggests that immune system signaling may be working differently in ME/CFS.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Properties of measurements obtained during cardiopulmonary exercise testing in individuals with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Davenport, Todd E, Stevens, Staci R, Stevens, Jared et al.·Work (Reading, Mass.)·2020

Researchers tested whether a standard exercise test (cardiopulmonary exercise test, or CPET) could reliably measure how ME/CFS affects the body's ability to exercise. They had 51 women with ME/CFS and 10 healthy women do the same exercise test twice, 24 hours apart. The results showed that the measurements were consistent and clearly different between the two groups, suggesting that CPET could be a useful tool for assessing ME/CFS.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Functional gastrointestinal disorders are increased in joint hypermobility-related disorders with concomitant postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.

Tai, Foong Way David, Palsson, Olafur S, Lam, Ching Y et al.·Neurogastroenterology and motility·2020

This study looked at people with joint hypermobility disorders (including Ehlers-Danlos syndrome) to understand how often they experience stomach and digestive problems. The researchers found that those who also have POTS (a condition affecting heart rate and blood pressure when standing) had significantly more digestive issues than those without POTS. The digestive problems remained worse in the POTS group even after accounting for other conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Changes in DNA methylation profiles of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome patients reflect systemic dysfunctions.

Helliwell, A M, Sweetman, E C, Stockwell, P A et al.·Clinical epigenetics·2020

This study looked at chemical tags on DNA called methylation patterns in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. These tags can turn genes on or off without changing the DNA itself. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS have different methylation patterns, particularly in genes related to energy production, immune function, and brain chemistry, which may help explain why they experience the symptoms they do.

Energy MetabolismImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Two-Day Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Females with a Severe Grade of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Comparison with Patients with Mild and Moderate Disease.

van Campen, C Linda Mc, Rowe, Peter C, Visser, Frans C·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2020

This study tested how exercise affects female ME/CFS patients with different disease severity levels. Researchers had 82 women complete exercise tests on two consecutive days and measured how much oxygen their bodies could use and how much work they could do. Patients with severe ME/CFS showed the biggest drop in exercise capacity between day one and day two, suggesting their bodies recover more poorly from physical activity.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Breathing pattern disorders (dysfunctional breathing) characteristics and outcomes of children and young people attending a secondary care respiratory clinic.

Newson, Timothy P, Elias, Annie·Pediatric pulmonology·2020

This study looked at 18 young people (ages 11-16) who had breathing pattern disorders—abnormal ways of breathing that caused problems like chest tightness, difficulty breathing during exercise, or feeling like their throat was closing. Most of these young people also had asthma, anxiety, or other conditions. When properly diagnosed and treated by a speech therapist, most improved significantly and felt more confident managing their symptoms, though it often took months to get the right diagnosis.

Post-Exertional Malaise

← Previous Next 20 studies →

Or browse by topic

PEM Immune Neuro Metabolic Biomarkers Severe ME Long COVID Cognitive

Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

Salivary DNA Loads for Human Herpesviruses 6 and 7 Are Correlated With Disease Phenotype in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Autoantibodies to Vasoregulative G-Protein-Coupled Receptors Correlate with Symptom Severity, Autonomic Dysfunction and Disability in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Skewing of the B cell receptor repertoire in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

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

Effectiveness of Internet-Based Cognitive Behavior Therapy (Fatigue in Teenagers on the Internet) for Adolescents With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Routine Clinical Care: Observational Study.

Evolving phenotypes of non-hospitalized patients that indicate long COVID.

Accurate and objective determination of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome disease severity with a wearable sensor.

Do adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME) and co-morbid anxiety and/or depressive symptoms think differently to those who do not have co-morbid psychopathology?

Longitudinal outcomes associated with significant other responses to chronic fatigue and pain.

Joint Assessment of Equilibrium and Neuromotor Function: A Validation Study in Patients with Fibromyalgia.

Preliminary ICF core set for patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome in rehabilitation medicine.

Autoimmunity-Related Risk Variants in PTPN22 and CTLA4 Are Associated With ME/CFS With Infectious Onset.

Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and human herpesvirus-6 infections in patients with myalgic еncephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic Pain Syndromes and Their Laryngeal Manifestations.

Cytokine profiling of extracellular vesicles isolated from plasma in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a pilot study.

Properties of measurements obtained during cardiopulmonary exercise testing in individuals with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Functional gastrointestinal disorders are increased in joint hypermobility-related disorders with concomitant postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.

Changes in DNA methylation profiles of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome patients reflect systemic dysfunctions.

Two-Day Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Females with a Severe Grade of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Comparison with Patients with Mild and Moderate Disease.

Breathing pattern disorders (dysfunctional breathing) characteristics and outcomes of children and young people attending a secondary care respiratory clinic.

Curated Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

PEM-Specific Research