ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2768 studies

741–760 of 2,768 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Intravenous Cyclophosphamide in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. An Open-Label Phase II Study.

Rekeland, Ingrid G, Fosså, Alexander, Lande, Asgeir et al.·Frontiers in medicine·2020

Researchers tested whether cyclophosphamide, a chemotherapy drug, could help people with ME/CFS based on observations that some patients improved after cancer treatment. Forty patients received six infusions of this drug over six months, with check-ins lasting up to four years. More than half the patients reported meaningful improvements in fatigue and physical activity, with many staying better even years later.

Interventions

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredObservational

Epidemiological and clinical factors associated with post-exertional malaise severity in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Ghali, Alaa, Richa, Paul, Lacout, Carole et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2020

This study looked at 197 ME/CFS patients to understand which people are more likely to experience severe post-exertional malaise (PEM)—the symptom crash that happens after physical or mental activity. Researchers found that patients who developed ME/CFS after age 32, those who had recurring infections during their illness, and those whose ME/CFS started after a stomach infection were more likely to have severe PEM. Understanding these risk factors could help doctors better predict and manage PEM in individual patients.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateMechanismPEM requiredMechanistic

Unravelling myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): Gender-specific changes in the microRNA expression profiling in ME/CFS.

Cheema, Amanpreet K, Sarria, Leonor, Bekheit, Mina et al.·Journal of cellular and molecular medicine·2020

This study looked at tiny molecules called microRNAs in the blood of people with ME/CFS to understand how their immune system responds to exercise. The researchers discovered that men and women with ME/CFS show different patterns in these molecules, and they also found that nutritional status affects these patterns. These findings could help explain why some people experience worsening symptoms after exercise (post-exertional malaise) and suggest that treatment approaches may need to differ between men and women.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Hemodynamics during the 10-minute NASA Lean Test: evidence of circulatory decompensation in a subset of ME/CFS patients.

Lee, Jihyun, Vernon, Suzanne D, Jeys, Patricia et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2020

This study tested a simple 10-minute standing test called the NASA Lean Test in ME/CFS patients to understand heart and blood vessel problems that cause dizziness and weakness. Researchers found that patients who became sick more recently (within 4 years) showed signs of circulation problems during the test—their hearts beat faster and their blood pressure changed abnormally—while those sick for over 10 years showed fewer of these changes. The NASA Lean Test appears to be a useful tool that doctors can use to diagnose and monitor these circulation problems.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Post-exertional Malaise in People With Chronic Cancer-Related Fatigue.

Twomey, Rosie, Yeung, Samuel T, Wrightson, James G et al.·Journal of pain and symptom management·2020

This study looked at whether people with long-lasting cancer-related fatigue experience post-exertional malaise (PEM)—a condition where symptoms get worse after physical or mental activity. Researchers asked 18 people with severe, ongoing fatigue to report their experiences over six months and during exercise testing. They found that up to one-third of participants showed signs of PEM, including fatigue that worsened after minimal effort and recovery taking more than 24 hours.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Validation of the Severity of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome by Other Measures than History: Activity Bracelet, Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing and a Validated Activity Questionnaire: SF-36.

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

This study tested whether doctors can accurately grade how severe a patient's ME/CFS is based on what patients tell them. Researchers compared clinical severity grades (mild, moderate, or severe) with three objective measures: a questionnaire about physical function, a wristband that counts daily steps, and a heart/lung exercise test. The results confirmed that the clinical grades matched up well with these objective measurements, suggesting that doctors' assessments based on patient reports are reasonably accurate.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Prediction of Discontinuation of Structured Exercise Programme in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients.

Kujawski, Sławomir, Cossington, Jo, Słomko, Joanna et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2020

This study looked at why some people with ME/CFS could complete a gradual exercise programme while others had to stop. Researchers measured several body functions—like nervous system activity, reaction time, and heart rate—before the programme started. They found that people whose bodies showed higher stress responses and slower reaction times were more likely to drop out of the exercise programme.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Signs of Intracranial Hypertension, Hypermobility, and Craniocervical Obstructions in Patients With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Bragée, Björn, Michos, Anastasios, Drum, Brandon et al.·Frontiers in neurology·2020

Researchers studied 229 people with severe ME/CFS to see if three physical conditions—unusual flexibility in joints, increased pressure around the brain, and blockages in the neck—might be connected to ME/CFS symptoms. They found these conditions were much more common in ME/CFS patients than in the general population. The study suggests these physical changes could help explain why people with ME/CFS experience their symptoms, though more research is needed to confirm this connection.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCase-Control

Post-exertional symptoms distinguish Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome subjects from healthy controls.

Mateo, Lariel J, Chu, Lily, Stevens, Staci et al.·Work (Reading, Mass.)·2020

This study looked at how ME/CFS patients and healthy people felt after doing a hard exercise test. ME/CFS patients experienced many more symptoms afterward—an average of 14 different types—compared to healthy people who reported only 4. Importantly, ME/CFS patients continued having symptoms for up to a week after exercise, while healthy controls had none. The most common symptoms were fatigue, brain fog, and sleep problems.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

OnabotulinumtoxinA Is an Effective Treatment for Chronic Migraine in Patients With Comorbid Fibromyalgia.

Sastre Real, María, Díaz de Terán, Javier·Frontiers in neurology·2020

This study looked at whether a migraine treatment called botulinum toxin (Botox) could help people who have both chronic migraines and fibromyalgia. Researchers found that about two-thirds of patients improved within 3 months, and by 12 months, nearly 70% had at least a 50% reduction in severe headache days. The treatment was generally safe with only mild side effects.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Metabolic analysis of amino acids and vitamin B6 pathways in lymphoma survivors with cancer related chronic fatigue.

Fosså, Alexander, Smeland, Knut Halvor, Fluge, Øystein et al.·PloS one·2020

This study looked at blood chemicals called amino acids and B vitamins in lymphoma survivors who experienced lasting fatigue after cancer treatment. Researchers found that people with this fatigue had lower tryptophan (an amino acid) and signs of ongoing low-level immune activation and inflammation. The study suggests that persistent tiredness after lymphoma treatment may be caused by the body's immune system staying activated longer than expected.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Health-related quality of life in Norwegian adolescents living with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Similä, Wenche Ann, Halsteinli, Vidar, Helland, Ingrid B et al.·Health and quality of life outcomes·2020

This study measured how ME/CFS affects the quality of life of teenagers in Norway. Researchers found that adolescents with ME/CFS reported significantly lower quality of life compared to healthy peers, with boys reporting better outcomes than girls. Having support from teachers, attending school, participating in activities, and avoiding depression were linked with better quality of life.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Reduced heart rate variability predicts fatigue severity in individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Escorihuela, Rosa María, Capdevila, Lluís, Castro, Juan Ramos et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2020

This study measured how the heart rate varies between beats in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS have less variation in their heart rate and that this reduced variation is connected to how severe their fatigue is. The findings suggest that an overactive stress response in the nervous system may contribute to fatigue severity.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

A Machine Learning Approach to the Differentiation of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Data of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) From a Sedentary Control.

Provenzano, Destie, Washington, Stuart D, Baraniuk, James N·Frontiers in computational neuroscience·2020

Researchers used a computer algorithm to analyze brain scans from ME/CFS patients and healthy controls while they performed a memory task, both before and after exercise. The algorithm was able to correctly identify which scans came from ME/CFS patients 80% of the time on the first day and 76% on the second day, suggesting that ME/CFS may create a distinctive pattern of brain activity that could eventually be used as an objective diagnostic test.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The unifying diagnostic construct of bodily distress syndrome (BDS) was confirmed in the general population.

Petersen, Marie Weinreich, Schröder, Andreas, Jørgensen, Torben et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2020

This study looked at whether a diagnostic framework called Bodily Distress Syndrome (BDS) can help organize the overlapping symptoms seen in conditions like ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome. Researchers interviewed nearly 1,600 people from the general population about their symptoms and found that symptoms naturally grouped into four clusters (heart/lung, stomach, muscle/joint, and general fatigue symptoms). The BDS framework successfully categorized people based on how many symptom clusters they experienced, suggesting it could be a useful way to diagnose and understand these complex multi-system conditions.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

The Relationship Between Childhood Trauma and the Response to Group Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

De Venter, Maud, Illegems, Jela, Van Royen, Rita et al.·Frontiers in psychiatry·2020

This study looked at whether people with ME/CFS who experienced trauma in childhood respond differently to a specific talking therapy called cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). Researchers followed 105 patients receiving group CBT sessions over 9-12 months and tracked their fatigue levels and physical function at different time points. They found that having a history of childhood trauma did not affect how well people improved with CBT.

Interventions

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

The Economic Impacts of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in an Australian Cohort.

Close, Shara, Marshall-Gradisnik, Sonya, Byrnes, Joshua et al.·Frontiers in public health·2020

This Australian study calculated how much ME/CFS costs patients, their families, and the healthcare system. Researchers surveyed people with ME/CFS and found the total annual cost was approximately $14.5 billion, including medical visits, treatments, medicines, and lost income. The study shows that ME/CFS places a heavy financial burden on individuals and society.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Hospital Records of Pain, Fatigue, or Circulatory Symptoms in Girls Exposed to Human Papillomavirus Vaccination: Cohort, Self-Controlled Case Series, and Population Time Trend Studies.

Thomsen, Reimar Wernich, Öztürk, Buket, Pedersen, Lars et al.·American journal of epidemiology·2020

This large Danish study looked at whether the HPV vaccine (which prevents cervical cancer) was linked to symptoms like pain, fatigue, or heart problems in girls. Researchers compared vaccinated and unvaccinated girls over 14 years and found no increase in hospital visits for these symptoms in vaccinated girls. The symptoms they tracked increased over time in both vaccinated and unvaccinated children, suggesting other factors were responsible.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Emotional Awareness Correlated With Number of Awakenings From Polysomnography in Patients With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome-A Pilot Study.

Bileviciute-Ljungar, Indre, Friberg, Danielle·Frontiers in psychiatry·2020

This study examined the connection between emotional awareness and sleep problems in ME/CFS patients. Researchers found that patients who had difficulty recognizing and understanding their own emotions also experienced more frequent awakenings during sleep. The study involved 23 ME/CFS patients and 30 healthy controls who completed questionnaires about emotions, while the ME/CFS patients also underwent overnight sleep monitoring.

Sleep

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Attentional Processing and Interpretative Bias in Functional Neurological Disorder.

Keynejad, Roxanne C, Fenby, Edward, Pick, Susannah et al.·Psychosomatic medicine·2020

This study looked at how people with ME/CFS and a related condition called functional neurological disorder (FND) process information and interpret bodily sensations differently than healthy people. Researchers gave participants three types of tests: one measuring whether they automatically notice illness-related information, another testing how well they can control their attention, and a third examining whether they interpret unclear bodily sensations as signs of illness. The findings suggest that both ME/CFS and FND involve similar difficulties with attention control and a tendency to interpret bodily sensations as illness-related.

Cognitive Impairment

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Intravenous Cyclophosphamide in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. An Open-Label Phase II Study.

Epidemiological and clinical factors associated with post-exertional malaise severity in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Unravelling myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): Gender-specific changes in the microRNA expression profiling in ME/CFS.

Hemodynamics during the 10-minute NASA Lean Test: evidence of circulatory decompensation in a subset of ME/CFS patients.

Post-exertional Malaise in People With Chronic Cancer-Related Fatigue.

Validation of the Severity of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome by Other Measures than History: Activity Bracelet, Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing and a Validated Activity Questionnaire: SF-36.

Prediction of Discontinuation of Structured Exercise Programme in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients.

Signs of Intracranial Hypertension, Hypermobility, and Craniocervical Obstructions in Patients With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Post-exertional symptoms distinguish Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome subjects from healthy controls.

OnabotulinumtoxinA Is an Effective Treatment for Chronic Migraine in Patients With Comorbid Fibromyalgia.

Metabolic analysis of amino acids and vitamin B6 pathways in lymphoma survivors with cancer related chronic fatigue.

Health-related quality of life in Norwegian adolescents living with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Reduced heart rate variability predicts fatigue severity in individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

A Machine Learning Approach to the Differentiation of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Data of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) From a Sedentary Control.

The unifying diagnostic construct of bodily distress syndrome (BDS) was confirmed in the general population.

The Relationship Between Childhood Trauma and the Response to Group Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

The Economic Impacts of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in an Australian Cohort.

Hospital Records of Pain, Fatigue, or Circulatory Symptoms in Girls Exposed to Human Papillomavirus Vaccination: Cohort, Self-Controlled Case Series, and Population Time Trend Studies.

Emotional Awareness Correlated With Number of Awakenings From Polysomnography in Patients With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome-A Pilot Study.

Attentional Processing and Interpretative Bias in Functional Neurological Disorder.

Curated Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

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Biomarkers

PEM-Specific Research