ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2420 studies

1741–1760 of 2,420 studies

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM not required

Clinical assessment, management and outcomes of a group of adolescents presenting with complex medico-psychosocial conditions.

Szyndler, J E, Towns, S, Hoffman, R C et al.·Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore·2003

This study looked at 38 teenagers with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) or similar complex conditions that involve both physical symptoms and emotional/social factors. Doctors used a team-based approach to help these young people and found that about half improved with treatment. The study showed that having family members with similar symptoms and missing school were linked to worse outcomes.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Chronic diffuse musculoskeletal pain, fibromyalgia and co-morbid unexplained clinical conditions.

Aaron, Leslie A, Buchwald, Dedra·Best practice & research. Clinical rheumatology·2003

Many people with fibromyalgia also experience other chronic conditions like ME/CFS, irritable bowel syndrome, and jaw pain. This review examines how often these conditions occur together and suggests that doctors should check for multiple conditions when treating fibromyalgia patients. Treatment works better when it addresses all of a patient's overlapping symptoms, not just one condition.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

The neurological significance of abnormal natural killer cell activity in chronic toxigenic mold exposures.

Anyanwu, Ebere, Campbell, Andrew W, Jones, Joseph et al.·TheScientificWorldJournal·2003

This review examines how toxic molds found in homes and buildings can damage the immune system, specifically affecting natural killer cells—white blood cells that help fight infections. When people are exposed to these molds over time, their natural killer cells may stop working normally, which could contribute to symptoms like fatigue, memory problems, sleep trouble, depression, headaches, and fevers that resemble ME/CFS.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Psychometric properties of the Dutch Chronic Fatigue Syndrome--Activities and Participation Questionnaire (CFS-APQ).

Nijs, Jo, Vaes, Peter, McGregor, Neil et al.·Physical therapy·2003

Researchers tested a questionnaire designed to measure how ME/CFS affects daily activities and participation in normal life. The Dutch version of this questionnaire was given to people with ME/CFS, and the researchers found it reliably measured activity limitations and correlated well with patients' reports of pain and fatigue. This suggests the questionnaire is a useful tool for tracking how the disease impacts everyday functioning.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Atypical depression spectrum disorder - neurobiology and treatment.

Murck, Harald·Acta neuropsychiatrica·2003

This article explores a type of depression with unusual symptoms—like eating more and sleeping more instead of less—that is often overlooked in standard depression assessments. The author suggests this pattern of depression shares biological similarities with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and other related conditions, and that all of these may involve a common problem with how the body regulates stress hormones. Different medications may work better for this type of depression than those typically used for other forms.

Interventions

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of basal ganglia in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chaudhuri, A, Condon, B R, Gow, J W et al.·Neuroreport·2003

This study used a specialized brain imaging technique called MR spectroscopy to look at a part of the brain called the basal ganglia in people with ME/CFS. The researchers found that people with ME/CFS had significantly higher levels of choline (a compound involved in cell membranes) in this brain region compared to healthy people. This suggests that the fatigue in ME/CFS may involve changes in how brain cells are functioning and communicating.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Successful intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in 3 cases of parvovirus B19-associated chronic fatigue syndrome.

Kerr, J R, Cunniffe, V S, Kelleher, P et al.·Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·2003

This study looked at three patients whose chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) appeared to start after they were infected with parvovirus B19, a common virus. These patients were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), a therapy that contains antibodies from donated blood. All three patients improved significantly, with their symptoms resolving and their ability to function returning to normal.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Glucocorticoids and glucocorticoid receptors: mediators of fatigue?

Cleare, A J·Acta neuropsychiatrica·2003

This study looks at whether a hormone system called the HPA axis—which controls stress responses and cortisol production—might explain why people with ME/CFS experience severe fatigue. Researchers found that some patients have lower cortisol levels and changes in how their bodies respond to stress, and that giving cortisol replacement therapy in some cases improved fatigue. However, the changes weren't the same in all patients, suggesting multiple different factors may be contributing to fatigue rather than one single problem.

Endocrine Disruption

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Case reports and review of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia syndrome (POTS).

Carothers, Becky, Schmidt, Lori, Puri, Vinay·The Journal of the Kentucky Medical Association·2003

POTS is a condition where your heart rate increases too much when you stand up, and less blood flows to your brain, causing dizziness and fainting. This paper describes two patients with POTS who needed different levels of treatment—one managed at home and one needing hospital care. The authors point out that POTS is probably more common than doctors realize and is sometimes mistaken for chronic fatigue syndrome or other conditions.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

[Lessons from macrophagic myofasciitis: towards definition of a vaccine adjuvant-related syndrome].

Gherardi, R K·Revue neurologique·2003

This review examines macrophagic myofasciitis, a condition where aluminum from vaccine adjuvants persists in muscle tissue and may trigger long-lasting immune activation. About half of patients develop fatigue and muscle pain that meet ME/CFS criteria, and some develop autoimmune diseases. The authors suggest that persistent immune stimulation from the aluminum depot could explain both this vaccine-related condition and possibly other forms of ME/CFS.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

An investigation into the psychometric properties of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale in individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome.

McCue, P, Martin, Cr, Buchanan, T et al.·Psychology, health & medicine·2003

Researchers tested a questionnaire called the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to see if it accurately measures anxiety and depression in people with ME/CFS. They found that while the questionnaire seems reliable overall, it doesn't work exactly as doctors expected—it measures three separate things rather than two. This means the tool may not be the best choice for screening anxiety and depression in ME/CFS patients without some changes.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Assessment of cortisol response with low-dose and high-dose ACTH in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and healthy comparison subjects.

Gaab, Jens, Hüster, D, Peisen, R et al.·Psychosomatics·2003

This study tested whether ME/CFS patients have problems with cortisol, a stress hormone made by the adrenal glands. Researchers gave 18 ME/CFS patients and 18 healthy people a hormone called ACTH (in both low and high doses) to stimulate cortisol production. The results showed no difference between the two groups, suggesting that ME/CFS is unlikely caused by faulty adrenal glands.

Endocrine Disruption

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Q fever as a biological weapon.

Kagawa, Frank T, Wehner, John H, Mohindra, Vibha·Seminars in respiratory infections·2003

Q fever is a rare bacterial infection that can be caught from animals and is highly contagious. Most people who catch it have no symptoms or mild flu-like illness, but some develop serious complications like pneumonia or inflammation of the heart. Importantly, a small number of people develop chronic Q fever, which can cause long-term fatigue similar to ME/CFS.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Cytokines in parvovirus B19 infection as an aid to understanding chronic fatigue syndrome.

Kerr, Jonathan R, Tyrrell, David A J·Current pain and headache reports·2003

This study examined how parvovirus B19 (a common virus) can trigger ME/CFS in some people. The researchers found that patients who developed ME/CFS after B19 infection had abnormal levels of immune signaling chemicals in their blood (specifically TNF-alpha, interferon-gamma, and MCP-1). Importantly, some patients improved when treated with intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, suggesting B19-triggered ME/CFS may be treatable.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Deficit in motor performance correlates with changed corticospinal excitability in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Davey, N J, Puri, B K, Catley, M et al.·International journal of clinical practice·2003

This study looked at whether the slowness people with ME/CFS experience in reacting and moving is connected to changes in how their brain controls muscles. Researchers tested 10 ME/CFS patients twice over up to two years, measuring reaction times, movement speed, and brain signals using magnetic stimulation. They found that when patients' symptoms changed, their brain's ability to control movements changed in a similar way, suggesting the slowness has a real physical basis in the brain rather than being purely psychological.

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM not requiredCase-Control

Phantom lymphadenopathy. An association with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Shee, C D·Postgraduate medical journal·2003

This study looked at 10 patients who thought they had swollen lymph nodes in their neck and other areas. However, when doctors carefully examined them, the swelling wasn't actually there. All of these patients had ME/CFS and experienced severe fatigue, body aches, and various other symptoms. The researchers suggest that some people with ME/CFS may feel like their lymph nodes are enlarged even when they aren't, a phenomenon they call 'phantom lymphadenopathy.'

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Efficacy of a half dose of oral pyridostigmine in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome: three case reports.

Kawamura, Yasuo, Kihara, Mikihiro, Nishimoto, Kazuhiro et al.·Pathophysiology : the official journal of the International Society for Pathophysiology·2003

This small study looked at three ME/CFS patients who had problems with both nerve-muscle communication and autonomic nervous system dysfunction (how the body regulates heart rate, sweating, and other automatic functions). All three patients improved significantly when given low doses of a medication called pyridostigmine, which helps acetylcholine (a chemical messenger in the nervous system) work better. The authors suggest that some ME/CFS fatigue might be caused by a combination of these two problems working together.

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Identification of ambiguities in the 1994 chronic fatigue syndrome research case definition and recommendations for resolution.

Reeves, William C, Lloyd, Andrew, Vernon, Suzanne D et al.·BMC health services research·2003

This study brought together experienced ME/CFS researchers from around the world to identify problems and confusing parts of the official definition used to diagnose ME/CFS in research studies. The team worked together in workshops over three years to find ways to make the diagnosis more consistent and accurate across different research sites, so that patients are identified the same way no matter where they're studied.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Chronic fatigue syndrome: new evidence for a central fatigue disorder.

Georgiades, Evelina, Behan, Wilhelmina M H, Kilduff, Liam P et al.·Clinical science (London, England : 1979)·2003

This study investigated whether ME/CFS involves problems with how the brain regulates energy and effort perception. Researchers compared 12 ME/CFS patients and 11 healthy controls during exercise, measuring chemicals in the blood that help the brain function. ME/CFS patients felt more exhausted at every stage and had different levels of brain chemicals, particularly those related to serotonin and dopamine—systems that regulate mood, motivation, and perception of effort.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM not requiredCase-Control

Acute parvovirus B19 infection mimicking chronic fatigue syndrome.

Matano, Sadaya, Kinoshita, Hiroya, Tanigawa, Kiyoaki et al.·Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan)·2003

This case study describes a woman in Japan who developed severe fatigue, pain, sleep problems, and other symptoms lasting two months that resembled ME/CFS. Blood tests showed she had a parvovirus B19 infection (a common virus), and she was also diagnosed with depression. Her symptoms improved after taking antidepressant medication and herbal treatments, even though the virus remained detectable in her blood for months. This case suggests that parvovirus B19 infection can sometimes produce symptoms similar to ME/CFS, especially in people who have experienced significant stress.

Diagnostics

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Clinical assessment, management and outcomes of a group of adolescents presenting with complex medico-psychosocial conditions.

Chronic diffuse musculoskeletal pain, fibromyalgia and co-morbid unexplained clinical conditions.

The neurological significance of abnormal natural killer cell activity in chronic toxigenic mold exposures.

Psychometric properties of the Dutch Chronic Fatigue Syndrome--Activities and Participation Questionnaire (CFS-APQ).

Atypical depression spectrum disorder - neurobiology and treatment.

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of basal ganglia in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Successful intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in 3 cases of parvovirus B19-associated chronic fatigue syndrome.

Glucocorticoids and glucocorticoid receptors: mediators of fatigue?

Case reports and review of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia syndrome (POTS).

[Lessons from macrophagic myofasciitis: towards definition of a vaccine adjuvant-related syndrome].

An investigation into the psychometric properties of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale in individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Assessment of cortisol response with low-dose and high-dose ACTH in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and healthy comparison subjects.

Q fever as a biological weapon.

Cytokines in parvovirus B19 infection as an aid to understanding chronic fatigue syndrome.

Deficit in motor performance correlates with changed corticospinal excitability in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Phantom lymphadenopathy. An association with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Efficacy of a half dose of oral pyridostigmine in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome: three case reports.

Identification of ambiguities in the 1994 chronic fatigue syndrome research case definition and recommendations for resolution.

Chronic fatigue syndrome: new evidence for a central fatigue disorder.

Acute parvovirus B19 infection mimicking chronic fatigue syndrome.

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