ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2420 studies

2001–2020 of 2,420 studies

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Natural killer cells and natural killer cell activity in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Whiteside, T L, Friberg, D·The American journal of medicine·1998

This study examines natural killer (NK) cells—white blood cells that help fight infections and abnormal cells—in people with ME/CFS. The researchers found that many ME/CFS patients have lower-than-normal NK cell activity. The study explores why this happens and how it might be related to the disease, while also noting that findings have been difficult to confirm across different studies.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Decreased nitric oxide-mediated natural killer cell activation in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Ogawa, M, Nishiura, T, Yoshimura, M et al.·European journal of clinical investigation·1998

This study looked at how a common amino acid called L-arginine affects immune cells called natural killer cells in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people. The researchers found that L-arginine boosted natural killer cell activity in healthy volunteers, but this boost didn't happen in ME/CFS patients. The difference appears to be related to how the body produces nitric oxide, a chemical messenger involved in immune function.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearObservational

Chronic fatigue syndrome differs from fibromyalgia. No evidence for elevated substance P levels in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Evengard, B, Nilsson, C G, Lindh, G et al.·Pain·1998

Researchers measured a pain-signaling chemical called substance P in the spinal fluid of 15 people with ME/CFS. They found that all the ME/CFS patients had normal levels of this chemical. This is important because fibromyalgia—a condition with similar symptoms—typically shows elevated substance P levels. This finding suggests that ME/CFS and fibromyalgia may be caused by different biological problems, even though patients experience some overlapping symptoms.

Neuroinflammation

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate deficiency in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Kuratsune, H, Yamaguti, K, Sawada, M et al.·International journal of molecular medicine·1998

This study found that most ME/CFS patients in Japan had lower-than-normal levels of a hormone called DHEA-S, which is made by the adrenal glands. DHEA-S helps regulate mood, memory, stress response, sleep, and anxiety. The researchers suggest that low DHEA-S levels might explain some of the brain-related symptoms ME/CFS patients experience, like depression and cognitive problems.

Endocrine Disruption

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The connection between chronic fatigue syndrome and neurally mediated hypotension.

Wilke, W S, Fouad-Tarazi, F M, Cash, J M et al.·Cleveland Clinic journal of medicine·1998

Some ME/CFS patients experience a problem where their blood pressure drops abnormally when they stand up, a condition called neurally mediated hypotension. This review examines research showing that this blood pressure response may be linked to ME/CFS symptoms. Understanding this connection could help explain why some patients feel worse with certain activities and may guide treatment options.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

[The non-specific environmental syndromes MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity), IEI (Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance) and SBS (Sick Building Syndrome)].

Csef, H·Fortschritte der Medizin·1998

This review examines three similar conditions—Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance (IEI), and Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)—that cause people to feel sick when exposed to ordinary environmental triggers like chemicals or buildings. The authors note these conditions share important similarities with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia, and discuss different treatment approaches. The review highlights how controversial these conditions are, with some doctors accepting them while others remain skeptical.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Autonomic neuropathies.

Low, P A·Current opinion in neurology·1998

This review explores how problems with the autonomic nervous system—the part of your nervous system that controls automatic functions like heart rate and temperature regulation—may play a role in several conditions, including ME/CFS. The author discusses how antibodies (immune proteins) targeting autonomic structures are found in some diseases, and notes that some autonomic problems can be treated with medications like midodrine or erythropoietin.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

The psychotherapeutic effects of estrogens.

Panay, N, Studd, J W·Gynecological endocrinology : the official journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology·1998

This review examines how estrogen, a hormone in women's bodies, may affect mood, thinking ability, and symptoms of depression. The authors found that estrogen therapy can help treat depression and improve memory in some women, and that early research suggests it might also help with fatigue and mood in women with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM unclearEditorial

Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome: an update for athletic trainers.

Cramer, C R·Journal of athletic training·1998

This article reviews what we know about ME/CFS and fibromyalgia, two conditions that cause severe fatigue, muscle pain, and sleep problems. The authors looked at medical research and government health information to summarize how these conditions affect people, especially athletes. They discuss various treatments being tested, including exercise, relaxation therapy, and medications, and emphasize the importance of careful medical evaluation and psychological support during diagnosis and treatment.

Pain and SensitizationSleep

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue: the holistic perspective.

Kenner, C·Holistic nursing practice·1998

This article discusses fibromyalgia syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), two conditions that affect mostly women and can significantly impact physical and emotional health. The authors argue that treating these conditions effectively requires a comprehensive, team-based approach that includes both conventional medical care and complementary therapies. They emphasize that patients and families need support strategies tailored to their individual situations to manage these long-term illnesses.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

[No strong evidence of disturbed regulation of blood pressure in chronic fatigue syndrome].

Smit, A A, Bolweg, N M, Lenders, J W et al.·Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde·1998

Some ME/CFS patients experience dizziness or fainting when standing up, and researchers wondered if this was due to problems controlling blood pressure. This review looked at four studies that tested this by having patients lie flat and then tilt them upright to see how their bodies responded. While some patients did show heart rate increases or fainting, many of these patients already had these symptoms before testing, making it unclear whether the problem is truly a core feature of ME/CFS or something else.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

The social course of schizophrenia: local and societal factors.

Hicks, M H, Kleinman, A, Yang, L·The Kaohsiung journal of medical sciences·1998

This study looks at how chronic illnesses like ME/CFS are shaped not just by the disease itself, but by social and family factors around us. The researchers studied schizophrenia across different cultures to understand how our families, jobs, community, healthcare system, and laws affect how we experience and manage our illness. They suggest this same idea applies to many chronic conditions including ME/CFS.

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM unclearEditorial

Silicone breast implants and autoimmune disease.

Brown, S L, Langone, J J, Brinton, L A·Journal of the American Medical Women's Association (1972)·1998

In 1992, the FDA paused approval of silicone breast implants due to safety concerns, particularly worries about autoimmune diseases like scleroderma. This editorial reviews studies conducted since then and finds that while large increases in connective tissue disease overall were ruled out, studies were too small to detect rare diseases. The authors note that new methodologies for studying conditions like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome might help answer whether implants cause a specific syndrome.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Neurally mediated hypotension and autonomic dysfunction measured by heart rate variability during head-up tilt testing in children with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Stewart, J, Weldon, A, Arlievsky, N et al.·Clinical autonomic research : official journal of the Clinical Autonomic Research Society·1998

This study looked at how the nervous system controls heart rate in children with ME/CFS during a tilt test (where patients lie flat then are gradually tilted upright). Researchers found that children with ME/CFS had much lower heart rate variability—a measure of how well the nervous system adjusts the heart—compared to children who faint from other causes and healthy controls. When tilted, children with ME/CFS did not show the normal nervous system adjustments that other groups showed, suggesting their autonomic nervous system (which controls involuntary functions) may not be working properly.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Parallels between post-polio fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome: a common pathophysiology?

Bruno, R L, Creange, S J, Frick, N M·The American journal of medicine·1998

This review examines similarities between fatigue experienced by polio survivors and people with ME/CFS, suggesting they may share common underlying brain problems. Both conditions involve difficulty concentrating, staying awake, and severe fatigue. The researchers propose that reduced dopamine (a brain chemical) and problems with specific brain systems might explain fatigue in both diseases.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

The case history of an elite ultra-endurance cyclist who developed chronic fatigue syndrome.

Rowbottom, D G, Keast, D, Green, S et al.·Medicine and science in sports and exercise·1998

Researchers studied an elite cyclist who developed ME/CFS and tested his fitness before, during, and after his illness. His oxygen capacity and exercise performance dropped significantly during illness, but surprisingly remained low even after he felt clinically better. The authors suggest these fitness losses were due to prolonged inactivity from being sick rather than damage to his muscles' ability to use oxygen.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Illness from low levels of environmental chemicals: relevance to chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Bell, I R, Baldwin, C M, Schwartz, G E·The American journal of medicine·1998

Some people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia react strongly to small amounts of everyday chemicals (like fragrances or pesticides) that don't normally harm others. This paper reviews evidence suggesting that the brain's limbic system—which controls emotions and basic body functions—may become overly sensitive to these chemicals, creating a chain reaction that affects multiple body systems. The authors propose that certain people are born with or develop a heightened sensitivity to this kind of stimulation, which could explain why some ME/CFS patients feel sick from exposure to low levels of chemicals.

Endocrine DisruptionPain and Sensitization

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Evaluation of central serotonergic function in affective and related disorders by the fenfluramine challenge test: a critical review.

Newman, Michael E., Shapira, Baruch, Lerer, Bernard·The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology·1998

This review examines a test called the fenfluramine challenge test, which measures how well the brain's serotonin system is working by looking at prolactin levels after taking fenfluramine. The researchers found that people with depression typically had a blunted (reduced) prolactin response, and that some people with chronic fatigue syndrome might have had an enhanced response, though not many studies existed in this group.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclear

Normal gastric emptying time and myoelectrical activity in an adolescent with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Corrado, G, Riezzo, G, Rea, P et al.·Italian journal of gastroenterology and hepatology·1998

This study looked at stomach function in a teenager with ME/CFS by measuring how quickly food moves through the stomach and checking the electrical signals that control stomach contractions. The researchers found that this patient's stomach was working normally in both measures, suggesting that stomach problems may not be the cause of ME/CFS symptoms in this case.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Cellular sequences in stealth viruses.

Martin, W J·Pathobiology : journal of immunopathology, molecular and cellular biology·1998

Researchers found that a virus called a stealth virus, isolated from ME/CFS patients, contains genetic material that closely matches sequences found in human cells. When they tested samples from four different ME/CFS patients, they found variations in the virus's genetic code, suggesting these viruses may be genetically unstable. This discovery raises questions about whether these viruses might be involved in ME/CFS and how they exchange genetic information with human cells.

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Natural killer cells and natural killer cell activity in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Decreased nitric oxide-mediated natural killer cell activation in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome differs from fibromyalgia. No evidence for elevated substance P levels in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate deficiency in chronic fatigue syndrome.

The connection between chronic fatigue syndrome and neurally mediated hypotension.

[The non-specific environmental syndromes MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity), IEI (Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance) and SBS (Sick Building Syndrome)].

Autonomic neuropathies.

The psychotherapeutic effects of estrogens.

Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome: an update for athletic trainers.

Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue: the holistic perspective.

[No strong evidence of disturbed regulation of blood pressure in chronic fatigue syndrome].

The social course of schizophrenia: local and societal factors.

Silicone breast implants and autoimmune disease.

Neurally mediated hypotension and autonomic dysfunction measured by heart rate variability during head-up tilt testing in children with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Parallels between post-polio fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome: a common pathophysiology?

The case history of an elite ultra-endurance cyclist who developed chronic fatigue syndrome.

Illness from low levels of environmental chemicals: relevance to chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Evaluation of central serotonergic function in affective and related disorders by the fenfluramine challenge test: a critical review.

Normal gastric emptying time and myoelectrical activity in an adolescent with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Cellular sequences in stealth viruses.

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