ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2422 studies

2001–2020 of 2,422 studies

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 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 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Chronic fatigue syndrome: a review for clinicians.

Goshorn, R K·Seminars in neurology·1998

This review explains that ME/CFS is a real condition characterized by long-lasting fatigue, muscle and joint pain, sleep problems, and thinking difficulties. While doctors don't yet fully understand what causes ME/CFS, research suggests it involves subtle problems with the nervous system, hormones, and immune function. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms to help patients feel better, though the approach is personalized since every patient is different.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Mouse running activity is lowered by Brucella abortus treatment: a potential model to study chronic fatigue.

Ottenweller, J E, Natelson, B H, Gause, W C et al.·Physiology & behavior·1998

Researchers infected mice with a killed bacterium to see if it would create a model similar to ME/CFS. The mice immediately stopped running and grooming after infection, then slowly recovered over 2-4 weeks—though some mice recovered faster than others. Interestingly, during recovery, the mice could only run for short periods at first before becoming exhausted, gradually building up their endurance over time.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Dysfunction of natural killer activity in a family with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Levine, P H, Whiteside, T L, Friberg, D et al.·Clinical immunology and immunopathology·1998

Researchers studied a family where 8 members had ME/CFS and found that their natural killer (NK) cells—immune cells that help fight infections and cancer—were not working as well as they should. Some unaffected family members also had lower NK activity, suggesting this might be an inherited trait. The findings raise the possibility that a genetic weakness in immune function could increase risk for both ME/CFS and cancer in this family.

Immune System

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 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM not requiredEditorial

[Chronic fatigue syndrome].

Litzman, J, Lokaj, J, Fucíková, T·Casopis lekaru ceskych·1998

This article discusses chronic fatigue syndrome as a growing health concern in the Czech Republic. The authors explain that doctors cannot yet identify what causes the disease or how it develops in the body, and no single blood test can diagnose it. While some doctors suggest counseling or antidepressants to help with symptoms, treatments targeting the immune system or viruses have not proven effective in rigorous studies.

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 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.

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

[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 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

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 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Chronic orofacial muscle pain: a new approach to diagnosis and management.

Klineberg, I, McGregor, N, Butt, H et al.·The Alpha omegan·1998

This study looked at different types of muscle pain conditions, including fibromyalgia and jaw pain, and found they affect men and women differently. The researchers suggest that some people may be genetically vulnerable to chronic pain, and that infections at the start of illness might play a role. They found links between abnormal fat levels, muscle metabolism problems, and fibromyalgia, which may also be connected to chronic fatigue syndrome.

Pain and Sensitization

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Neurobehavioral properties of chemical sensitivity syndromes.

Weiss, B·Neurotoxicology·1998

This review examines four conditions that involve chemical sensitivity and fatigue-like symptoms: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome, Sick Building Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Gulf War Syndrome. The authors explore different theories about why people develop these conditions, including psychiatric factors, learned behavioral responses, changes in how the nervous system works, and problems with the immune system's stress response. The review suggests that laboratory studies and controlled clinical trials could help determine which explanations are correct.

Endocrine DisruptionPain and Sensitization

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Neuroimaging in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Lange, G, Wang, S, DeLuca, J et al.·The American journal of medicine·1998

This review examines how brain imaging scans can help understand ME/CFS. Researchers looked at two main types of scans: MRI scans that show the structure of the brain, and SPECT scans that show blood flow in the brain. The article discusses what these imaging techniques have revealed so far and what challenges doctors face in using them to diagnose ME/CFS.

Biomarkers

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Reviewing the reviews: the example of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Joyce, J, Rabe-Hesketh, S, Wessely, S·JAMA·1998

This study examined how researchers write review articles about ME/CFS and found that what gets included depends heavily on the author's background and where they're from. Scientists with laboratory training tend to focus on lab-based research, while psychiatrists tend to focus on psychiatric research. Authors also tend to cite papers from their own country much more often than papers from other countries.

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM unclearEditorial

Future directions in exercise and immunology: regulation and integration.

Mackinnon, L T·International journal of sports medicine·1998

This editorial discusses how exercise affects the immune system and raises important questions for future research. It explores whether athletes' bodies are actually fighting infections less effectively, whether reducing certain immune responses might sometimes be helpful, and how exercise training might help people with conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome improve their immune function.

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

← Previous Next 20 studies →

Or browse by topic

PEM Immune Neuro Metabolic Biomarkers Severe ME Long COVID Cognitive

Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate deficiency in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Silicone breast implants and autoimmune disease.

Chronic fatigue syndrome: a review for clinicians.

Mouse running activity is lowered by Brucella abortus treatment: a potential model to study chronic fatigue.

Dysfunction of natural killer activity in a family with chronic fatigue syndrome.

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

[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.

Cellular sequences in stealth viruses.

Autonomic neuropathies.

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

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

The social course of schizophrenia: local and societal factors.

Chronic orofacial muscle pain: a new approach to diagnosis and management.

Neurobehavioral properties of chemical sensitivity syndromes.

Neuroimaging in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Reviewing the reviews: the example of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Future directions in exercise and immunology: regulation and integration.

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

Curated Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

PEM-Specific Research