ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2420 studies

2021–2040 of 2,420 studies

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 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 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 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 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 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

[Fibromyalgia. A critical review].

Cathébras, P, Lauwers, A, Rousset, H·Annales de medecine interne·1998

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition that affects about 2% of the general population, with symptoms including widespread pain, fatigue, and sleep problems. This review examines how fibromyalgia overlaps with other conditions like ME/CFS and depression, and discusses why current treatments like antidepressants and therapy have limited effectiveness. The authors suggest that fibromyalgia may develop through interconnected factors rather than a single cause.

SleepDiagnostics

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

Stress-associated immune modulation: relevance to viral infections and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Glaser, R, Kiecolt-Glaser, J K·The American journal of medicine·1998

This review examines whether ME/CFS might be triggered by viruses interacting with stress and the immune system. While doctors had noticed that people with ME/CFS often have signs of viral infection, previous research hadn't found a clear virus-to-ME/CFS connection. The authors explore how stress, dormant viruses like Epstein-Barr, and the body's immune response could work together to cause ME/CFS symptoms.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and myofascial pain.

Bennett, R·Current opinion in rheumatology·1998

This review examines how fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and widespread pain are related conditions that share similar features. Researchers found that these conditions run in families, involve abnormal pain processing in the nervous system, and may share some underlying biological problems like growth hormone imbalances and low blood pressure. Several medications and treatments showed promise in reducing symptoms.

Pain and Sensitization

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 requiredCross-Sectional

Decreased immunoreactive beta-endorphin in mononuclear leucocytes from patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Conti, F, Pittoni, V, Sacerdote, P et al.·Clinical and experimental rheumatology·1998

Researchers measured levels of beta-endorphin, a natural chemical in the body that helps reduce pain and promotes well-being, in immune cells from ME/CFS patients and healthy people. They found that ME/CFS patients had significantly lower levels of this chemical compared to healthy controls. The authors suggest this difference might help explain why ME/CFS causes fatigue and weakness.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

CD4 T lymphocytes from patients with chronic fatigue syndrome have decreased interferon-gamma production and increased sensitivity to dexamethasone.

Visser, J, Blauw, B, Hinloopen, B et al.·The Journal of infectious diseases·1998

This study looked at immune cells called CD4 T cells from ME/CFS patients and found they produced less of a protective immune protein called interferon-gamma compared to healthy people. Interestingly, these cells were also much more sensitive to dexamethasone, a steroid medication—it took 10-20 times less of the drug to suppress certain immune functions in ME/CFS patients than in controls. This suggests that the stress hormone system and immune system may be working abnormally together in ME/CFS.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Evidence for and pathophysiologic implications of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Demitrack, M A, Crofford, L J·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·1998

This study found that people with ME/CFS have reduced activity in their stress-response system—a network in the brain called the HPA axis that normally helps the body cope with physical and emotional challenges. The researchers discovered that this underactive response pattern is different from what happens in depression, and it may explain why stress and exertion worsen ME/CFS symptoms. The findings suggest that problems with specific brain chemicals involved in stress regulation may contribute to the condition.

Endocrine Disruption

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

The 'worn-out athlete': a clinical approach to chronic fatigue in athletes.

Derman, W, Schwellnus, M P, Lambert, M I et al.·Journal of sports sciences·1997

Doctors who treat athletes need to be able to tell the difference between normal tiredness from hard training and severe, long-lasting fatigue that signals a real medical problem. This article presents a framework to help doctors figure out what's causing persistent fatigue in athletes, including checking for treatable diseases, overtraining, and possible muscle disorders that might not show up on standard tests.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Confronting AIDS in older adults.

Berlin, B·New Jersey medicine : the journal of the Medical Society of New Jersey·1997

This case report describes a 57-year-old man who experienced severe flu-like symptoms and weight loss, and was initially tested for chronic fatigue syndrome and mononucleosis before eventually being diagnosed with HIV. The story illustrates how HIV infection can present with symptoms similar to other conditions and how important it is for doctors to consider HIV testing when patients have unexplained fatigue and illness. This highlights that conditions causing severe fatigue can have different underlying causes that require proper diagnosis.

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM not requiredEditorial

Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis as a twentieth-century disease: analytic challenges.

Simpson, M, Bennett, A, Holland, P·The Journal of analytical psychology·1997

This study explores why ME/CFS is so difficult for doctors to understand and treat. The authors look at how psychological factors—such as denial and unconscious defense mechanisms—might play a role in the condition alongside physical symptoms. They examined five patient cases and found that talking therapy helped some patients improve their symptoms.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Increased concentrations of homocysteine in the cerebrospinal fluid in patients with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Regland, B, Andersson, M, Abrahamsson, L et al.·Scandinavian journal of rheumatology·1997

Researchers tested the spinal fluid of 12 women who had both fibromyalgia and ME/CFS and found unusually high levels of a molecule called homocysteine in their brains and spinal cords. They also noticed that patients with lower vitamin B12 levels in their spinal fluid reported more severe fatigue. This suggests that a vitamin B12 deficiency might prevent the body from properly breaking down homocysteine, which could contribute to symptoms like exhaustion.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryGuidelinePEM not requiredGuideline

Chronic fatigue syndrome. A practical guide to assessment and management.

Sharpe, M, Chalder, T, Palmer, I et al.·General hospital psychiatry·1997

This guide explains how doctors should assess and manage ME/CFS by building trust with patients, taking a detailed history, and ruling out other conditions. Treatment focuses on helping patients understand their illness, establish consistent activity and sleep patterns, and gradually return to normal activities, with cognitive behavioral therapy being the only proven effective approach. The authors emphasize that ME/CFS is a real, treatable condition and provide practical strategies to help patients avoid misinterpreting their symptoms or fearing activity.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

[Chronic fatigue--'tired with 23 i's'].

van der Meer, J W, Elving, L D·Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde·1997

This study describes two patients with severe tiredness. One woman had chronic fatigue syndrome and improved slowly over time, while one man's exhaustion was caused by a treatable pituitary gland tumor that was removed surgically. The doctors emphasize that it's important to thoroughly examine patients to find out if something else is causing their tiredness before diagnosing chronic fatigue syndrome.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM unclear

Hypnosis in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Gregg, V H·Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine·1997

This study examined whether hypnosis might help people with ME/CFS. Researchers compared people with ME/CFS who received hypnosis treatment to those who did not. The study provides early information about whether this type of mind-body treatment might be beneficial for managing symptoms.

Interventions

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Evidence browser

Reviewing the reviews: the example of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate deficiency in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Autonomic neuropathies.

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

Neuroimaging in chronic fatigue syndrome.

[Fibromyalgia. A critical review].

Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue: the holistic perspective.

Stress-associated immune modulation: relevance to viral infections and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and myofascial pain.

Chronic fatigue syndrome: a review for clinicians.

Decreased immunoreactive beta-endorphin in mononuclear leucocytes from patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

CD4 T lymphocytes from patients with chronic fatigue syndrome have decreased interferon-gamma production and increased sensitivity to dexamethasone.

Evidence for and pathophysiologic implications of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

The 'worn-out athlete': a clinical approach to chronic fatigue in athletes.

Confronting AIDS in older adults.

Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis as a twentieth-century disease: analytic challenges.

Increased concentrations of homocysteine in the cerebrospinal fluid in patients with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome. A practical guide to assessment and management.

[Chronic fatigue--'tired with 23 i's'].

Hypnosis in chronic fatigue syndrome.

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