ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2420 studies

321–340 of 2,420 studies

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Perioperative opioid-minimization approach as a useful protocol in the management of patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome-hypermobility type, craniocervical instability and severe chronic pain who are to undergo occipito-cervical fixation.

Ramírez-Paesano, Carlos, Rodiera Clarens, Claudia, Sharp Segovia, Allan et al.·Orphanet journal of rare diseases·2023

Some people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (a connective tissue disorder) develop neck instability that causes severe pain and fatigue similar to ME/CFS. This review examines how doctors can better manage pain during and after neck surgery in these patients by using less opioid medication and combining multiple pain-relief strategies instead, because opioids often don't work well and can actually make pain worse in these cases.

Neuroinflammation

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Association of multiple sclerosis with chronic fatigue syndrome, restless legs syndrome, and various sleep disorders, along with the recent updates.

Prajjwal, Priyadarshi, Kalluru, Pavan K R, Marsool, Mohammed Dheyaa et al.·Annals of medicine and surgery (2012)·2023

This review examines how multiple sclerosis (MS) and ME/CFS are similar, particularly in how they cause fatigue and affect sleep. Both conditions involve damage to similar brain regions and may share genetic risk factors. The authors discuss how treatments like supervised exercise can help manage fatigue in both illnesses, though the underlying causes differ.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Electroacupuncture at BL15 attenuates chronic fatigue syndrome by downregulating iNOS/NO signaling in C57BL/6 mice.

Zhu, Yang, Wang, Jingya, Yao, Lin et al.·Anatomical record (Hoboken, N.J. : 2007)·2023

This study tested whether electroacupuncture (a treatment involving tiny needles and electrical stimulation) could help mice with a condition similar to ME/CFS. Researchers found that electroacupuncture improved the mice's ability to move and strengthened their heart function by reducing levels of a particular chemical messenger (nitric oxide) in the body.

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM requiredEditorial

Post-exertional malaise in daily life and experimental exercise models in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Vøllestad, Nina K, Mengshoel, Anne Marit·Frontiers in physiology·2023

This paper reviews how post-exertional malaise (PEM)—the worsening of symptoms after physical or mental activity—is experienced and studied in ME/CFS patients. Patients describe PEM in many different ways and report that it can start immediately or be delayed by days, lasting anywhere from a few days to months. When researchers use standardized exercise tests in laboratories, they see more immediate symptom worsening, but the duration still varies widely between patients.

Autonomic Nervous SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

A review of cytokine-based pathophysiology of Long COVID symptoms.

Low, Russell N, Low, Ryan J, Akrami, Athena·Frontiers in medicine·2023

This review examines how Long COVID may develop through a chain reaction of immune system problems. When the virus infects the body, it can trigger ongoing inflammation that affects both the immune system and the brain, potentially causing blood clots in small vessels. This combination may explain symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, and pain that Long COVID and ME/CFS patients experience.

NeuroinflammationPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Research progress on central mechanism of acupuncture treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Li, Bin-Bin, Feng, Chu-Wen, Qu, Yuan-Yuan et al.·World journal of acupuncture-moxibustion·2023

This review examined how ME/CFS affects the brain and nervous system by looking at laboratory tests and brain imaging studies. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS have changes in brain structure, abnormal inflammation, and problems with chemical messengers in the brain. The study also explored how acupuncture might help correct some of these brain abnormalities in animal models of the condition.

Neuroinflammation

E3 PreliminaryPEM unclear

The fragile process of Homecoming - Young women in recovery from severe ME/CFS.

Krabbe, Silje Helen, Groven, Karen Synne, Schrøder Bjorbækmo, Wenche et al.·International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being·2023

This study followed 13 young women who recovered from severe ME/CFS that started during childhood or adolescence. Through in-depth interviews, researchers explored what helped them get better. The women described recovery as a slow, bumpy process that involved learning how their bodies worked and gradually gaining confidence, rather than a straight path to wellness.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Understanding mental fatigue and its detection: a comparative analysis of assessments and tools.

Kunasegaran, Kaveena, Ismail, Ahamed Miflah Hussain, Ramasamy, Shamala et al.·PeerJ·2023

Mental fatigue is a common problem that makes it harder to concentrate, process information, and make decisions. Currently, doctors mainly ask patients to describe their fatigue using questionnaires, which can be unreliable because people's answers are subjective. This review compared different methods of detecting mental fatigue—including questionnaires, heart rate measurements, stress hormones, brain scans, and eye movement tests—to find the most objective and accurate tool.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Increased SARS-CoV-2 reactive low avidity T cells producing inflammatory cytokines in pediatric post-acute COVID-19 sequelae (PASC).

Paniskaki, Krystallenia, Goretzki, Sarah, Anft, Moritz et al.·Pediatric allergy and immunology : official publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology·2023

This study looked at children who had COVID-19 and developed long-lasting symptoms like breathing problems, fatigue, and brain fog—a condition called pediatric long COVID. Researchers found that these children had more immune cells fighting the virus that were less effective than usual, and these cells released inflammatory chemicals that may have been causing their symptoms. The findings suggest that ongoing immune system activation after COVID-19 might explain why some children develop persistent health problems similar to ME/CFS.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Post-COVID and ME/CFS - DoWe Need New Disease Theories?

Schauenburg, Henning·Zeitschrift fur Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie·2023

This review examines how post-COVID illness and ME/CFS develop and persist, looking beyond just physical symptoms to understand how the brain perceives and responds to the body. The authors suggest that standard medical tests only partially explain chronic fatigue, and that a newer theory called 'Predictive Coding' may help us understand how the mind and body interact in these complex conditions. The goal is to develop better treatments while avoiding the harmful stigma of labeling these as 'just psychological' problems.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

In vitro B cell experiments explore the role of CD24, CD38, and energy metabolism in ME/CFS.

Armstrong, Christopher W, Mensah, Fane F K, Leandro, Maria J et al.·Frontiers in immunology·2023

This study examined immune cells called B cells from ME/CFS patients and healthy people to understand how they handle energy differently. Researchers found that B cells from ME/CFS patients struggle to produce enough energy and have to work harder, using more nutrients to keep functioning. These cells also showed signs of being under stress, which may help explain why ME/CFS patients feel exhausted.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Life changing response to successive surgical interventions on cranial venous outflow: A case report on chronic fatigue syndrome.

Higgins, J Nicholas P, Axon, Patrick R, Lever, Andrew M L·Frontiers in neurology·2023

This case report describes one patient with ME/CFS who had narrowing in the veins that drain blood from the brain. Surgery to open one of these narrowed veins led to significant improvement in fatigue and other symptoms over the follow-up period. The authors suggest that blocked brain venous drainage might explain ME/CFS symptoms in some patients, similar to a related condition called intracranial hypertension.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclear

Corona With Lyme: A Long COVID Case Study.

Thor, Danielle C, Suarez, Sergio·Cureus·2023

This study follows one 26-year-old medical student over three years as she developed and recovered from long COVID symptoms after an acute COVID-19 infection. The case documents her journey through various treatments and how her symptoms gradually improved over time. While this is just one person's experience, it provides insight into how long COVID can develop and potentially resolve.

Interventions

E3 PreliminaryPEM unclear

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: How to Help Yourself.

American family physician·2023

This is a practical guide published in a family medicine journal to help ME/CFS patients manage their condition themselves. The article provides advice on self-care strategies and coping techniques that people with ME/CFS can use in their daily lives. Since there is no abstract available, the specific recommendations cannot be detailed, but the resource aims to give patients actionable steps they can take to improve their quality of life.

Interventions

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Cardiovascular and haematological pathology in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): A role for viruses.

Nunes, Jean M, Kell, Douglas B, Pretorius, Etheresia·Blood reviews·2023

This review examines how the heart, blood vessels, and blood clotting system may be affected in ME/CFS. Research shows that ME/CFS patients often have problems with blood flow to the brain, abnormal blood clotting, and damaged blood vessel linings—similar to what happens in Long COVID. These cardiovascular and blood abnormalities may contribute to ME/CFS symptoms and could potentially become targets for new treatments.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not required

Evaluation of a Webinar to Increase Health Professionals' Knowledge about Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Froehlich, Laura, Niedrich, Jasmin, Hattesohl, Daniel B R et al.·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2023

Many doctors and health professionals don't know enough about ME/CFS, which makes it harder for patients to get proper care. Researchers created an online webinar to teach German-speaking healthcare workers about ME/CFS and tested whether it helped them learn. The study found that the webinar successfully increased doctors' knowledge about the illness, suggesting that online education could be a practical way to train more healthcare providers.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

A pilot study on the immune cell proteome of long COVID patients shows changes to physiological pathways similar to those in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Peppercorn, Katie, Edgar, Christina D, Kleffmann, Torsten et al.·Scientific reports·2023

This small pilot study looked at immune cells from long COVID patients and compared them to healthy people, analyzing thousands of proteins in their blood. They found that long COVID patients had significant differences in their immune cell proteins, particularly in how their bodies handle energy production and immune function—similar patterns to what researchers have seen in ME/CFS. This suggests that long COVID and ME/CFS may share similar underlying biological problems, even though they start from different triggers.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Whole-body cryotherapy as a treatment for chronic medical conditions?

Tabisz, Hanna, Modlinska, Aleksandra, Kujawski, Sławomir et al.·British medical bulletin·2023

This review article examines whole-body cryotherapy (WBC)—exposing your entire body to very cold temperatures—as a possible treatment for various chronic conditions, including ME/CFS. The authors suggest that because WBC appears to reduce inflammation in the body, it might help conditions involving persistent inflammation. However, they emphasize that current research quality is low and that proper clinical trials are needed before we can know if WBC actually works.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis-Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Common Data Element item content analysis.

Slavin, Mary D, Bailey, Hannah M, Hickey, Emily J et al.·PloS one·2023

This study examined how well existing questionnaires measure the main symptoms of ME/CFS. Researchers looked at 38 different symptom-assessment tools and found they do a good job measuring physical symptoms like fatigue, sleep problems, and pain. However, most tools don't adequately measure how ME/CFS limits daily activities and participation in work, social life, and other important areas of life.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Neuroplasticity Intervention, Amygdala and Insula Retraining (AIR), Significantly Improves Overall Health and Functioning Across Various Chronic Conditions.

Bratty, Alexandra J·Integrative medicine (Encinitas, Calif.)·2023

This study tested a brain-retraining program called AIR (Amygdala and Insula Retraining) on people with various chronic conditions, including ME/CFS. Participants reported their health and functioning before and after using the program for at least 3 months. The results showed significant improvements in 14 out of 16 conditions studied, suggesting that this brain-focused approach may help people feel better.

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Perioperative opioid-minimization approach as a useful protocol in the management of patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome-hypermobility type, craniocervical instability and severe chronic pain who are to undergo occipito-cervical fixation.

Association of multiple sclerosis with chronic fatigue syndrome, restless legs syndrome, and various sleep disorders, along with the recent updates.

Electroacupuncture at BL15 attenuates chronic fatigue syndrome by downregulating iNOS/NO signaling in C57BL/6 mice.

Post-exertional malaise in daily life and experimental exercise models in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

A review of cytokine-based pathophysiology of Long COVID symptoms.

Research progress on central mechanism of acupuncture treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome.

The fragile process of Homecoming - Young women in recovery from severe ME/CFS.

Understanding mental fatigue and its detection: a comparative analysis of assessments and tools.

Increased SARS-CoV-2 reactive low avidity T cells producing inflammatory cytokines in pediatric post-acute COVID-19 sequelae (PASC).

Post-COVID and ME/CFS - DoWe Need New Disease Theories?

In vitro B cell experiments explore the role of CD24, CD38, and energy metabolism in ME/CFS.

Life changing response to successive surgical interventions on cranial venous outflow: A case report on chronic fatigue syndrome.

Corona With Lyme: A Long COVID Case Study.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: How to Help Yourself.

Cardiovascular and haematological pathology in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): A role for viruses.

Evaluation of a Webinar to Increase Health Professionals' Knowledge about Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

A pilot study on the immune cell proteome of long COVID patients shows changes to physiological pathways similar to those in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Whole-body cryotherapy as a treatment for chronic medical conditions?

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis-Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Common Data Element item content analysis.

Neuroplasticity Intervention, Amygdala and Insula Retraining (AIR), Significantly Improves Overall Health and Functioning Across Various Chronic Conditions.

Curated Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

PEM-Specific Research