ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2420 studies

61–80 of 2,420 studies

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM requiredCase-Control

The Effect on Quality of Life of Therapeutic Plasmapheresis and Intravenous Immunoglobulins on a Population of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients with Elevated β-Adrenergic and M3-Muscarinic Receptor Antibodies-A Pilot Study.

Oesch-Régeni, Boglárka, Germann, Nicolas, Hafer, Georg et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2025

This small pilot study looked at seven ME/CFS patients who had high levels of specific antibodies (proteins the immune system makes) that may harm certain nerve and heart functions. The researchers gave these patients two types of blood-cleaning treatments—plasmapheresis (which filters antibodies out of blood) and immunoglobulins (healthy antibodies)—and tracked their symptoms and quality of life. They found that patients with higher levels of these harmful antibodies tended to report worse quality of life, and the treatments appeared to help reduce both the antibodies and improve how patients felt.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Proposed Mechanistic Axis of Infections and mTOR Hyperactivation: A Multidisciplinary Review of Immune, Rheumatologic, and Psychiatric Links.

Fronticelli Baldelli, Giovanni, Buonsenso, Danilo·Children (Basel, Switzerland)·2025

This review proposes that a protein called mTOR may be the key link between infections and the long-lasting symptoms seen in ME/CFS and similar post-infection illnesses. The authors suggest that when mTOR stays overactive after an infection, it can damage the barrier that protects the brain, allow immune cells to enter brain tissue, and cause ongoing inflammation that affects how the brain works. They outline a step-by-step pathway explaining how this might happen and suggest that targeting mTOR could be a new treatment approach.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Patient Perspectives on the Care in a Long COVID Outpatient Clinic-A Regional Qualitative Analysis from Germany.

Gölz, Lea Alexandra, Poß-Doering, Regina, Merle, Uta et al.·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2025

Researchers interviewed 14 patients attending a specialized Long COVID clinic in Germany to understand their experiences with care. Patients reported that while the clinic staff were knowledgeable and compassionate, many experienced a worsening of symptoms after their visit (a pattern called post-exertional malaise), and most wanted more follow-up appointments to manage their condition.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Identifying potential biomarkers in the hippocampus of chronic fatigue syndrome rats treated with moxibustion at Zusanli (ST36): a proteomics study.

Chuwen, Feng, Chaoran, L I, Yan, Yang et al.·Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan·2025

This study tested whether moxibustion—a traditional Chinese medicine technique involving gentle heat applied to a specific acupuncture point on the leg—could help rats with chronic fatigue syndrome. Researchers found that moxibustion improved the rats' activity levels, memory, and reduced damage to a brain region involved in learning and emotion. The treatment appeared to work by restoring balance to specific proteins in the brain that were abnormal in the fatigued rats.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM requiredMechanistic

Cerebrospinal fluid metabolomics, lipidomics and serine pathway dysfunction in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndroome (ME/CFS).

Baraniuk, James N·Scientific reports·2025

Researchers studied brain fluid from ME/CFS patients to understand what goes wrong with how their brains use energy. They found that ME/CFS patients have abnormal levels of certain molecules involved in energy production and brain cell function, and these problems got worse after exercise. The study suggests that ME/CFS may involve problems with how the brain processes nutrients and maintains its protective coating around nerve fibers.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Mixed methods study of views and experience of non-hospitalised individuals with long COVID of using pacing interventions.

McMullan, Christel, Haroon, Shamil, Turner, Grace et al.·Scientific reports·2025

This study asked people with Long COVID about their experiences using 'pacing'—a strategy to manage energy by balancing activity and rest. Researchers gave questionnaires to 28 people and interviewed 19 of them. Most participants found pacing helpful for planning activities and staying motivated, though some found it complicated and difficult to follow without clearer guidance.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM requiredMechanistic

Extracellular vesicle proteomics uncovers energy metabolism, complement system, and endoplasmic reticulum stress response dysregulation postexercise in males with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Glass, Katherine A, Giloteaux, Ludovic, Zhang, Sheng et al.·Clinical and translational medicine·2025

Researchers studied tiny particles called extracellular vesicles in the blood of ME/CFS patients before and after exercise. They found that in people with ME/CFS, these particles show signs of energy problems, immune overactivity, and cellular stress after exertion—changes that were linked to post-exertional malaise (the worsening of symptoms after activity). These findings suggest new targets for treatment that could help improve recovery and energy in ME/CFS.

BiomarkersPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM requiredCase-Control

Multimodal Telerehabilitation in Post COVID-19 Condition Recovery: A Series of 12 Cases.

Carpallo-Porcar, Beatriz, Beamonte, Esther Del Corral, Jiménez-Sánchez, Carolina et al.·Reports (MDPI)·2025

This study tested whether people recovering from COVID-19 could improve their symptoms through home-based exercise and education delivered via video appointments over 12 weeks. Most patients improved in fatigue, exercise capacity, and muscle strength, though breathlessness did not improve as much. The results suggest that remote rehabilitation programs delivered from home may be helpful for people with long COVID symptoms.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Upregulation of olfactory receptors and neuronal-associated genes highlights complex immune and neuronal dysregulation in Long COVID patients.

Shahbaz, Shima, Rezaeifar, Maryam, Syed, Hussein et al.·Brain, behavior, and immunity·2025

Researchers studied blood samples from Long COVID patients with ME/CFS-like symptoms and compared them to healthy controls. They found that certain genes related to immune function and brain health were turned on in the patients, while others were turned off. The study also discovered unusual activation of smell-related genes and changes in immune cell types, suggesting the body remains in a state of ongoing inflammation and stress.

NeuroinflammationBiomarkersImmune System

E3 PreliminaryGuidelinePEM requiredGuideline

Multidisciplinary collaborative guidance on the assessment and treatment of patients with Long COVID: A compendium statement.

Cheng, Abby L, Herman, Eric, Abramoff, Benjamin et al.·PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation·2025

This is a comprehensive clinical guide created by over 40 Long COVID treatment centers to help doctors evaluate and care for Long COVID patients. The guide covers how to assess symptoms, manage common problems like fatigue and brain fog, and help patients return to work or daily activities. It emphasizes that Long COVID is real, takes it seriously, and recommends treatments based on what doctors currently know while acknowledging many unknowns remain.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclear

Analysis of Transient Receptor Potential Ion Channels in ME/CFS.

Eaton-Fitch, Natalie, Muraki, Katsuhiko, Sasso, Etianne Martini et al.·Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)·2025

This study describes the scientific methods used to examine special proteins called ion channels (specifically TRPM3) in the cells of ME/CFS patients. Researchers took blood samples, isolated specific immune cells, and used advanced techniques like imaging and electrical measurements to see how these ion channels work. This work provides a detailed handbook for scientists studying how ion channel problems might contribute to ME/CFS.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Ultrasound-assisted preparation of sweet corn cob polysaccharide selenium nanoparticles alleviates symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Wang, Jingyang, Wang, Xin, Xiu, Weiye et al.·Food & function·2025

Researchers created tiny particles made from selenium and sweet corn cob material and tested whether they could help reduce fatigue symptoms in mice with chronic fatigue syndrome. The particles appeared to improve energy production in cells and reduce harmful oxidative stress, while also making positive changes to the bacteria in the digestive system.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

A Case of Psoriasis Concurrently Complicated by Sacroiliitis and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Iijima, Mami, Miyagaki, Tomomitsu, Nakajima, Kaori et al.·Cureus·2025

This case report describes one patient who developed psoriasis (a skin condition), sacroiliitis (inflammation of joints in the lower back), and ME/CFS all around the same time. The researchers reviewed what is known about how these three conditions might be connected through shared immune system problems. The study suggests that people with psoriasis may be at higher risk of developing ME/CFS, possibly because both conditions involve similar types of inflammatory immune responses.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM requiredObservational

Two-day cardiopulmonary exercise testing in long COVID post-exertional malaise diagnosis.

Gattoni, Chiara, Abbasi, Asghar, Ferguson, Carrie et al.·Respiratory physiology & neurobiology·2025

This study tested whether Long COVID patients experience a measurable drop in exercise capacity after 24 hours, which would suggest their bodies aren't recovering properly from exercise. Researchers had 15 Long COVID patients do exercise tests on two consecutive days and found no significant difference in performance between day 1 and day 2. Surprisingly, this was true even though 80% of patients reported post-exertional malaise (PEM) symptoms over the previous six months.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Corticosteroids with low glucocorticoid activity as a potential therapeutic strategy for post-COVID-19 myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome in patients with bipolar affective disorder: A case report.

Nakajima, Kan, Ayani, Nobutaka, Matsuoka, Teruyuki et al.·PCN reports : psychiatry and clinical neurosciences·2025

This case report describes one patient with bipolar disorder who developed ME/CFS after COVID-19 and was treated with different types of steroid medications. Strong steroids (betamethasone and prednisolone) triggered a severe manic episode requiring hospitalization, but a weaker steroid (hydrocortisone) improved her fatigue without worsening her mood. The findings suggest that choosing the right type of steroid may be important for ME/CFS patients who also have mood disorders.

Endocrine Disruption

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Myopraktikk (NO): A Narrative Review and Conceptual Hypothesis on Intrafasciomembranal Fluid Pressure, Biotensegrity, and Immediate Remote Myofascial Responses.

Hopen, Stig Runar, Mjøen, Tor Arne·Cureus·2025

This article proposes a new theory about muscle pain and stiffness called Myopraktikk, which focuses on fluid pressure building up in the spaces around muscles. The authors suggest that when fluid pressure increases in these areas, it can cause muscles to feel tight, knotted, and painful—similar to what happens in conditions like ME/CFS and fibromyalgia. According to their hypothesis, releasing this pressure through manual treatment may help reduce symptoms in both the treated area and elsewhere in the body.

Pain and Sensitization

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Cerebral Blood Flow in Orthostatic Intolerance.

Khan, Muhammad Shahzeb, Miller, Amanda J, Ejaz, Arooba et al.·Journal of the American Heart Association·2025

When you stand up, your body normally adjusts blood flow to keep your brain supplied with oxygen. Some people have problems with this adjustment, causing dizziness, fatigue, or fainting—a condition called orthostatic intolerance. This review explains that many ME/CFS and long COVID patients have reduced blood flow to the brain when standing, even though their heart rate and blood pressure look normal on standard tests. The authors review different tools doctors can use to actually measure brain blood flow, rather than just relying on heart rate and blood pressure readings.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

A Direct Relationship Between 'Blood Stasis' and Fibrinaloid Microclots in Chronic, Inflammatory, and Vascular Diseases, and Some Traditional Natural Products Approaches to Treatment.

Kell, Douglas B, Pretorius, Etheresia, Zhao, Huihui·Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)·2025

This study proposes that tiny blood clots called fibrinaloid microclots may be the physical basis behind a traditional Chinese medicine concept called 'blood stasis,' which describes sluggish blood flow. The authors suggest that these microclots block small blood vessels and reduce oxygen delivery to tissues, and that certain Chinese herbal remedies—particularly a formula called Xue Fu Zhu Yu—may help by reducing microclot formation. If correct, this could open new treatment avenues for ME/CFS, long COVID, and other chronic inflammatory conditions.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Autonomic phenotyping, brain blood flow control, and cognitive-motor-integration in Long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A pilot study.

Badhwar, Smriti, Pereira, Tania J, Kerr, Kathleen et al.·Autonomic neuroscience : basic & clinical·2025

This study compared how the nervous systems of ME/CFS patients, Long COVID patients, and healthy people respond to physical stress tests like breathing different air mixtures and tilting upright. The researchers found that ME/CFS and Long COVID patients had different patterns of problems: ME/CFS patients showed difficulty controlling blood flow to the brain during one test, which was linked to coordination problems, while Long COVID patients had lower oxygen levels when upright and their nervous systems didn't adapt as well.

Autonomic Nervous SystemCognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredObservational

Epstein-Barr virus and the origin of frailty and fatigue: A two-sample multivariable bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

Li, Jie, Chen, Tailin·Experimental gerontology·2025

This study used genetic data to investigate whether past Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection might cause frailty and fatigue. Researchers found that certain antibodies produced in response to EBV were associated with increased frailty and fatigue symptoms in a way that suggests the virus may play a causal role. These findings suggest EBV's connection to these conditions may be worth exploring further for treatment options.

Immune System

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The Effect on Quality of Life of Therapeutic Plasmapheresis and Intravenous Immunoglobulins on a Population of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients with Elevated β-Adrenergic and M3-Muscarinic Receptor Antibodies-A Pilot Study.

Proposed Mechanistic Axis of Infections and mTOR Hyperactivation: A Multidisciplinary Review of Immune, Rheumatologic, and Psychiatric Links.

Patient Perspectives on the Care in a Long COVID Outpatient Clinic-A Regional Qualitative Analysis from Germany.

Identifying potential biomarkers in the hippocampus of chronic fatigue syndrome rats treated with moxibustion at Zusanli (ST36): a proteomics study.

Cerebrospinal fluid metabolomics, lipidomics and serine pathway dysfunction in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndroome (ME/CFS).

Mixed methods study of views and experience of non-hospitalised individuals with long COVID of using pacing interventions.

Extracellular vesicle proteomics uncovers energy metabolism, complement system, and endoplasmic reticulum stress response dysregulation postexercise in males with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Multimodal Telerehabilitation in Post COVID-19 Condition Recovery: A Series of 12 Cases.

Upregulation of olfactory receptors and neuronal-associated genes highlights complex immune and neuronal dysregulation in Long COVID patients.

Multidisciplinary collaborative guidance on the assessment and treatment of patients with Long COVID: A compendium statement.

Analysis of Transient Receptor Potential Ion Channels in ME/CFS.

Ultrasound-assisted preparation of sweet corn cob polysaccharide selenium nanoparticles alleviates symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.

A Case of Psoriasis Concurrently Complicated by Sacroiliitis and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Two-day cardiopulmonary exercise testing in long COVID post-exertional malaise diagnosis.

Corticosteroids with low glucocorticoid activity as a potential therapeutic strategy for post-COVID-19 myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome in patients with bipolar affective disorder: A case report.

Myopraktikk (NO): A Narrative Review and Conceptual Hypothesis on Intrafasciomembranal Fluid Pressure, Biotensegrity, and Immediate Remote Myofascial Responses.

Cerebral Blood Flow in Orthostatic Intolerance.

A Direct Relationship Between 'Blood Stasis' and Fibrinaloid Microclots in Chronic, Inflammatory, and Vascular Diseases, and Some Traditional Natural Products Approaches to Treatment.

Autonomic phenotyping, brain blood flow control, and cognitive-motor-integration in Long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A pilot study.

Epstein-Barr virus and the origin of frailty and fatigue: A two-sample multivariable bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

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