ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

121–140 of 6,157 studies

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Advancing Research and Treatment: An Overview of Clinical Trials in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Future Perspectives.

Seton, Katharine A, Espejo-Oltra, José A, Giménez-Orenga, Karen et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2024

This review examined research studies testing various treatments for ME/CFS, including medications and supplements that target different aspects of the illness like immune function, metabolism, and gut health. The authors found that current treatments mainly manage symptoms rather than address the root causes, with very few patients recovering fully. They emphasize that better-designed clinical trials are urgently needed to find treatments that actually work and can be used in real-world medical practice.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Epigenetic reprograming in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A narrative of latent viruses.

Apostolou, Eirini, Rosén, Anders·Journal of internal medicine·2024

This review examines how viruses, particularly Epstein-Barr virus, may cause lasting changes to how our cells work in ME/CFS patients. The authors found that in about 70% of ME/CFS cases, the illness begins after a viral infection, and viruses can hide in the body while triggering long-term problems with energy, thinking, and immune function. Understanding these viral-triggered changes could help explain why different patients experience ME/CFS differently and may lead to better treatments.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Autoimmune Autonomic Neuropathy: From Pathogenesis to Diagnosis.

Nakane, Shunya, Koike, Haruki, Hayashi, Tomohiro et al.·International journal of molecular sciences·2024

This review describes autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy (AAG), a rare condition where the immune system attacks nerve cells that control automatic body functions like heart rate and blood pressure. The authors explain how doctors can diagnose AAG and how it differs from other similar conditions, including ME/CFS and long COVID, which can have overlapping symptoms.

Autonomic Nervous SystemDiagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredGuideline

Celiac Disease-Related Conditions: Who to Test?

Zingone, Fabiana, Bai, Julio C, Cellier, Christophe et al.·Gastroenterology·2024

This review looked at which patients should be tested for celiac disease, a condition where the immune system reacts to gluten in food. The authors found that celiac disease is often missed and recommend testing in people with certain autoimmune diseases, digestive problems, thyroid disease, and other specific conditions—including chronic fatigue syndrome. They suggest blood tests first, with biopsies during endoscopy if needed to confirm the diagnosis.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Epigenetic changes in patients with post-acute COVID-19 symptoms (PACS) and long-COVID: A systematic review.

Shekhar Patil, Madhura, Richter, Emma, Fanning, Lara et al.·Expert reviews in molecular medicine·2024

This review examined research on how long-COVID changes the way genes are turned on and off in the body—a process called epigenetics. Researchers found that these changes may affect the immune system, nervous system, and how cells use energy. While the findings are interesting and promise better treatments in the future, current research is still limited in size and quality.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Larun, Lillebeth, Brurberg, Kjetil G, Odgaard-Jensen, Jan et al.·The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2024

This review looked at eight studies involving 1,518 people with ME/CFS to see if exercise therapy helps. When compared to usual care or passive treatments, exercise probably reduced fatigue somewhat in the short term, but we cannot be sure it helps long-term. When compared to other treatments like cognitive behavioural therapy, exercise did not clearly perform better or worse. The quality of evidence was often too low to draw firm conclusions about safety or effects on pain, quality of life, and other symptoms.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Future Direction.

Graves, B Sue, Patel, Mitsu, Newgent, Hailey et al.·Cureus·2024

ME/CFS is a serious illness that causes extreme tiredness that doesn't improve with rest and often gets worse with activity. People with ME/CFS also struggle with brain fog, pain, sleep problems, and immune system issues. Right now, doctors don't have a simple blood test or scan to diagnose ME/CFS, which makes it hard to identify and treat the condition properly.

BiomarkersImmune SystemCognitive ImpairmentPost-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclear

Blood virome research in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: challenges and opportunities.

Obraitis, Dominic, Li, Dawei·Current opinion in virology·2024

This review examines whether viruses trigger myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Scientists have found that some ME/CFS cases may start after viral infections, and blood tests can detect viral genetic material in patients. The review highlights that while viruses are a suspected cause, no single virus has been found in all ME/CFS patients, and researchers need better tools to understand these complex viral patterns.

Long COVID Overlap

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredMeta-Analysis

Efficacy and Acceptance of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Adults with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Meta-analysis.

Maas Genannt Bermpohl, Frederic, Kucharczyk-Bodenburg, Ann-Cathrin, Martin, Alexandra·International journal of behavioral medicine·2024

This review analyzed 15 studies involving over 2,000 people with ME/CFS who received cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—a talk therapy that helps change thinking patterns and behavior. The results show that CBT helped reduce fatigue, depression, and anxiety compared to control groups, with benefits lasting at least several months after treatment ended. Most people who started CBT stayed in the program and completed their sessions, suggesting the treatment is acceptable to patients.

E0 ConsensusGuidelinePEM unclear

NICE guideline on ME/CFS: robust advice based on a thorough review of the evidence.

Barry, Peter Walter, Kelley, Kate, Tan, Toni et al.·Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry·2024

In 2021, NICE (the UK's health guideline organization) published official recommendations for diagnosing and treating ME/CFS based on careful review of available research. When critics raised concerns about how the evidence was interpreted, the guideline authors explained that these criticisms were based on misunderstandings of how the guideline process works. This paper defends the guideline as a balanced and thoughtful approach to managing this serious condition.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Understanding the kynurenine pathway: A narrative review on its impact across chronic pain conditions.

Hazrati, Ebrahim, Eftekhar, Seyed Parsa, Mosaed, Reza et al.·Molecular pain·2024

This review examined how a specific pathway in the body that breaks down the amino acid tryptophan might contribute to chronic pain, including in ME/CFS patients. The review looked at research across various pain conditions and depression, finding that certain chemicals produced along this pathway can either protect or damage nerve cells. The authors suggest that targeting this pathway could lead to new, non-opioid treatments for chronic pain.

NeuroinflammationEnergy Metabolism

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: the biology of a neglected disease.

Arron, Hayley E, Marsh, Benjamin D, Kell, Douglas B et al.·Frontiers in immunology·2024

This review examines what we know about ME/CFS by looking at how the disease develops from a combination of genetic factors, infections, and immune problems. The researchers found that ME/CFS appears to result from multiple body systems going wrong at the same time—including the immune system, inflammation, digestive health, and energy production. The study argues that doctors and scientists need to stop looking at ME/CFS as a single problem and instead understand it as a complex condition involving many interconnected issues.

Energy MetabolismImmune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

A systematic review of quantitative EEG findings in Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Long COVID.

Silva-Passadouro, Bárbara, Tamasauskas, Arnas, Khoja, Omar et al.·Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology·2024

This study reviewed research on brain wave patterns in three related conditions: fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, and Long COVID. Researchers found that ME/CFS and fibromyalgia show different patterns of brain activity when measured using EEG, a test that records electrical activity in the brain. The study suggests these conditions may involve different changes in how the brain functions, which could eventually help doctors identify and treat each condition more specifically.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearMeta-Analysis

Meta-analysis of natural killer cell cytotoxicity in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Baraniuk, James N, Eaton-Fitch, Natalie, Marshall-Gradisnik, Sonya·Frontiers in immunology·2024

Researchers combined results from 28 previous studies to confirm that people with ME/CFS have natural killer (NK) cells—a type of immune cell that fights infections and abnormal cells—that work at about half the strength of healthy people's NK cells. This is one of the most reliable biological differences found in ME/CFS. The analysis confirms this is a real, consistent problem in the condition.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Microglia and Sleep Disorders.

Picard, Katherine, Dolhan, Kira, Watters, Jyoti J et al.·Advances in neurobiology·2024

This review examines how microglia—immune cells in the brain and spinal cord—affect sleep and sleep disorders. The authors discuss how sleep problems and lack of sleep can harm brain health and potentially lead to diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. They specifically look at how microglia may be involved in ME/CFS and other sleep disorders, and what happens to these immune cells when people don't get enough sleep.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Translating insights into therapies for Long Covid.

Antar, Annukka A R, Cox, Andrea L·Science translational medicine·2024

Long Covid causes a variety of symptoms—like exhaustion, weakness, and brain fog—that last long after a COVID-19 infection ends. This review examines what scientists currently understand about what might cause Long Covid and looks at early laboratory studies and clinical trials testing potential treatments. The authors emphasize that more large-scale research is needed to understand why different people experience different symptoms and to develop effective therapies.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Chronic inflammatory response syndrome: a review of the evidence of clinical efficacy of treatment.

Dooley, Ming, Vukelic, April, Jim, Lysander·Annals of medicine and surgery (2012)·2024

This review looked at studies about treatments for conditions involving long-term inflammation and fatigue, including ME/CFS. The researchers found that most published studies focused on a treatment approach called the Shoemaker Protocol, which was reported to work better than other treatments tested. However, this review only examined existing published articles rather than conducting new research, so the strength of the evidence depends heavily on the quality of those original studies.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Physical Activity and Fatigue Symptoms: Neurotypical Adults and People with Chronic Multisymptom Illnesses.

Boruch, Alex, Branchaw, Grace, O'Connor, Patrick J et al.·Current topics in behavioral neurosciences·2024

This review examined how physical activity affects fatigue in people with ME/CFS and similar long-term illnesses, compared to healthy people. In healthy adults, exercise usually makes people feel more energized, but in people with ME/CFS and related conditions, exercise often makes fatigue worse. Short-term exercise programs show small improvements in fatigue for healthy people, but little to no improvement for those with these chronic illnesses.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

L-Carnitine in the Treatment of Psychiatric and Neurological Manifestations: A Systematic Review.

Wang, Wenbo, Pan, Da, Liu, Qi et al.·Nutrients·2024

Researchers reviewed 60 studies about whether L-carnitine, a natural supplement, might help with nervous system and mental health problems. They found it showed promise for some conditions like stroke and Alzheimer's disease, but had limited effectiveness for others including chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, and ALS. This review summarizes what we currently know about L-carnitine's potential benefits and limitations across different neurological conditions.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredMeta-Analysis

The effect of massage on patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Li, Jingnan, Piao, Feng, Zeng, Qiaoqiao et al.·Medicine·2024

Researchers reviewed 32 studies involving nearly 2,600 ME/CFS patients to see if massage therapy helps reduce fatigue. They found that massage significantly improved fatigue scores on standardized tests, with patients in the massage group showing better results than control groups. Massage appeared safe, with very few adverse effects reported.

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Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

Advancing Research and Treatment: An Overview of Clinical Trials in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Future Perspectives.

Epigenetic reprograming in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A narrative of latent viruses.

Autoimmune Autonomic Neuropathy: From Pathogenesis to Diagnosis.

Celiac Disease-Related Conditions: Who to Test?

Epigenetic changes in patients with post-acute COVID-19 symptoms (PACS) and long-COVID: A systematic review.

Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Future Direction.

Blood virome research in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: challenges and opportunities.

Efficacy and Acceptance of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Adults with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Meta-analysis.

NICE guideline on ME/CFS: robust advice based on a thorough review of the evidence.

Understanding the kynurenine pathway: A narrative review on its impact across chronic pain conditions.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: the biology of a neglected disease.

A systematic review of quantitative EEG findings in Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Long COVID.

Meta-analysis of natural killer cell cytotoxicity in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Microglia and Sleep Disorders.

Translating insights into therapies for Long Covid.

Chronic inflammatory response syndrome: a review of the evidence of clinical efficacy of treatment.

Physical Activity and Fatigue Symptoms: Neurotypical Adults and People with Chronic Multisymptom Illnesses.

L-Carnitine in the Treatment of Psychiatric and Neurological Manifestations: A Systematic Review.

The effect of massage on patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

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