ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

121–140 of 6,121 studies

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Its Impact on Adolescents and Young Adults.

Broussard, Camille A, Azola, Alba, Rowe, Peter C·Pediatric clinics of North America·2024

This review examines long-term COVID symptoms that persist in teenagers and young adults after initial infection, sometimes called 'long COVID' or PASC. The researchers looked at how these symptoms present differently in younger people, discussed ways doctors can assess and treat these patients, and highlighted the importance of fair and equitable care for all affected young people.

Long COVID Overlap

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredSystematic-Review

The persistence of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) after SARS-CoV-2 infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Dehlia, Ankush, Guthridge, Mark A·The Journal of infection·2024

Researchers looked at studies of people with Long COVID to see how many also meet the diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS. They found that about half of Long COVID patients have symptoms that match ME/CFS, including severe fatigue, sleep problems, muscle and joint pain, and post-exertional malaise (feeling much worse after physical activity). This suggests that Long COVID and ME/CFS may be very similar conditions, at least in some patients.

SleepSevere ME

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 System

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 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.

Immune SystemNeuroinflammation

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 unclearReview-Narrative

Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 in Children.

Rao, Suchitra, Gross, Rachel S, Mohandas, Sindhu et al.·Pediatrics·2024

Some children who have COVID-19 experience symptoms that last for weeks or months after the initial infection—a condition called long COVID. This review summarizes what we currently know about long COVID in children, including how common it is, what symptoms children experience, and what might cause it. The authors also describe major research efforts being funded to better understand long COVID in young people and find effective treatments.

ME/CFS (general)

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 not requiredSystematic-Review

Functional Somatic Syndromes Are Associated With Varied Postoperative Outcomes and Increased Opioid Use After Spine Surgery: A Systematic Review.

Masood, Raisa, LeRoy, Taryn E, Moverman, Michael A et al.·Global spine journal·2024

This review looked at seven studies involving over 40,000 patients to understand how people with fibromyalgia and other chronic pain conditions fare after spine surgery. The main finding was that patients with fibromyalgia were more likely to use opioid painkillers for longer periods after surgery and reported less improvement in their symptoms compared to those without fibromyalgia. Very little research exists on how other conditions like ME/CFS affect spine surgery outcomes.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Autoimmunity's enigmatic role: exploring the connection with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Batham, Jacob, Dwyer, Jessica, Eaton-Fitch, Natalie et al.·BMC immunology·2024

Researchers reviewed 10 studies to understand whether ME/CFS is caused by autoimmunity—a condition where the immune system attacks the body's own cells. While some signs of autoimmune activity were found in ME/CFS patients, the evidence is mixed and not strong enough to confirm that autoimmunity is the main cause. The authors conclude that ME/CFS is more complex than a straightforward autoimmune disease.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredSystematic-Review

Prevalence and measurement of post-exertional malaise in post-acute COVID-19 syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

An, Yi, Guo, Ziyu, Fan, Jin et al.·General hospital psychiatry·2024

Researchers looked at 12 studies involving 2,665 patients with long COVID to understand how common post-exertional malaise (PEM)—a worsening of symptoms after physical or mental effort—is among those affected. They found that more than half of long COVID patients experience PEM. The study also identified seven different questionnaires that researchers use to measure PEM, with the DePaul Symptom Questionnaire being the most commonly used tool.

Post-Exertional Malaise

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 not requiredSystematic-Review

Exploring the Effects of Qigong, Tai Chi, and Yoga on Fatigue, Mental Health, and Sleep Quality in Chronic Fatigue and Post-COVID Syndromes: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

Fricke-Comellas, Hermann, Heredia-Rizo, Alberto Marcos, Casuso-Holgado, María Jesús et al.·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2024

This review looked at 13 studies testing whether qigong, tai chi, and yoga help reduce fatigue in people with ME/CFS and long COVID. Overall, these gentle movement practices appeared to help reduce fatigue and improve mood and sleep compared to doing nothing. However, the studies had various quality issues that make it hard to know how much we can trust these results.

Sleep

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The microbiome in post-acute infection syndrome (PAIS).

Guo, Cheng, Yi, Boyang, Wu, Jianyong et al.·Computational and structural biotechnology journal·2023

This review examined how the bacteria and other microorganisms living in our bodies—particularly in the gut and mouth—may be altered in patients with prolonged illnesses following infections, including ME/CFS and long COVID. The researchers looked at existing studies to understand whether changes in these microbial communities might contribute to why some people develop long-lasting symptoms after being sick. They explored possible explanations for how these microbial changes could trigger or worsen symptoms in post-infection syndromes.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

DNA Methylation Signatures of Functional Somatic Syndromes: Systematic Review.

Fischer, Susanne, Kleinstäuber, Maria, Fiori, Laura M et al.·Psychosomatic medicine·2023

This review looked at research on DNA changes in people with ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome. Scientists found that people with these conditions have different patterns of chemical switches on their genes compared to healthy people, particularly in genes that control immune function and stress response. These differences may help explain why people with ME/CFS experience fatigue, pain, and other symptoms.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Evaluation of viral infection as an etiology of ME/CFS: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Hwang, Jae-Hyun, Lee, Jin-Seok, Oh, Hyeon-Muk et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2023

Researchers analyzed 64 studies involving nearly 5,000 ME/CFS patients to see if viral infections might cause or trigger the illness. They found that certain viruses—particularly Borna disease virus, human herpesvirus-7, parvovirus B19, enterovirus, and Coxsackie B virus—appeared more frequently in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people and those with other diseases. While these associations are promising leads, finding a virus more often in patients doesn't prove it causes ME/CFS.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Application and development of fecal microbiota transplantation in the treatment of gastrointestinal and metabolic diseases: A review.

Mahmoudi, Hassan, Hossainpour, Hadi·Saudi journal of gastroenterology : official journal of the Saudi Gastroenterology Association·2023

This review examines fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT)—a procedure where stool from a healthy donor is transferred to a patient—and its reported use in treating digestive and other diseases. The authors note that an imbalanced gut microbiota has been observed alongside various conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, and that FMT is well-established for treating recurrent C. difficile infections. However, the review emphasises that more controlled studies are needed before FMT can be confidently recommended for most other conditions.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Fatigue in Adults: Evaluation and Management.

Latimer, Kelly M, Gunther, Althea, Kopec, Michael·American family physician·2023

Fatigue is a very common reason people visit their doctors, and it can significantly impact daily life and work safety. This guideline explains that fatigue can come from different causes—normal tiredness that improves with rest and better habits, fatigue from other medical conditions, or chronic fatigue like ME/CFS. ME/CFS is a serious, long-lasting illness with no proven cure that causes a symptom called postexertional malaise, where activity makes symptoms worse, so patients need to carefully manage their energy levels.

Long COVID OverlapPost-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredSystematic-Review

Comparison of serum acylcarnitine levels in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and healthy controls: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Jinushi, Ryuhei, Masuda, Sakue, Tanisaka, Yuki et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2023

This review combined results from seven studies comparing a chemical in the blood called acylcarnitine between people with ME/CFS and healthy people. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS have significantly lower levels of this chemical. These lower levels might one day help doctors diagnose ME/CFS, though more research is needed before it can be used as a reliable test.

Energy MetabolismBiomarkers

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearEvidence-Map

ME/CFS and Long COVID share similar symptoms and biological abnormalities: road map to the literature

Anthony L. Komaroff, W. Ian Lipkin·Frontiers in Medicine·2023

Harvard and Columbia researchers conducted a comprehensive review of biological abnormalities in ME/CFS and Long COVID. They found striking overlaps in immune dysregulation, autonomic dysfunction, metabolic disruption, and neurological features. The paper maps the literature to guide researchers working across both conditions.

Long COVID OverlapImmune System

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Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Its Impact on Adolescents and Young Adults.

The persistence of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) after SARS-CoV-2 infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

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

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

Microglia and Sleep Disorders.

Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 in Children.

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

Functional Somatic Syndromes Are Associated With Varied Postoperative Outcomes and Increased Opioid Use After Spine Surgery: A Systematic Review.

Autoimmunity's enigmatic role: exploring the connection with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Prevalence and measurement of post-exertional malaise in post-acute COVID-19 syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

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

Exploring the Effects of Qigong, Tai Chi, and Yoga on Fatigue, Mental Health, and Sleep Quality in Chronic Fatigue and Post-COVID Syndromes: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

The microbiome in post-acute infection syndrome (PAIS).

DNA Methylation Signatures of Functional Somatic Syndromes: Systematic Review.

Evaluation of viral infection as an etiology of ME/CFS: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Application and development of fecal microbiota transplantation in the treatment of gastrointestinal and metabolic diseases: A review.

Fatigue in Adults: Evaluation and Management.

Comparison of serum acylcarnitine levels in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and healthy controls: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

ME/CFS and Long COVID share similar symptoms and biological abnormalities: road map to the literature

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