ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

121–140 of 6,187 studies

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.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Clinical evidence of the link between gut microbiome and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a retrospective review.

Wang, Jing-Hua, Choi, Yujin, Lee, Jin-Seok et al.·European journal of medical research·2024

Researchers reviewed 11 studies comparing gut bacteria in ME/CFS patients to healthy people. They found that people with ME/CFS have fewer types of bacteria and different bacterial communities in their guts compared to healthy controls. Additionally, ME/CFS patients produce lower levels of certain beneficial bacterial byproducts that are normally important for health.

Gut Microbiome

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

[Long COVID - neurological or somatoform disease?].

Tényi, Dalma, Tényi, Tamás, Janszky, József·Ideggyogyaszati szemle·2024

This study reviews research on long COVID to understand what causes its main symptoms like extreme fatigue, pain, and brain fog. Doctors are still debating whether long COVID is primarily a brain/nerve disease, a whole-body illness affecting multiple systems, or a condition where the brain becomes overly sensitive to signals. The researchers found that long COVID shares many similarities with ME/CFS and other hard-to-diagnose conditions, but no single test currently exists to confirm long COVID diagnosis.

NeuroinflammationPost-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 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

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 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

The impact of gut microbiome and diet on post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Reyes, Zabrina, Stovall, Mary Catherine, Punyamurthula, Sanjana et al.·Journal of the neurological sciences·2024

This study looked at how gut bacteria and diet might affect people who develop Long COVID (symptoms that continue months after a COVID-19 infection). Researchers reviewed existing studies to see if changes in gut bacteria linked to worse COVID illness could be improved by eating foods rich in fiber and antioxidants, like those in the Mediterranean Diet. The idea is that a healthier gut might help prevent or reduce Long COVID symptoms.

Gut MicrobiomeImmune 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 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.

Severe MESleepPost-Exertional Malaise

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 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 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 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 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

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Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

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

Clinical evidence of the link between gut microbiome and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a retrospective review.

[Long COVID - neurological or somatoform disease?].

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

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

Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome.

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?

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

The impact of gut microbiome and diet on post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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