ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

1281–1300 of 6,188 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Prevalence and determinants of post-acute sequelae after SARS-CoV-2 infection (Long COVID) among adults in Mexico during 2022: a retrospective analysis of nationally representative data.

Bello-Chavolla, Omar Yaxmehen, Fermín-Martínez, Carlos A, Ramírez-García, Daniel et al.·Lancet regional health. Americas·2024

This study looked at how many adults in Mexico experienced long-lasting symptoms after COVID-19 infection in 2022. Researchers found that about 1 in 5 people who had COVID-19 reported ongoing problems like fatigue, muscle pain, brain fog, and loss of taste or smell. The study showed that people who caught COVID-19 multiple times, had depression, or lived in poorer areas were more likely to develop these long-term symptoms, while vaccination and infection with newer variants reduced risk.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Evidence of aberrant anti-epstein-barr virus antibody response, though no viral reactivation, in people with post-stroke fatigue.

Mouat, Isobel C, Zhu, Li, Aslan, Alperen et al.·Journal of inflammation (London, England)·2024

This study looked at whether Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a common virus that stays dormant in most people's bodies, reactivates in stroke patients who experience severe fatigue. Researchers compared 44 stroke survivors—22 with high fatigue and 22 with low fatigue—and measured both the amount of active virus and antibodies against it in their blood. While they found that EBV reactivation happened equally in both groups, people with high fatigue showed unusual patterns in their immune response to the virus, suggesting their bodies may not be fighting EBV normally.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Functional and Morphological Differences of Muscle Mitochondria in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Post-COVID Syndrome.

Bizjak, Daniel Alexander, Ohmayer, Birgit, Buhl, Jasmine Leonike et al.·International journal of molecular sciences·2024

This study examined the energy-producing structures (mitochondria) inside muscle cells of people with ME/CFS and long COVID, comparing them to healthy people. Researchers found that mitochondria in both conditions work less efficiently and have structural damage, but the patterns differ: long COVID shows more damage to a specific energy-producing pathway, while ME/CFS shows more overall structural wear and tear in the mitochondria themselves.

Energy Metabolism

E2 ModerateGuidelinePEM unclearGuideline

Practical Recommendations for Exercise Training in Patients with Long COVID with or without Post-exertional Malaise: A Best Practice Proposal.

Gloeckl, Rainer, Zwick, Ralf H, Fürlinger, Ulrich et al.·Sports medicine - open·2024

This study created practical guidelines for exercise training in people with long COVID, especially those who experience post-exertional malaise (PEM)—when symptoms get worse after physical activity. The researchers reviewed 46 previous studies and surveyed 14 international experts to develop three different exercise approaches depending on whether someone has no PEM, mild/moderate PEM, or severe PEM. These guidelines aim to help healthcare professionals safely design exercise programs tailored to each person's specific situation.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Association between fatigue, peripheral serotonin, and L-carnitine in hypothyroidism and in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Raij, Tommi, Raij, Kari·Frontiers in endocrinology·2024

This study examined whether a supplement called L-carnitine could help reduce fatigue by increasing serotonin levels in the blood. Researchers tracked 12 people with ME/CFS and 40 people with hypothyroidism who were experiencing fatigue, measuring their serotonin and fatigue levels before and after taking L-carnitine for 7 weeks. They found that L-carnitine increased serotonin levels significantly and fatigue decreased by about half in both groups, suggesting a possible connection between low serotonin and fatigue.

BiomarkersEnergy Metabolism

E2 ModerateDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Optimizing Exclusion Criteria for Clinical Trials of Persistent Lyme Disease Using Real-World Data.

Johnson, Lorraine, Shapiro, Mira, Needell, Deanna et al.·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2024

This study looked at the rules that researchers use to decide who can join clinical trials for persistent Lyme disease (PLD). The researchers found that current rules exclude about 90% of patients, making it very hard to find enough people for studies. By relaxing some of these rules—especially those that exclude people with coexisting conditions like fibromyalgia or fatigue—researchers could include many more patients (up to 64%) while still conducting valid research.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

IgG Antibody Responses to Epstein-Barr Virus in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Their Effective Potential for Disease Diagnosis and Pathological Antigenic Mimicry.

Fonseca, André, Szysz, Mateusz, Ly, Hoang Thien et al.·Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)·2024

Researchers examined immune responses (antibodies) against Epstein-Barr virus in ME/CFS patients to see if these could be used to diagnose the condition. They found that a specific set of 26 antibodies could reliably identify ME/CFS patients whose illness started after an infection, but these antibodies don't appear to explain why the autoimmune problems occur. The findings suggest that while these antibodies might be useful for diagnosis in some patients, they may not be the root cause of ME/CFS.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not required

The influence of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) family history on patients with ME/CFS.

Jason, Leonard A, Ngonmedje, Sarah·Exploration of medicine·2024

This study looked at whether ME/CFS runs in families and if people with ME/CFS who have a family history of the disease are different from those without it. Researchers compared 400 ME/CFS patients with 414 people who had other chronic illnesses like multiple sclerosis or post-polio syndrome. They found that ME/CFS is much more common in families (18% of ME/CFS patients had relatives with ME/CFS) compared to the control groups (3.9%), and those with a family history of ME/CFS were more likely to experience stomach and digestive problems.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Development and Validation of the Short Form (JAEN-10) of the Joint Assessment of Equilibrium and Neuromotor Status Scale (JAEN-20).

Peinado-Rubia, Ana Belén, Osuna-Pérez, María Catalina, Núñez-Fuentes, David et al.·Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology·2024

Researchers created a shorter version of a balance and movement test (JAEN-10) to measure physical problems in people with fibromyalgia. The new 10-question test works just as well as the original 20-question version but takes less time to complete, which is helpful for people who get tired easily. The test successfully identified people with fibromyalgia and those at risk of falling.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Longitudinal Course of Physical and Psychosocial Impairment in Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder and Personality-Disordered Comparison Subjects: Description and Prediction.

Glass, Isabel V, Frankenburg, Frances R, Fitzmaurice, Garrett M et al.·Journal of personality disorders·2024

This study followed 282 people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and other personality disorders for 8 years to see how their physical and mental health changed over time. People with BPD reported significantly more physical and emotional difficulties than the comparison group, and those who didn't recover had worse outcomes. The study found that certain conditions—like chronic fatigue syndrome, osteoarthritis, obesity, depression, and PTSD—were strongly linked to physical health problems in BPD patients.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM required

Identifying the mental health burden in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) patients in Switzerland: A pilot study.

König, Rahel Susanne, Paris, Daniel Henry, Sollberger, Marc et al.·Heliyon·2024

This Swiss study surveyed 169 ME/CFS patients to understand how the disease affects their mental health and well-being. The researchers found that most patients experience significant emotional challenges, including sadness, hopelessness, and concerning rates of suicidal thoughts, often because others don't believe or understand their illness. The study shows that ME/CFS creates serious mental health burdens beyond just physical symptoms, and patients urgently need better medical, psychological, and social support.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Frequency and characteristics of chronic fatigue syndrome in multiple sclerosis patients at a university hospital in Eastern Saudi Arabia.

AlAmri, Abdullah S, AlShamrani, Foziah J, AlMohish, Noor M et al.·Journal of family & community medicine·2024

This study looked at fatigue in 225 people with multiple sclerosis (MS) to see how many also had chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). About half of the MS patients experienced long-lasting fatigue lasting over 6 months. Researchers found that 7% of patients truly met the medical criteria for CFS, while 17% believed they had CFS but didn't meet the official diagnostic standards, suggesting confusion about what CFS actually is.

Diagnostics

E2 ModeratePEM unclearRegistry-Resource

Clinical and Diagnostic Features of Post-Acute COVID-19 Vaccination Syndrome (PACVS).

Mundorf, Anna Katharina, Semmler, Amelie, Heidecke, Harald et al.·Vaccines·2024

This study looked at 191 people who developed long-term illness after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, a rare condition affecting about 2 in 10,000 vaccinated people. The most common symptoms were extreme tiredness and overall malaise (affecting over 80%), along with problems like nerve pain, heart issues, and cognitive difficulties. The researchers found that many of these patients meet the criteria for ME/CFS, though some appear to have a different condition entirely.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Plasma Neurofilament Light Chain: A Potential Biomarker for Neurological Dysfunction in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Azcue, Naiara, Tijero-Merino, Beatriz, Acera, Marian et al.·Biomedicines·2024

Researchers measured a protein called neurofilament light chain (NfL) in the blood of ME/CFS patients and healthy people. They found that ME/CFS patients had higher levels of this protein, which suggests nerve damage in the brain and nervous system. The patients with higher NfL levels also had more problems with memory, thinking clearly, and with their autonomic nervous system (the part that controls heart rate and other automatic body functions).

Autonomic Nervous SystemCognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

[Systems thinking, subjective findings and diagnostic "pigeonholing" in ME/CFS: A mainly qualitative public health study from a patient perspective].

Habermann-Horstmeier, Lotte, Horstmeier, Lukas Maximilian·Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift (1946)·2024

This German study asked 544 ME/CFS patients about their experiences getting diagnosed and working with doctors. Patients reported that many doctors don't recognize ME/CFS as a real disease, instead dismissing it as purely psychological. The study found that poor diagnosis experiences and lack of doctor recognition of ME/CFS as a biological multisystem illness significantly damage the relationship between patients and their healthcare providers.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Association of circulating biomarkers with illness severity measures differentiates myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and post-COVID-19 condition: a prospective pilot cohort study.

Domingo, Joan Carles, Battistini, Federica, Cordobilla, Begoña et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2024

This study compared blood markers and body responses between people with ME/CFS, people with long COVID, and healthy controls. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS had distinct patterns of inflammation and blood vessel dysfunction compared to long COVID patients, suggesting these are different conditions with different underlying problems. By measuring specific proteins in the blood and testing how the body responds to positional changes, researchers could tell the two patient groups apart.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

[What Medical Specialties do ME/CFS Sufferers Consult? A Public Health Study on the need for Better Medical Education and Training].

Habermann-Horstmeier, Lotte, Horstmeier, Lukas Maximilian·Gesundheitswesen (Bundesverband der Arzte des Offentlichen Gesundheitsdienstes (Germany))·2024

This German study surveyed 674 ME/CFS patients to understand how they navigate the healthcare system and how long diagnosis takes. Patients saw an average of 6-15 different doctors from various specialties before getting diagnosed, with the diagnostic journey taking up to 10 years for most people. The study found that doctors often refer patients around based on individual symptoms rather than recognizing ME/CFS as a whole condition, highlighting the urgent need for better training about ME/CFS across all medical fields.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

A pilot cross-sectional investigation of symptom clusters and associations with patient-reported outcomes in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Post COVID-19 Condition.

Weigel, Breanna, Eaton-Fitch, Natalie, Thapaliya, Kiran et al.·Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation·2024

This study compared people with ME/CFS and people with Long COVID to understand how their symptoms affect quality of life and daily functioning. Researchers found that both groups experience similar symptom patterns, particularly autonomic symptoms like breathing problems, which have the biggest impact on wellbeing. The findings suggest that Long COVID and ME/CFS may be closely related conditions, and that some people recovering from COVID-19 may develop ME/CFS-like illness over time.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredLongitudinal

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome After SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Unger, Elizabeth R, Lin, Jin-Mann S, Wisk, Lauren E et al.·JAMA network open·2024

This study followed over 4,300 people for up to 12 months to see whether COVID-19 infection caused ME/CFS-like symptoms. Researchers found that about 3-4% of people reported ME/CFS-like symptoms after their acute illness, but this rate was similar whether they had tested positive or negative for COVID-19. The results suggest that while some people do develop long-lasting symptoms after illness, COVID-19 may not be uniquely causing ME/CFS more often than other infections.

DiagnosticsLong COVID Overlap

E2 ModeratePEM unclearRegistry-Resource

Longterm course of neuropsychological symptoms and ME/CFS after SARS-CoV-2-infection: a prospective registry study.

Reuken, P A, Besteher, B, Finke, K et al.·European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience·2024

This study followed over 1,000 people who had long-lasting symptoms after COVID-19 infection. Researchers found that about 31% of patients met the diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS at their first visit, but this dropped to 19% at a second visit months later. While patients reported feeling less fatigued and having fewer concentration problems over time, many continued to experience long-lasting symptoms that significantly affected their daily lives.

Cognitive ImpairmentLong COVID Overlap

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Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

Prevalence and determinants of post-acute sequelae after SARS-CoV-2 infection (Long COVID) among adults in Mexico during 2022: a retrospective analysis of nationally representative data.

Evidence of aberrant anti-epstein-barr virus antibody response, though no viral reactivation, in people with post-stroke fatigue.

Functional and Morphological Differences of Muscle Mitochondria in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Post-COVID Syndrome.

Practical Recommendations for Exercise Training in Patients with Long COVID with or without Post-exertional Malaise: A Best Practice Proposal.

Association between fatigue, peripheral serotonin, and L-carnitine in hypothyroidism and in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Optimizing Exclusion Criteria for Clinical Trials of Persistent Lyme Disease Using Real-World Data.

IgG Antibody Responses to Epstein-Barr Virus in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Their Effective Potential for Disease Diagnosis and Pathological Antigenic Mimicry.

The influence of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) family history on patients with ME/CFS.

Development and Validation of the Short Form (JAEN-10) of the Joint Assessment of Equilibrium and Neuromotor Status Scale (JAEN-20).

Longitudinal Course of Physical and Psychosocial Impairment in Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder and Personality-Disordered Comparison Subjects: Description and Prediction.

Identifying the mental health burden in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) patients in Switzerland: A pilot study.

Frequency and characteristics of chronic fatigue syndrome in multiple sclerosis patients at a university hospital in Eastern Saudi Arabia.

Clinical and Diagnostic Features of Post-Acute COVID-19 Vaccination Syndrome (PACVS).

Plasma Neurofilament Light Chain: A Potential Biomarker for Neurological Dysfunction in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

[Systems thinking, subjective findings and diagnostic "pigeonholing" in ME/CFS: A mainly qualitative public health study from a patient perspective].

Association of circulating biomarkers with illness severity measures differentiates myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and post-COVID-19 condition: a prospective pilot cohort study.

[What Medical Specialties do ME/CFS Sufferers Consult? A Public Health Study on the need for Better Medical Education and Training].

A pilot cross-sectional investigation of symptom clusters and associations with patient-reported outcomes in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Post COVID-19 Condition.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome After SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Longterm course of neuropsychological symptoms and ME/CFS after SARS-CoV-2-infection: a prospective registry study.

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