ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

141–160 of 280 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Multimodal and simultaneous assessments of brain and spinal fluid abnormalities in chronic fatigue syndrome and the effects of psychiatric comorbidity.

Natelson, Benjamin H, Mao, Xiangling, Stegner, Aaron J et al.·Journal of the neurological sciences·2017

This study compared brain and spinal fluid measurements in people with ME/CFS and healthy controls to understand what physical changes occur in the condition. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients had lower levels of a protective brain chemical (glutathione), reduced blood flow to the brain, higher levels of lactate (a sign of energy problems), and more abnormalities in spinal fluid compared to healthy people. Importantly, these differences were the same whether or not ME/CFS patients also had depression or anxiety, suggesting psychiatric conditions are not making the disease worse.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Metabolic profiling of a myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome discovery cohort reveals disturbances in fatty acid and lipid metabolism.

Germain, Arnaud, Ruppert, David, Levine, Susan M et al.·Molecular bioSystems·2017

This study examined the chemicals in the blood of 17 ME/CFS patients and compared them to 15 healthy people. Researchers found 74 different chemicals at abnormal levels in ME/CFS patients, with 35 showing significant differences. Many of these chemicals are important for producing energy in the body, which could help explain why ME/CFS patients feel so exhausted.

BiomarkersEnergy Metabolism

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Elevated brain natriuretic peptide levels in chronic fatigue syndrome associate with cardiac dysfunction: a case control study.

Tomas, Cara, Finkelmeyer, Andreas, Hodgson, Tim et al.·Open heart·2017

This study found that people with ME/CFS have higher levels of a hormone called BNP (brain natriuretic peptide) in their blood compared to healthy people without the condition. Interestingly, those with higher BNP levels had smaller heart chambers, which suggests their hearts may be working differently in ME/CFS. The researchers believe this finding is related to the condition itself, not simply from being inactive.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

A potential biomarker for fatigue: Oxidative stress and anti-oxidative activity.

Fukuda, Sanae, Nojima, Junzo, Motoki, Yukari et al.·Biological psychology·2016

This study looked at whether certain markers of cellular damage from harmful molecules (oxidative stress) and the body's ability to repair that damage (antioxidant capacity) could be used to identify ME/CFS patients and measure their fatigue levels. Researchers compared these markers in ME/CFS patients at rest versus healthy people during and after exercise, finding that ME/CFS patients had a different pattern of these markers compared to healthy controls.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Reductions in circulating levels of IL-16, IL-7 and VEGF-A in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Landi, Abdolamir, Broadhurst, David, Vernon, Suzanne D et al.·Cytokine·2016

Researchers measured 34 different immune system proteins in blood samples from 100 ME/CFS patients and 79 healthy controls. They found that three specific immune proteins—IL-16, IL-7, and VEGF-A—were significantly lower in ME/CFS patients. This pattern was different from what is seen in other chronic diseases with similar fatigue symptoms, suggesting it may be unique to ME/CFS.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Gene Expression Factor Analysis to Differentiate Pathways Linked to Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Depression in a Diverse Patient Sample.

Iacob, Eli, Light, Alan R, Donaldson, Gary W et al.·Arthritis care & research·2016

Researchers studied blood cell genes from 261 people—including those with ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, depression, and healthy controls—to see if certain genes work together in patterns tied to these conditions. They found four distinct gene clusters, and two of these clusters showed opposite patterns in ME/CFS patients compared to those with depression, suggesting these conditions may involve different biological pathways even when they overlap.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Index markers of chronic fatigue syndrome with dysfunction of TCA and urea cycles.

Yamano, Emi, Sugimoto, Masahiro, Hirayama, Akiyoshi et al.·Scientific reports·2016

Researchers analyzed blood samples from ME/CFS patients and healthy people to look for chemical markers that could help diagnose the disease. They found that certain metabolites—molecules involved in energy production and waste removal—were abnormal in ME/CFS patients. Two specific chemical ratios in the blood showed promise as potential diagnostic tools, correctly identifying CFS patients about 75-80% of the time.

BiomarkersEnergy Metabolism

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Illness progression in chronic fatigue syndrome: a shifting immune baseline.

Russell, Lindsey, Broderick, Gordon, Taylor, Renee et al.·BMC immunology·2016

This study looked at three inflammatory proteins (IL-1α, IL-6, and IL-8) in the blood of people with ME/CFS at different stages of illness—newly diagnosed teenagers, people in the middle of their illness, and those who had been sick for over a decade. The researchers found that the pattern of these proteins changes as the illness progresses, suggesting that the body's immune response shifts over time. By adjusting for how long someone has been ill, doctors might be able to use these three proteins together to identify ME/CFS with 75-88% accuracy.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Tracking post-infectious fatigue in clinic using routine Lab tests.

Harvey, Jeanna M, Broderick, Gordon, Bowie, Alanna et al.·BMC pediatrics·2016

Researchers followed 301 teenagers who had infectious mononucleosis to see who would develop chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). They found that measuring common blood tests over 2 years—including stress hormones, sex hormones, and immune cell counts—might help doctors identify which patients are at risk and confirm the diagnosis. Only 4% of the teens developed CFS, but specific blood markers showed different patterns in those who did compared to those who recovered normally.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Antibodies to β adrenergic and muscarinic cholinergic receptors in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Loebel, Madlen, Grabowski, Patricia, Heidecke, Harald et al.·Brain, behavior, and immunity·2016

Researchers tested whether ME/CFS patients have unusually high levels of antibodies (immune proteins) that attack nerve signaling receptors in the body. They found that about 30% of ME/CFS patients had elevated antibodies against certain receptors involved in adrenaline and acetylcholine signaling—chemicals that control heart rate, breathing, and other automatic body functions. Importantly, patients who received rituximab (a treatment that depletes B cells) and improved showed decreases in these antibody levels, suggesting a possible link between these antibodies and disease activity.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCase-Control

Submaximal exercise testing with near-infrared spectroscopy in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients compared to healthy controls: a case-control study.

Miller, Ruth R, Reid, W Darlene, Mattman, Andre et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2015

This study tested whether a simple hand-squeezing exercise combined with a special infrared light tool could help identify ME/CFS in patients. Researchers compared 16 people with ME/CFS to 16 healthy people and measured how well oxygen was being used in their muscles during the test. People with ME/CFS showed different patterns of oxygen use and reported feeling more tired during the exercise, even though they were squeezing with less force.

BiomarkersPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearLongitudinal

Longitudinal analysis of immune abnormalities in varying severities of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis patients.

Hardcastle, Sharni Lee, Brenu, Ekua Weba, Johnston, Samantha et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2015

This study tracked immune system changes in 42 ME/CFS patients (divided into moderate and severe groups) and 18 healthy controls over 6 months. Researchers used blood tests to count different types of immune cells. They found that people with severe ME/CFS had noticeably different immune cell patterns than those with moderate ME/CFS or healthy controls, suggesting the immune system may work differently depending on how severe the illness is.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

A new case definition of Neuro-Inflammatory and Oxidative Fatigue (NIOF), a neuroprogressive disorder, formerly known as chronic fatigue syndrome or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: results of multivariate pattern recognition methods and external validation by neuro-immune biomarkers.

Maes, Michael·Neuro endocrinology letters·2015

This study looked at whether ME/CFS could be better understood by examining specific blood markers related to inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune activation. Researchers found two distinct groups of people with chronic fatigue—one group had significantly higher levels of problematic immune markers and inflammatory signs. The study proposes a new way to identify ME/CFS based on fatigue plus at least four of these symptoms: muscle tension, memory problems, sleep issues, digestive problems, headaches, or flu-like feelings.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Increased Vulnerability to Pattern-Related Visual Stress in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

Wilson, Rachel L, Paterson, Kevin B, Hutchinson, Claire V·Perception·2015

This study tested whether people with ME/CFS experience more visual discomfort when looking at certain patterns compared to healthy people. Forty participants (20 with ME/CFS and 20 without) viewed three different striped patterns and reported how distorted or uncomfortable they looked. People with ME/CFS reported significantly more visual distortion, especially when viewing medium-frequency patterns, suggesting their eyes and brains may process visual information differently.

Pain and SensitizationBiomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Cytokine expression provides clues to the pathophysiology of Gulf War illness and myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Khaiboullina, Svetlana F, DeMeirleir, Kenny L, Rawat, Shanti et al.·Cytokine·2015

This study looked at chemical messengers in the blood called cytokines to understand Gulf War illness (GWI) and ME/CFS better. Researchers found that certain cytokines could identify ME/CFS patients very well, but were less reliable for GWI patients. The findings suggest that while GWI and ME/CFS share many similar symptoms, they may have different underlying immune system problems.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Distinct plasma immune signatures in ME/CFS are present early in the course of illness.

Hornig, Mady, Montoya, José G, Klimas, Nancy G et al.·Science advances·2015

This study found that people with ME/CFS have distinctive patterns of immune system markers in their blood, but only early in the disease. Researchers compared blood samples from 52 people with early-stage ME/CFS to 348 healthy people and 246 people with long-standing ME/CFS. The early-stage group showed heightened immune activity that was not present in people who had been sick longer, suggesting the disease's immune profile changes over time.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Use of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to distinguish gene expression subtypes of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME).

Shimosako, Nana, Kerr, Jonathan R·Journal of clinical pathology·2014

This study looked at small variations in DNA (called SNPs) from people with ME/CFS to see if these genetic differences could help identify different subtypes of the condition. Researchers compared DNA from 108 ME/CFS patients with 17 people with depression and 68 healthy people. They found that certain genetic variations were more common in ME/CFS patients and that different combinations of these variations appeared to match different subtypes of the illness.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

The MAPP research network: design, patient characterization and operations.

Landis, J Richard, Williams, David A, Lucia, M Scott et al.·BMC urology·2014

The MAPP Research Network is a large study designed to understand chronic pelvic pain conditions and related illnesses like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and irritable bowel syndrome. Researchers followed over 1,000 patients at six sites across the United States, collecting detailed information about their symptoms, blood samples, and brain imaging to identify what causes these conditions and how they connect to each other.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Multiscale analysis of heart rate variability in non-stationary environments.

Gao, Jianbo, Gurbaxani, Brian M, Hu, Jing et al.·Frontiers in physiology·2013

This study looked at how the heart rate patterns of people with ME/CFS differ from healthy people, especially when they're under stress. Researchers used advanced computer methods to analyze heart rate data collected during a social stress test. They found that before the stress test, people with ME/CFS had noticeably different heart rate patterns than healthy controls, but these differences became smaller during the stress test itself.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Visible and near-infrared spectra collected from the thumbs of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome for diagnosis.

Sakudo, Akikazu, Kuratsune, Hirohiko, Kato, Yukiko Hakariya et al.·Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry·2012

Researchers used a special light-based scanner on patients' thumbs to see if they could tell the difference between people with ME/CFS and healthy people. The scanner detected subtle changes in how light passes through the skin in a specific wavelength range. When they analyzed the results using computer models, they were able to correctly identify about 70% of ME/CFS patients and 83% of healthy people, suggesting this method might someday help doctors diagnose ME/CFS more objectively.

Biomarkers

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Multimodal and simultaneous assessments of brain and spinal fluid abnormalities in chronic fatigue syndrome and the effects of psychiatric comorbidity.

Metabolic profiling of a myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome discovery cohort reveals disturbances in fatty acid and lipid metabolism.

Elevated brain natriuretic peptide levels in chronic fatigue syndrome associate with cardiac dysfunction: a case control study.

A potential biomarker for fatigue: Oxidative stress and anti-oxidative activity.

Reductions in circulating levels of IL-16, IL-7 and VEGF-A in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Gene Expression Factor Analysis to Differentiate Pathways Linked to Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Depression in a Diverse Patient Sample.

Index markers of chronic fatigue syndrome with dysfunction of TCA and urea cycles.

Illness progression in chronic fatigue syndrome: a shifting immune baseline.

Tracking post-infectious fatigue in clinic using routine Lab tests.

Antibodies to β adrenergic and muscarinic cholinergic receptors in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Submaximal exercise testing with near-infrared spectroscopy in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients compared to healthy controls: a case-control study.

Longitudinal analysis of immune abnormalities in varying severities of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis patients.

A new case definition of Neuro-Inflammatory and Oxidative Fatigue (NIOF), a neuroprogressive disorder, formerly known as chronic fatigue syndrome or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: results of multivariate pattern recognition methods and external validation by neuro-immune biomarkers.

Increased Vulnerability to Pattern-Related Visual Stress in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

Cytokine expression provides clues to the pathophysiology of Gulf War illness and myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Distinct plasma immune signatures in ME/CFS are present early in the course of illness.

Use of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to distinguish gene expression subtypes of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME).

The MAPP research network: design, patient characterization and operations.

Multiscale analysis of heart rate variability in non-stationary environments.

Visible and near-infrared spectra collected from the thumbs of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome for diagnosis.

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