ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

1401–1420 of 6,157 studies

Brainstem volume changes in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and long COVID patients.

Thapaliya, Kiran, Marshall-Gradisnik, Sonya, Barth, Markus et al.·Frontiers in neuroscience·2023

Researchers used advanced MRI scans to examine a part of the brain called the brainstem in patients with ME/CFS and long COVID, comparing them to healthy people. They found that both patient groups had larger volumes in certain brainstem areas compared to healthy controls. The size of specific brainstem regions also correlated with symptom severity, particularly pain and breathing difficulties.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Fatigue after COVID-19 in non-hospitalized patients according to sex.

Mazurkiewicz, Iwona, Chatys-Bogacka, Zaneta, Slowik, Joanna et al.·Brain and behavior·2023

This study looked at whether men and women experience post-COVID fatigue differently after a mild COVID-19 infection. Researchers asked 303 people (mostly women) about fatigue symptoms before COVID-19 and at different time points afterward. Women reported more persistent tiredness that didn't improve with rest, sleep problems, and sore throats compared to men, especially in the weeks right after infection.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Increased risk of chronic fatigue syndrome following infection: a 17-year population-based cohort study.

Chang, Hsun, Kuo, Chien-Feng, Yu, Teng-Shun et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2023

This large study from Taiwan tracked nearly 400,000 people over 17 years to see if getting an infection increased their chances of developing ME/CFS. Researchers found that people who had certain infections—including chickenpox, tuberculosis, flu, and common bacterial infections—were about 1.5 times more likely to develop ME/CFS compared to people without these infections. Interestingly, people who took certain antibiotics had lower rates of ME/CFS, suggesting that some infections may trigger ME/CFS in some people.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Major Depressive Disorder and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Show Characteristic Heart Rate Variability Profiles Reflecting Autonomic Dysregulations: Differentiation by Linear Discriminant Analysis.

Shinba, Toshikazu, Kuratsune, Daisuke, Shinba, Shuntaro et al.·Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)·2023

This study looked at heart rhythm patterns in people with ME/CFS and depression to see if these patterns could help doctors tell the two conditions apart. Researchers measured how heart rate changes during rest, mental tasks, and recovery in both groups. They found that while both conditions affect the heart's nervous system control, the patterns are different enough that a computer analysis could correctly identify which condition a person had about 92% of the time.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Serum GDF-15 Levels Accurately Differentiate Patients with Primary Mitochondrial Myopathy, Manifesting with Exercise Intolerance and Fatigue, from Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Bermejo-Guerrero, Laura, de Fuenmayor-Fernández de la Hoz, Carlos Pablo, Guerrero-Molina, María Paz et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2023

This study tested whether a blood marker called GDF-15 could help doctors tell the difference between ME/CFS and a rare condition called primary mitochondrial myopathy (PMM), which affects how cells produce energy. Both conditions cause fatigue and exercise intolerance that can look very similar, but PMM requires different treatment. The researchers found that GDF-15 levels were very good at distinguishing between these two conditions, which could help patients get the right diagnosis faster without needing extensive genetic testing or muscle biopsies.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Tryptophan catabolites, inflammation, and insulin resistance as determinants of chronic fatigue syndrome and affective symptoms in long COVID.

Al-Hakeim, Hussein Kadhem, Khairi Abed, Anwar, Rouf Moustafa, Shatha et al.·Frontiers in molecular neuroscience·2023

This study looked at 90 Long COVID patients and measured specific molecules in their blood related to how their body processes an amino acid called tryptophan. The researchers found that patients with the most severe Long COVID symptoms had low tryptophan levels and high levels of a related compound called kynurenine, along with markers of inflammation. These three measurements together explained about 40% of why patients had fatigue, pain, depression, and anxiety symptoms.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearLongitudinal

Predictors of impaired functioning among long COVID patients.

Jason, Leonard A, Dorri, Joseph A·Work (Reading, Mass.)·2023

This study followed Long COVID patients from their first two weeks of illness through about five months later to understand which early symptoms predict worse long-term outcomes. Researchers found that people who experienced problems with their autonomic nervous system (heart rate, blood pressure, temperature control) and stomach issues early on were more likely to have difficulty returning to work and family life. The same early symptoms were also linked to developing ME/CFS.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Recovery and symptom trajectories up to two years after SARS-CoV-2 infection: population based, longitudinal cohort study.

Ballouz, Tala, Menges, Dominik, Anagnostopoulos, Alexia et al.·BMJ (Clinical research ed.)·2023

This Swiss study followed over 1,100 people who had COVID-19 and compared them to people who never had the infection, tracking their recovery for two years. About 23% of infected people had not fully recovered by six months, and this number decreased only slightly to 17% by two years. Symptoms like loss of taste/smell, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, and post-exertional malaise (feeling worse after physical activity) were significantly more common in people who had COVID-19 compared to those who didn't.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Study on Sports, Extracurricular Activities, Electronic Device Usage Factors Associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Taiwanese Preschoolers.

Huang, Su-Fen, Duan, Hui-Ying·Children (Basel, Switzerland)·2023

This study looked at whether exercise, extracurricular activities, and screen time affect tiredness in young children in Taiwan. Researchers found that children who exercised regularly and varied their activities felt less tired, while children who used screens out of boredom or did too many after-school activities felt more tired. The findings suggest that balanced exercise and limited screen time may help reduce fatigue in preschoolers.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Pre-pandemic activity on a myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome support forum is highly associated with later activity on a long COVID support forum for a variety of reasons: A mixed methods study.

Meyerson, William U, Hoyle, Rick H·PloS one·2023

This study found that people with ME/CFS who were active on online support forums before the COVID-19 pandemic were much more likely to later join long COVID support forums than people from other health communities. By examining nearly 7,500 Reddit users, researchers discovered that previous ME/CFS forum activity was the strongest predictor of who would participate in long COVID communities. People shared that they joined both communities to find support from others with similar experiences and because they hoped long COVID's increased public attention might help validate ME/CFS as a real illness.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Exercise intolerance associated with impaired oxygen extraction in patients with long COVID.

Norweg, Anna, Yao, Lanqiu, Barbuto, Scott et al.·Respiratory physiology & neurobiology·2023

This study looked at why people with long COVID struggle with exercise. Researchers tested 59 patients using a standard exercise test and found that their bodies were not extracting and using oxygen efficiently during activity. The patients also showed an unusual heart rate response during exercise. These findings suggest that problems with how the body produces and uses energy may be a key reason why long COVID patients experience fatigue and feel worse after exertion.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Prolonged indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-2 activity and associated cellular stress in post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Guo, Lihui, Appelman, Brent, Mooij-Kalverda, Kirsten et al.·EBioMedicine·2023

This study found that people with long-COVID have persistent activity of an enzyme called IDO2 in their blood cells and brain tissue, months or years after initial infection. This enzyme breaks down tryptophan (an amino acid) into other compounds that may trigger cellular stress and energy problems. The researchers also discovered that blocking a specific receptor (called AHR) could stop this process in laboratory tests, suggesting a potential treatment target.

Energy MetabolismImmune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Low-dose naltrexone use for the management of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19.

Bonilla, Hector, Tian, Lu, Marconi, Vincent C et al.·International immunopharmacology·2023

This study looked at whether a medication called low-dose naltrexone (LDN) might help people with long COVID symptoms. Researchers reviewed 59 patients who took LDN and found that those who used it reported fewer overall symptoms, felt less fatigue and brain fog, experienced better sleep, and had improved ability to do daily activities. While these early results are encouraging, the study was not designed like a typical clinical trial, so more rigorous testing is needed to know if LDN truly works.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Poor health-related quality of life in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome in comparison with a sex- and age-matched normative population.

Seeley, Marie-Claire, Gallagher, Celine, Ong, Eric et al.·Clinical autonomic research : official journal of the Clinical Autonomic Research Society·2023

This study compared quality of life in people with POTS (a condition causing rapid heartbeat when standing) to people without POTS. Researchers found that people with POTS reported significantly worse quality of life across all areas tested, including mobility, self-care, daily activities, pain, and mood. The impact was consistent across all age groups, and was worse in people with severe symptoms, women, those with fatigue, and those who also had ME/CFS.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Subcortical and default mode network connectivity is impaired in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Inderyas, Maira, Thapaliya, Kiran, Marshall-Gradisnik, Sonya et al.·Frontiers in neuroscience·2023

This study used advanced brain imaging to compare how different brain regions communicate in people with ME/CFS versus healthy people. Researchers found that certain connections between the brainstem (the lower part of the brain) and cerebellum (involved in balance and coordination) are weakened in ME/CFS patients. These brain communication problems may help explain why people with ME/CFS experience fatigue, memory problems, and other symptoms.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Coenzyme Q10 + alpha lipoic acid for chronic COVID syndrome.

Barletta, Maria Angela, Marino, Gerardo, Spagnolo, Barbara et al.·Clinical and experimental medicine·2023

This study tested whether a combination of two supplements—coenzyme Q10 and alpha lipoic acid—could help people with chronic COVID syndrome who experience fatigue, muscle pain, and sleep problems. Researchers compared 116 people who took these supplements with 58 people who received no treatment. More than half of the people taking the supplements saw significant improvement in their fatigue, while only a small percentage of the untreated group improved.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Mood Symptoms and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Due to Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Are Associated with Immune Activation and Aberrations in the Erythron.

Almulla, Abbas F, Abdul Jaleel, Al-Karrar Kais, Abo Algon, Ali Abbas et al.·Brain sciences·2023

This study looked at 63 people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 30 healthy controls to understand why MS patients experience chronic fatigue, depression, and anxiety. Researchers found that about half of the MS patients had signs of immune system overactivation and problems with red blood cell levels. These immune and blood abnormalities were linked to their fatigue and mood symptoms.

Immune System

E2 ModerateDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Paediatric short fatigue questionnaire, a 4-item fatigue questionnaire for children.

Nap-van der Vlist, Merel M, Vroegindeweij, Anouk, Hoefnagels, Johanna W et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2023

Researchers created and tested a short 4-question fatigue questionnaire (pSFQ) designed specifically for teenagers ages 12-18 to quickly and accurately measure severe fatigue. They tested it on over 900 young people—both healthy teens and those with ME/CFS or other chronic illnesses—and found it works reliably and can identify severe fatigue with 94% accuracy while being 50% shorter than the original longer questionnaire.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Three-Month Symptom Profiles Among Symptomatic Adults With Positive and Negative Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Tests: A Prospective Cohort Study From the INSPIRE Group.

Spatz, Erica S, Gottlieb, Michael, Wisk, Lauren E et al.·Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·2023

This study followed adults who tested positive or negative for COVID-19 and tracked their symptoms over three months. At the three-month mark, people who had COVID-19 were much more likely to still have symptoms like fatigue, breathing problems, or muscle pain compared to those who tested negative. Importantly, symptoms of post-infectious syndromes (like unrefreshing sleep and fatigue) were common in both groups, suggesting these symptoms can occur even without COVID-19 infection.

Long COVID Overlap

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Characteristics of patients with panic disorder attended in primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional multicenter study.

Roca, Miquel, Villamor, Antonio Torres, Molinera, Vicente Gasull et al.·Atencion primaria·2023

This study looked at how often panic disorder occurs in people visiting primary care clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers found that about 5.3% of patients had panic disorder, with more cases in women. People with panic disorder were more likely to have money problems, high stress, and other conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome or irritable bowel syndrome.

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Brainstem volume changes in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and long COVID patients.

Fatigue after COVID-19 in non-hospitalized patients according to sex.

Increased risk of chronic fatigue syndrome following infection: a 17-year population-based cohort study.

Major Depressive Disorder and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Show Characteristic Heart Rate Variability Profiles Reflecting Autonomic Dysregulations: Differentiation by Linear Discriminant Analysis.

Serum GDF-15 Levels Accurately Differentiate Patients with Primary Mitochondrial Myopathy, Manifesting with Exercise Intolerance and Fatigue, from Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Tryptophan catabolites, inflammation, and insulin resistance as determinants of chronic fatigue syndrome and affective symptoms in long COVID.

Predictors of impaired functioning among long COVID patients.

Recovery and symptom trajectories up to two years after SARS-CoV-2 infection: population based, longitudinal cohort study.

Study on Sports, Extracurricular Activities, Electronic Device Usage Factors Associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Taiwanese Preschoolers.

Pre-pandemic activity on a myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome support forum is highly associated with later activity on a long COVID support forum for a variety of reasons: A mixed methods study.

Exercise intolerance associated with impaired oxygen extraction in patients with long COVID.

Prolonged indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-2 activity and associated cellular stress in post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Low-dose naltrexone use for the management of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19.

Poor health-related quality of life in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome in comparison with a sex- and age-matched normative population.

Subcortical and default mode network connectivity is impaired in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Coenzyme Q10 + alpha lipoic acid for chronic COVID syndrome.

Mood Symptoms and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Due to Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Are Associated with Immune Activation and Aberrations in the Erythron.

Paediatric short fatigue questionnaire, a 4-item fatigue questionnaire for children.

Three-Month Symptom Profiles Among Symptomatic Adults With Positive and Negative Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Tests: A Prospective Cohort Study From the INSPIRE Group.

Characteristics of patients with panic disorder attended in primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional multicenter study.

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