ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

1481–1500 of 6,157 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Pre-illness data reveals differences in multiple metabolites and metabolic pathways in those who do and do not recover from infectious mononucleosis.

Jason, Leonard A, Conroy, Karl E, Furst, Jacob et al.·Molecular omics·2022

This study looked at blood samples taken from college students before they got sick to see if certain chemical markers could predict who would recover from mononucleosis and who would develop ME/CFS instead. Researchers found that people who later developed ME/CFS had different levels of certain chemicals in their blood before they even got sick, particularly those involved in energy production and immune function. Using a computer model based on these chemical differences, they could correctly predict with 97% accuracy which people would recover and which would develop ME/CFS.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

How mycobacterium tuberculosis infection could lead to the increasing risks of chronic fatigue syndrome and the potential immunological effects: a population-based retrospective cohort study.

Yang, Tse-Yen, Lin, Cheng-Li, Yao, Wei-Cheng et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2022

This study found that people who have had a tuberculosis infection are about 23% more likely to develop ME/CFS than people who have never had tuberculosis. Researchers in Taiwan tracked over 38,000 people for about 10 years and noticed that tuberculosis and ME/CFS share similar symptoms and immune system patterns. The link was especially strong in men and in people aged 65 and older.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearObservational

Graded exercise therapy for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome in secondary care - a benchmarking study.

Smakowski, Abigail, Adamson, James, Turner, Tracey et al.·Disability and rehabilitation·2022

This study looked at how graded exercise therapy (gradually increasing physical activity) helped ME/CFS patients who were treated at a specialist clinic in London. Researchers tracked patients' fatigue levels, physical ability, and ability to work and socialize over the course of treatment. The results showed that patients improved significantly, with fatigue decreasing and daily functioning improving by the end of treatment.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Survey of Anti-Pathogen Antibody Levels in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

O'Neal, Adam J, Glass, Katherine A, Emig, Christopher J et al.·Proteomes·2022

Researchers tested blood samples from ME/CFS patients to look for antibodies against 122 different germs that might trigger the illness. They compared the results to healthy people of similar age, sex, and weight. While they found differences in how men and women with ME/CFS respond to infections, they couldn't identify one specific germ as the culprit.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Brain fog of post-COVID-19 condition and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, same medical disorder?

Azcue, N, Gómez-Esteban, J C, Acera, M et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2022

This study compared brain fog and fatigue symptoms in people with ME/CFS and those recovering from COVID-19 to see if they might be the same condition triggered by different causes. Both groups showed similar problems with fatigue, sleep, and muscle pain, but people with ME/CFS had more severe cognitive difficulties like trouble concentrating and processing information. Interestingly, loss of smell that lasted a long time in COVID-19 patients appeared connected to their cognitive problems.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredObservational

Factors Influencing the Prognosis of Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Ghali, Alaa, Lacout, Carole, Fortrat, Jacques-Olivier et al.·Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)·2022

This study looked at 168 ME/CFS patients to understand what factors help people recover or significantly improve. The research found that only about 13% of patients experienced recovery or substantial improvement over time. Interestingly, patients who were older when they first got sick were more likely to improve, and people who received a diagnosis sooner (without long delays) also had better outcomes. The study confirms that ME/CFS is generally a serious condition with poor prognosis, but suggests that improvement is possible at any age.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Anti-Correlated Myelin-Sensitive MRI Levels in Humans Consistent with a Subcortical to Sensorimotor Regulatory Process-Multi-Cohort Multi-Modal Evidence.

Barnden, Leighton, Crouch, Benjamin, Kwiatek, Richard et al.·Brain sciences·2022

This study looked at brain scans from people with ME/CFS and healthy people to understand how the brain protects and maintains nerve fibers (myelin). Researchers found that healthy people show a balancing pattern: when one part of the brain has less myelin coverage, another part compensates by having more. The study suggests this balance may be disrupted in ME/CFS, which could contribute to symptom severity.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM required

Causal attributions and perceived stigma for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Froehlich, Laura, Hattesohl, Daniel Br, Cotler, Joseph et al.·Journal of health psychology·2022

This study looked at how ME/CFS patients are affected by what others think about their illness. Researchers found that when people believe others think ME/CFS is something the patient can control (like a psychological problem rather than a real disease), it increases feelings of shame and stigma. These negative feelings then lead to worse health outcomes and less satisfaction with daily activities.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not required

Risk factors for suicide in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Johnson, Madeline L, Cotler, Joseph, Terman, Julia M et al.·Death studies·2022

This study looked at 64 people with ME/CFS to understand why some experience suicidal thoughts, with 17 having died by suicide. Researchers found that people who identified as having CFS (rather than ME), those with severe functional limitations, and those without other medical conditions were at higher risk. The study suggests that stigma around the illness and difficulty accessing care and support may contribute to these serious mental health risks.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Exposure-response relationship between K. brevis blooms and reporting of upper respiratory and neurotoxin-associated symptoms.

Abdullah, L, Ferguson, S, Niedospial, D et al.·Harmful algae·2022

Researchers studied whether harmful algal blooms caused by Karenia brevis (a type of seaweed) in Florida's Gulf waters trigger respiratory symptoms, headaches, and nerve-related illness symptoms in people living nearby. They surveyed 258 residents in five coastal counties and found a clear link: when blooms were stronger, more people reported these symptoms. People with previous diagnoses of migraines, chronic fatigue syndrome, or memory problems were more likely to report these symptoms during blooms.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

The Impact of COVID Vaccination on Symptoms of Long COVID: An International Survey of People with Lived Experience of Long COVID.

Strain, William David, Sherwood, Ondine, Banerjee, Amitava et al.·Vaccines·2022

This survey asked 812 people with long COVID about how COVID-19 vaccination affected their symptoms. Overall, 58% reported feeling better after vaccination, 18% felt worse, and the rest noticed no change. People who received mRNA vaccines (like Pfizer and Moderna) tended to see more improvement than those who received other types of vaccines. However, responses varied greatly from person to person.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

No difference in serum levels of B-cell activating receptor and antibodies against cytolethal distending toxin B and flagellin in post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome after Giardia infection.

Hanevik, Kurt, Saghaug, Christina, Aaland, Maren et al.·JGH open : an open access journal of gastroenterology and hepatology·2022

This study looked for three potential biological markers (BAFF, anti-CdtB, and anti-flagellin antibodies) in the blood of people who developed ME/CFS and/or IBS after a Giardia infection. Researchers compared these markers in patients to healthy controls but found no significant differences between the groups. The findings suggest these three markers are not useful for diagnosing ME/CFS or IBS.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Revisiting IgG Antibody Reactivity to Epstein-Barr Virus in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Its Potential Application to Disease Diagnosis.

Sepúlveda, Nuno, Malato, João, Sotzny, Franziska et al.·Frontiers in medicine·2022

This study looked at antibody responses to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a common virus linked to ME/CFS onset in some patients. Researchers analyzed blood samples from 92 ME/CFS patients and 50 healthy people, testing reactions to over 3,000 EBV proteins. They found that in patients whose ME/CFS started after a suspected EBV infection, two specific viral proteins triggered stronger antibody responses than in healthy controls. These antibody patterns could correctly identify about 83% of infected patients and 72% of healthy people, suggesting they might become useful diagnostic markers.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Genetic risk factors for ME/CFS identified using combinatorial analysis.

Das, Sayoni, Taylor, Krystyna, Kozubek, James et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2022

Researchers identified 199 genetic variations in 14 genes that are associated with ME/CFS by analyzing genetic data from thousands of people in UK Biobank. These genetic variations work together in groups to influence ME/CFS risk and were found in 91% of people with ME/CFS in the study. The identified genes are involved in processes the body uses to handle stress, infection, energy production in cells, sleep, and immune function—all areas that scientists think may go wrong in ME/CFS.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Orthostatic Challenge Causes Distinctive Symptomatic, Hemodynamic and Cognitive Responses in Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Vernon, Suzanne D, Funk, Sherlyn, Bateman, Lucinda et al.·Frontiers in medicine·2022

Researchers tested whether a simple 10-minute standing test (NASA Lean Test) could reveal problems in people with Long COVID and ME/CFS. The test made symptoms worse in both patient groups but not in healthy people, and caused measurable changes in blood pressure and thinking speed. This suggests the test could help doctors confirm what patients are experiencing and provide objective evidence of their condition.

Autonomic Nervous SystemDiagnosticsCognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Dysregulated autoantibodies targeting vaso- and immunoregulatory receptors in Post COVID Syndrome correlate with symptom severity.

Sotzny, Franziska, Filgueiras, Igor Salerno, Kedor, Claudia et al.·Frontiers in immunology·2022

This study looked at whether certain antibodies in the blood—proteins the immune system makes that sometimes attack the body's own tissues—might explain why some people with long COVID develop ME/CFS symptoms like severe fatigue and blood flow problems. Researchers compared antibody levels in 80 patients with long COVID (40 with ME/CFS) against healthy people and found that patients had different patterns of these antibodies, particularly ones affecting blood vessels and the nervous system. The severity of fatigue and blood pressure/temperature regulation problems seemed connected to lower levels of a specific antibody (ADRB2), suggesting the immune system's dysregulation may play a role in these symptoms.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

The Presentation of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Is Not Influenced by the Presence or Absence of Joint Hypermobility.

Vogel, Sarah K, Primavera, Isabelle R, Marden, Colleen L et al.·The Journal of pediatrics·2022

This study looked at whether people with ME/CFS who have unusually flexible joints (joint hypermobility) experience the illness differently than those without this feature. Researchers compared 55 patients and found no meaningful differences between the two groups in terms of when symptoms started, how severe they were, or how much the condition affected their daily lives. Even though joint hypermobility may increase the risk of developing ME/CFS, having it does not appear to change how the illness presents or progresses.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Psychogenic Pseudosyncope: Real or Imaginary? Results from a Case-Control Study in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Patients.

van Campen, C Linda M C, Visser, Frans C·Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)·2022

Some ME/CFS patients experience frequent fainting or near-fainting spells and have been told these are psychological in origin. This study compared brain blood flow in ME/CFS patients with these spells to ME/CFS patients without them during a tilt test (where you're gradually tilted upright). The group with fainting spells showed a much larger drop in blood flow to the brain, suggesting their symptoms have a physical cause rather than a psychiatric one.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Separating Patients with SEID from Those with CFS in the French ME/CFS Association, with Some Thoughts on Nomenclature.

Campagne, Julien, Fornasieri, Isabelle, Andreani, Barbara et al.·Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)·2022

Researchers surveyed French ME/CFS patients to see how many met the newer diagnostic criteria called SEID (Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease), proposed in 2015. They found that about 84% of patients in the survey met SEID criteria, and certain symptoms like unrefreshing sleep, brain fog, and problems with blood pressure changes were especially useful for identifying SEID patients. However, most patients didn't strongly prefer the new SEID name over ME/CFS, suggesting the medical community should work with patients to find better terminology.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearCross-Sectional

A description of the current status of chronic fatigue syndrome and associated factors among university students in Wuhan, China.

Luo, Lunbing, Zhang, Yutong, Huang, Tao et al.·Frontiers in psychiatry·2022

This study surveyed over 1,800 university students in Wuhan, China to understand how common ME/CFS is and what factors might contribute to it. Researchers found that about 6 in 100 students had ME/CFS, and identified several factors linked to the condition: pulling all-nighters, overeating, anxiety, and poor sleep quality increased risk, while being actively engaged in learning appeared protective. The study highlights that lifestyle and mental health factors may play important roles in ME/CFS among young adults.

Sleep

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Evidence browser

Pre-illness data reveals differences in multiple metabolites and metabolic pathways in those who do and do not recover from infectious mononucleosis.

How mycobacterium tuberculosis infection could lead to the increasing risks of chronic fatigue syndrome and the potential immunological effects: a population-based retrospective cohort study.

Graded exercise therapy for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome in secondary care - a benchmarking study.

Survey of Anti-Pathogen Antibody Levels in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Brain fog of post-COVID-19 condition and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, same medical disorder?

Factors Influencing the Prognosis of Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Anti-Correlated Myelin-Sensitive MRI Levels in Humans Consistent with a Subcortical to Sensorimotor Regulatory Process-Multi-Cohort Multi-Modal Evidence.

Causal attributions and perceived stigma for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Risk factors for suicide in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Exposure-response relationship between K. brevis blooms and reporting of upper respiratory and neurotoxin-associated symptoms.

The Impact of COVID Vaccination on Symptoms of Long COVID: An International Survey of People with Lived Experience of Long COVID.

No difference in serum levels of B-cell activating receptor and antibodies against cytolethal distending toxin B and flagellin in post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome after Giardia infection.

Revisiting IgG Antibody Reactivity to Epstein-Barr Virus in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Its Potential Application to Disease Diagnosis.

Genetic risk factors for ME/CFS identified using combinatorial analysis.

Orthostatic Challenge Causes Distinctive Symptomatic, Hemodynamic and Cognitive Responses in Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Dysregulated autoantibodies targeting vaso- and immunoregulatory receptors in Post COVID Syndrome correlate with symptom severity.

The Presentation of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Is Not Influenced by the Presence or Absence of Joint Hypermobility.

Psychogenic Pseudosyncope: Real or Imaginary? Results from a Case-Control Study in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Patients.

Separating Patients with SEID from Those with CFS in the French ME/CFS Association, with Some Thoughts on Nomenclature.

A description of the current status of chronic fatigue syndrome and associated factors among university students in Wuhan, China.

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