ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

1521–1540 of 6,157 studies

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

Impact of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) on the quality of life of people with ME/CFS and their partners and family members: an online cross-sectional survey.

Vyas, Jui, Muirhead, Nina, Singh, Ravinder et al.·BMJ open·2022

This large international study surveyed 1,418 people with ME/CFS and their family members to understand how the illness affects quality of life for both patients and loved ones. People with ME/CFS reported very low health status (averaging 34 out of 100) with major difficulties in daily activities, pain, and movement, while their family members experienced significant emotional distress including worry, frustration, and sadness, plus practical impacts on family life and finances. The study found that the worse a patient's quality of life is, the worse their family member's quality of life tends to be as well.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Post-COVID Syndrome: A Common Neuroimmune Ground?

Ryabkova, Varvara A, Gavrilova, Natalia Y, Fedotkina, Tamara V et al.·Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)·2022

This Russian study looked at 56 people with ME/CFS and 14 people with post-COVID syndrome to understand how their bodies function differently. The researchers found that both groups had similar patterns of immune system problems, heart rate changes when standing up, and reduced blood flow in small vessels. Importantly, fatigue severity was linked to many other ME/CFS symptoms but not to anxiety or depression.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

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 unclearObservational

Epipharyngeal Abrasive Therapy (EAT) Has Potential as a Novel Method for Long COVID Treatment.

Imai, Kazuaki, Yamano, Takafumi, Nishi, Soichiro et al.·Viruses·2022

This study tested a Japanese treatment called epipharyngeal abrasive therapy (EAT) on 58 long COVID patients. The treatment involves applying zinc chloride to the back of the throat to reduce inflammation. Patients received weekly treatments for one month, and three common symptoms—fatigue, headaches, and difficulty concentrating—improved significantly after treatment.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateMechanismPEM requiredObservational

Plasma metabolomics reveals disrupted response and recovery following maximal exercise in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Germain, Arnaud, Giloteaux, Ludovic, Moore, Geoffrey E et al.·JCI insight·2022

Researchers studied 60 ME/CFS patients and 45 healthy people by measuring thousands of chemical substances in their blood before and after intense exercise tests done 24 hours apart. They found that ME/CFS patients had very different chemical patterns in their blood, especially after exercise and during the 24-hour recovery period, suggesting their bodies struggle to respond to and recover from physical exertion in ways that may explain post-exertional malaise (the worsening of symptoms after activity).

Energy MetabolismPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Alteration of Cortical Volume and Thickness in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Thapaliya, Kiran, Marshall-Gradisnik, Sonya, Staines, Donald et al.·Frontiers in neuroscience·2022

Researchers used brain imaging to compare the brains of people with ME/CFS to healthy people. They found that people with ME/CFS had some areas of the brain that were thinner and other areas that were larger, particularly in regions involved in thinking and emotion. These brain differences were also connected to how severe symptoms like fatigue, sleep problems, and cognitive difficulties were in each person.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Vaccine Vigilance System: Considerations on the Effectiveness of Vigilance Data Use in COVID-19 Vaccination.

Araja, Diana, Krumina, Angelika, Nora-Krukle, Zaiga et al.·Vaccines·2022

Researchers analyzed publicly available European vaccine safety reports to see which health problems were most commonly reported after COVID-19 vaccination. They found that the most frequently reported issues involved general symptoms (like injection site reactions and fever), nervous system problems (like headaches), and muscle/joint pain. The study notes that while ME/CFS wasn't specifically tracked in the database, reports of chronic fatigue syndrome were present and could be studied.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Small-Fiber Polyneuropathy Is Prevalent in Patients With Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome.

Wolff, Dylan T, Xu, Raymond, Overholt, Tyler et al.·Urogynecology (Philadelphia, Pa.)·2022

Researchers found that about one-third of people with bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) have small-fiber polyneuropathy (SFPN), a condition where tiny nerves in the skin are damaged or reduced. Notably, people with SFPN were significantly more likely to also have chronic fatigue syndrome (31% vs 10.6%). This suggests these two painful conditions may share a common nerve-related mechanism.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredObservational

A prospective observational study of post-COVID-19 chronic fatigue syndrome following the first pandemic wave in Germany and biomarkers associated with symptom severity.

Kedor, Claudia, Freitag, Helma, Meyer-Arndt, Lil et al.·Nature communications·2022

This study followed 42 people with long-lasting fatigue after COVID-19 infection for six months and compared them to people with similar chronic fatigue from other causes. Most participants experienced moderate to severe fatigue that interfered with daily life. The researchers found that many of these post-COVID patients had reduced hand grip strength and blood markers suggesting possible inflammation and poor blood flow, which may help explain why their bodies struggle to recover.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

A comparative study of valaciclovir, valganciclovir, and artesunate efficacy in reactivated HHV-6 and HHV-7 infections associated with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Maltsev, Dmitry·Microbiology and immunology·2022

This study tested three antiviral medications in ME/CFS patients who had reactivated herpesvirus infections (HHV-6 and HHV-7). Over three months, the drug artesunate was more effective at clearing the virus from the blood than two other antivirals (valaciclovir and valganciclovir). By the third month, artesunate cleared the virus in about 68% of HHV-6 cases and 63% of HHV-7 cases, compared to 37% and 34% with valaciclovir.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Pain Burden in Post-COVID-19 Syndrome following Mild COVID-19 Infection.

Bileviciute-Ljungar, Indre, Norrefalk, Jan-Rickard, Borg, Kristian·Journal of clinical medicine·2022

This study looked at 100 people who had mild COVID-19 but developed long-lasting symptoms afterward. Researchers asked about their pain, fatigue, sleep problems, and quality of life. Three-quarters of the participants reported widespread pain in various parts of their body, and many showed signs of fibromyalgia. The study found that pain is a major problem for people with long COVID and needs better treatment.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

The Relationship between Physical Activity and Long COVID: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Wright, Jack, Astill, Sarah L, Sivan, Manoj·International journal of environmental research and public health·2022

This study asked 477 people with Long COVID about their physical activity levels before and after illness, and how exercise affected their symptoms. Participants were much less active after getting Long COVID and needed more help with daily tasks. Most people (about 75%) reported that physical activity made their symptoms worse, while only about 1% said it improved them.

Post-Exertional Malaise

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 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 requiredObservational

Predictors of Long COVID in Patients without Comorbidities: Data from the Polish Long-COVID Cardiovascular (PoLoCOV-CVD) Study.

Chudzik, Michał, Lewek, Joanna, Kapusta, Joanna et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2022

This study followed 488 people without serious health conditions after they recovered from COVID-19 to see who developed Long COVID symptoms. Researchers found that people who had a severe acute COVID-19 illness, higher body weight, and joint pain during their initial infection were more likely to develop Long COVID. About 45% of those who developed Long COVID had symptoms that persisted beyond the follow-up period.

Long COVID Overlap

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Endothelial dysfunction and altered endothelial biomarkers in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Haffke, Milan, Freitag, Helma, Rudolf, Gordon et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2022

This study looked at whether blood vessel function is damaged in people with long COVID and ME/CFS. Researchers tested blood vessel function and measured specific proteins in the blood that reflect endothelial (blood vessel lining) health. They found that some patients with both conditions showed signs of blood vessel dysfunction, and had abnormal levels of certain proteins compared to healthy people.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Volumetric differences in hippocampal subfields and associations with clinical measures in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Thapaliya, Kiran, Staines, Donald, Marshall-Gradisnik, Sonya et al.·Journal of neuroscience research·2022

Researchers used brain imaging to examine a part of the brain called the hippocampus, which is important for memory and thinking. They found that people with ME/CFS who met stricter diagnostic criteria had some structural differences in specific regions of their hippocampus compared to healthy people, and these differences were connected to how severe their fatigue and pain were. This finding supports the idea that ME/CFS involves real physical changes in the brain that may explain memory and cognitive problems patients experience.

Cognitive Impairment

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 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.

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

Impact of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) on the quality of life of people with ME/CFS and their partners and family members: an online cross-sectional survey.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Post-COVID Syndrome: A Common Neuroimmune Ground?

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

Epipharyngeal Abrasive Therapy (EAT) Has Potential as a Novel Method for Long COVID Treatment.

Plasma metabolomics reveals disrupted response and recovery following maximal exercise in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Alteration of Cortical Volume and Thickness in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Vaccine Vigilance System: Considerations on the Effectiveness of Vigilance Data Use in COVID-19 Vaccination.

Small-Fiber Polyneuropathy Is Prevalent in Patients With Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome.

A prospective observational study of post-COVID-19 chronic fatigue syndrome following the first pandemic wave in Germany and biomarkers associated with symptom severity.

A comparative study of valaciclovir, valganciclovir, and artesunate efficacy in reactivated HHV-6 and HHV-7 infections associated with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Pain Burden in Post-COVID-19 Syndrome following Mild COVID-19 Infection.

The Relationship between Physical Activity and Long COVID: A Cross-Sectional Study.

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

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

Predictors of Long COVID in Patients without Comorbidities: Data from the Polish Long-COVID Cardiovascular (PoLoCOV-CVD) Study.

Endothelial dysfunction and altered endothelial biomarkers in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Volumetric differences in hippocampal subfields and associations with clinical measures in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

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

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

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