ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

1661–1680 of 6,209 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Limbic Perfusion Is Reduced in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Li, Xia, Julin, Per, Li, Tie-Qiang·Tomography (Ann Arbor, Mich.)·2021

Researchers used a specialized brain imaging technique to measure blood flow in the brains of ME/CFS patients and compared it to healthy people. They found that patients with ME/CFS have reduced blood flow in several areas of the limbic system—the part of the brain that helps control emotions, automatic body functions, and memory. The amount of reduced blood flow was also linked to how severe patients' symptoms were.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Patients with Persistent Polyclonal B-Cell Lymphocytosis Share the Symptomatic Criteria of Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease.

Morizot, Romain, de Korwin, Jean-Dominique, Feugier, Pierre et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2021

Researchers studied a rare blood condition called persistent polyclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (PPBL) and found that most patients with PPBL experience symptoms very similar to ME/CFS, including severe fatigue that doesn't improve with rest, worsening after physical activity, sleep problems, and difficulty thinking clearly. Out of 39 patients surveyed, 72% met the official criteria for ME/CFS, and nearly all reported chronic fatigue lasting more than 6 months. This finding suggests these two conditions may share common underlying features, though more research is needed to understand why.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModeratePEM not requiredRegistry-Resource

Sarcoidosis among US Hispanics in a Nationwide Registry.

Innabi, Ayoub, Alzghoul, Bashar N, Kalra, Saminder et al.·Respiratory medicine·2021

This study looked at how sarcoidosis (a disease that causes inflammation in the body) affects Hispanic patients in the United States compared to non-Hispanic patients. Researchers surveyed nearly 3,835 people and found that Hispanic patients with sarcoidosis experience more depression, chronic pain, sleep problems, and job loss than non-Hispanic patients. The findings suggest that doctors may need to approach treatment differently for Hispanic patients with this condition.

Pain and SensitizationSleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Autoantibodies to Vasoregulative G-Protein-Coupled Receptors Correlate with Symptom Severity, Autonomic Dysfunction and Disability in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Freitag, Helma, Szklarski, Marvin, Lorenz, Sebastian et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2021

This study examined whether certain antibodies in ME/CFS patients' blood relate to how severe their symptoms are. The researchers tested 116 ME/CFS patients for antibodies that target receptors controlling blood vessel function and other vital processes. They found that patients whose ME/CFS started after an infection had stronger connections between these antibodies and key symptoms like fatigue and muscle pain, suggesting these antibodies might play a role in how the disease develops.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Kynurenine metabolites and ratios differ between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and healthy controls.

Groven, Nina, Reitan, Solveig Klæbo, Fors, Egil Andreas et al.·Psychoneuroendocrinology·2021

This study examined a specific metabolic pathway in the blood called the kynurenine pathway, which affects how the brain functions. Researchers compared blood samples from people with ME/CFS, people with fibromyalgia, and healthy people to see if the chemical breakdown products in this pathway differed. They found that the balance of certain chemicals was different in people with these conditions, and these differences may relate to fatigue and pain symptoms.

NeuroinflammationEnergy Metabolism

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Monitoring treatment harm in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A freedom-of-information study of National Health Service specialist centres in England.

McPhee, Graham, Baldwin, Adrian, Kindlon, Tom et al.·Journal of health psychology·2021

This study looked at how 38 ME/CFS specialist clinics in England monitor and report harms from treatments like graded exercise therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy. Researchers found that clinics were inconsistent in how they handle treatment-related harm, rarely warned patients about potential risks in their written materials, and reported zero cases of harm despite knowing many patients dropped out of treatment. The study suggests clinics need better systems to detect, record, and stop treatments when patients are being harmed.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Male vs. Female Differences in Responding to Oxygen-Ozone Autohemotherapy (O2-O3-AHT) in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Chirumbolo, Salvatore, Valdenassi, Luigi, Franzini, Marianno et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2021

This study looked at how well a treatment called oxygen-ozone autohemotherapy (O₂-O₃-AHT) worked for ME/CFS fatigue in men versus women. Two hundred patients received this treatment and filled out a fatigue questionnaire before and one month after. The results showed that women experienced more improvement in their fatigue than men did, especially among younger patients aged 14-29.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCase-Control

Fine mapping of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) suggests involvement of both HLA class I and class II loci.

Hajdarevic, Riad, Lande, Asgeir, Rekeland, Ingrid et al.·Brain, behavior, and immunity·2021

This study looked at genes related to the immune system in people with ME/CFS to understand why some people develop the condition. Researchers compared genetic markers in 427 Norwegian ME/CFS patients with 480 healthy controls and found two specific genetic regions associated with ME/CFS—one involving immune system genes that present antigens to cells, and another in a different immune region. These findings suggest the immune system's ability to recognize and respond to threats may play a role in ME/CFS.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Sex-Based Differences in Plasma Autoantibodies to Central Nervous System Proteins in Gulf War Veterans versus Healthy and Symptomatic Controls.

Abou-Donia, Mohamed B, Krengel, Maxine H, Lapadula, Elizabeth S et al.·Brain sciences·2021

Researchers found that Gulf War veterans with Gulf War illness have abnormal immune proteins in their blood that attack brain cells, and these patterns differ between men and women. The study also found that these same immune markers can help distinguish Gulf War illness from other similar conditions like ME/CFS and IBS. This discovery is important because it offers a possible objective blood test that doctors could use to identify and diagnose these difficult-to-recognize illnesses.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Fatigue as the limiting factor for vaginal birth in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Biringer, Kamil, Sivak, Stefan, Sivakova, Jana et al.·Neuro endocrinology letters·2021

This study looked at 15 women with multiple sclerosis (MS) who were pregnant and gave birth between 2015-2020. The researchers found that severe fatigue combined with nerve damage was the main reason why most of these women had caesarean sections instead of vaginal deliveries. The study suggests that better diagnosis and treatment of fatigue during pregnancy might allow more women with MS to have vaginal births safely.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Diffusion tensor imaging reveals neuronal microstructural changes in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Thapaliya, Kiran, Marshall-Gradisnik, Sonya, Staines, Donald et al.·The European journal of neuroscience·2021

This study used a specialized brain imaging technique called diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to look for structural changes in the brains of ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people. The researchers found subtle differences in how water moves through certain nerve fiber pathways in the brains of patients who met strict diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS, particularly in areas controlling movement, coordination, and breathing. These brain changes were linked to patient symptoms like difficulty processing information, fatigue, and sleep problems.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

A preliminary investigation of nutritional intake and supplement use in Australians with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and the implications on health-related quality of life.

Weigel, Breanna, Eaton-Fitch, Natalie, Passmore, Rachel et al.·Food & nutrition research·2021

This study looked at what Australian ME/CFS patients eat and what supplements they take, and whether these choices affect their quality of life. Researchers surveyed 24 ME/CFS patients online and compared their diets to the general Australian population. They found that ME/CFS patients use supplements much more often than the general public, but couldn't find a clear link between specific nutrients or supplements and how patients felt.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearLongitudinal

Salivary DNA Loads for Human Herpesviruses 6 and 7 Are Correlated With Disease Phenotype in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Lee, Ji-Sook, Lacerda, Eliana M, Nacul, Luis et al.·Frontiers in medicine·2021

This study tested saliva samples from people with ME/CFS and healthy people to measure levels of common viruses that stay dormant in the body. Researchers found that two viruses (HHV-6B and HHV-7) were present at higher levels in people with ME/CFS, especially in those whose viral levels went up and down over time. Importantly, when these viral levels were higher, patients reported worse symptoms like pain, brain fog, and heart/blood pressure problems.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Co-occurrence of immune-mediated conditions and endometriosis among adolescents and adult women.

Shafrir, Amy L, Palmor, Marissa C, Fourquet, Jessica et al.·American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989)·2021

This study looked at whether young women and adolescents with endometriosis (a painful condition where tissue grows outside the uterus) are more likely to have immune system problems like allergies, asthma, or chronic fatigue. Researchers compared 551 women with surgically confirmed endometriosis to 652 women without it and found that those with endometriosis were significantly more likely to have chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, or a history of mononucleosis. The more immune-related conditions a woman had, the higher her chances of also having endometriosis.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCase-Control

Female Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Idiopathic Chronic Fatigue: Comparison of Responses to a Two-Day Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing Protocol.

van Campen, C Linda M C, Visser, Frans C·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2021

This study tested whether people with ME/CFS and people with chronic fatigue (but not ME/CFS) respond differently to exercise on two consecutive days. Researchers had 50 women with ME/CFS and 51 women with chronic fatigue perform exercise tests while measuring oxygen use and heart rate. Women with ME/CFS performed worse on day 2, while women with chronic fatigue actually performed slightly better, suggesting ME/CFS creates a unique pattern of exercise intolerance.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Long COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome: A survey of elderly female survivors in Egypt.

Aly, Menna A E G, Saber, Heba G·International journal of clinical practice·2021

This study looked at 115 elderly women in Egypt who had recovered from COVID-19 to see if their lingering symptoms might lead to chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Most women reported problems like fatigue, muscle pain, and sleep trouble after COVID, and the study found that stress, sadness, and poor sleep were most strongly linked to developing CFS-like symptoms. Only one person in the study actually met full criteria for probable CFS, but the researchers suggest doctors should watch for these warning signs in long COVID patients.

SleepCognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Oral Minocycline Therapy Improves Symptoms of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Especially in the Initial Disease Stage.

Miwa, Kunihisa·Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan)·2021

Researchers tested whether minocycline, an antibiotic that may reduce brain inflammation, could help ME/CFS patients. About 27% of 100 patients taking minocycline for 6 weeks experienced meaningful symptom improvement, particularly those who had been sick for less than 3 years. However, 38% of patients had to stop taking it early due to side effects like nausea and dizziness.

Neuroinflammation

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Health, Wellbeing, and Prognosis of Australian Adolescents with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): A Case-Controlled Follow-Up Study.

Josev, Elisha K, Cole, Rebecca C, Scheinberg, Adam et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2021

This study followed Australian teenagers with ME/CFS for about two years after diagnosis to see how they were doing. While many young people improved in mood and some symptoms, fatigue, pain, and overall quality of life stayed significantly worse compared to healthy teenagers. About two-thirds of the teens still had ME/CFS at follow-up, suggesting the condition often persists in the early years after diagnosis.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue syndrome: an emerging sequela in COVID-19 survivors?

Mantovani, Elisa, Mariotto, Sara, Gabbiani, Daniele et al.·Journal of neurovirology·2021

Some people who recover from COVID-19 continue to experience symptoms that look very similar to ME/CFS, including severe tiredness, pain, and difficulty thinking clearly. This study found that about 27% of COVID-19 survivors had these ME/CFS-like symptoms, and they reported worse sleep, more fatigue, and more difficulty with basic activities compared to those who recovered normally. The researchers measured markers of nerve damage and inflammation to understand what might be causing these symptoms.

Long COVID OverlapPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Clinical Profile and Aspects of Differential Diagnosis in Patients with ME/CFS from Latvia.

Krumina, Angelika, Vecvagare, Katrine, Svirskis, Simons et al.·Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)·2021

This study looked at 65 people with ME/CFS in Latvia to understand their main symptoms and how the condition differs from simple tiredness. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS commonly experience fatigue, muscle pain, joint pain, and sleep problems—more often than people without ME/CFS. When patients had other health conditions alongside ME/CFS, their symptoms tended to be more severe.

Pain and SensitizationSleepDiagnostics

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Limbic Perfusion Is Reduced in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Patients with Persistent Polyclonal B-Cell Lymphocytosis Share the Symptomatic Criteria of Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease.

Sarcoidosis among US Hispanics in a Nationwide Registry.

Autoantibodies to Vasoregulative G-Protein-Coupled Receptors Correlate with Symptom Severity, Autonomic Dysfunction and Disability in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Kynurenine metabolites and ratios differ between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and healthy controls.

Monitoring treatment harm in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A freedom-of-information study of National Health Service specialist centres in England.

Male vs. Female Differences in Responding to Oxygen-Ozone Autohemotherapy (O2-O3-AHT) in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Fine mapping of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) suggests involvement of both HLA class I and class II loci.

Sex-Based Differences in Plasma Autoantibodies to Central Nervous System Proteins in Gulf War Veterans versus Healthy and Symptomatic Controls.

Fatigue as the limiting factor for vaginal birth in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Diffusion tensor imaging reveals neuronal microstructural changes in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

A preliminary investigation of nutritional intake and supplement use in Australians with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and the implications on health-related quality of life.

Salivary DNA Loads for Human Herpesviruses 6 and 7 Are Correlated With Disease Phenotype in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Co-occurrence of immune-mediated conditions and endometriosis among adolescents and adult women.

Female Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Idiopathic Chronic Fatigue: Comparison of Responses to a Two-Day Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing Protocol.

Long COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome: A survey of elderly female survivors in Egypt.

Oral Minocycline Therapy Improves Symptoms of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Especially in the Initial Disease Stage.

Health, Wellbeing, and Prognosis of Australian Adolescents with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): A Case-Controlled Follow-Up Study.

Chronic fatigue syndrome: an emerging sequela in COVID-19 survivors?

Clinical Profile and Aspects of Differential Diagnosis in Patients with ME/CFS from Latvia.

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