ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

181–200 of 6,209 studies

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Female reproductive health impacts of Long COVID and associated illnesses including ME/CFS, POTS, and connective tissue disorders: a literature review.

Pollack, Beth, von Saltza, Emelia, McCorkell, Lisa et al.·Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences·2023

This review examined how Long COVID and related illnesses like ME/CFS affect women's reproductive health, including menstrual cycles, fertility, and pregnancy. The researchers found that women with these conditions experience more problems with their periods, difficulty getting pregnant, and symptom flare-ups around their menstrual cycle. The study highlights that we need much more research to understand these reproductive health issues and to help doctors better support women with these conditions.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredSystematic-Review

Biomarkers for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): a systematic review.

Maksoud, Rebekah, Magawa, Chandi, Eaton-Fitch, Natalie et al.·BMC medicine·2023

Researchers reviewed 101 studies looking for biological markers (biomarkers) that could help diagnose ME/CFS. A biomarker is something measurable in your blood or body that shows a disease is present. While scientists found many potential biomarkers affecting the immune system, energy production, circulation, and other body functions, none have been proven reliable enough to use as a diagnostic test yet.

BiomarkersImmune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Therapeutic Implications of the Microbial Hypothesis of Mental Illness.

Savitz, Jonathan, Yolken, Robert H·Current topics in behavioral neurosciences·2023

This review examines whether certain germs—especially viruses like EBV and CMV, and parasites—might contribute to mental illness and ME/CFS. Researchers looked at studies testing whether anti-viral and anti-parasite medications could help treat these conditions, and also explored whether changes in gut bacteria might play a role. The authors found some evidence supporting these connections, though much more research is needed to understand how they work.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Surveying the Metabolic and Dysfunctional Profiles of T Cells and NK Cells in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Maya, Jessica·International journal of molecular sciences·2023

This review examined research on how immune cells (T cells and NK cells) work differently in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people. The authors found evidence that these immune cells may be exhausted or damaged, similar to what happens in chronic viral infections. Understanding why these immune cells aren't functioning properly could help explain ME/CFS symptoms and guide development of better treatments.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Experimental drugs in randomized controlled trials for long-COVID: what's in the pipeline? A systematic and critical review.

Yong, Shin Jie, Halim, Alice, Halim, Michael et al.·Expert opinion on investigational drugs·2023

Researchers reviewed drug treatments being tested for long-COVID in clinical trials to see which ones might actually work. They found that most experimental drugs don't look very promising, but a few stand out: rintatolimod appears most helpful for people with ME/CFS symptoms, while other drugs like LTY-100 and Treamid might help with lung problems from long-COVID. Currently, there is no proven treatment for long-COVID, so finding effective options is urgent.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearEvidence-Map

ME/CFS and Long COVID share similar symptoms and biological abnormalities: road map to the literature

Anthony L. Komaroff, W. Ian Lipkin·Frontiers in Medicine·2023

Harvard and Columbia researchers conducted a comprehensive review of biological abnormalities in ME/CFS and Long COVID. They found striking overlaps in immune dysregulation, autonomic dysfunction, metabolic disruption, and neurological features. The paper maps the literature to guide researchers working across both conditions.

Immune SystemLong COVID Overlap

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Autoimmune autonomic nervous system imbalance and conditions: Chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, silicone breast implants, COVID and post-COVID syndrome, sick building syndrome, post-orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, autoimmune diseases and autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants.

Malkova, A M, Shoenfeld, Y·Autoimmunity reviews·2023

This review examined whether ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and several other conditions share a common problem: the immune system mistakenly attacks nerve controls that regulate heart rate, blood pressure, and other automatic body functions. Researchers found that people with these conditions often have similar symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, and brain fog, and some have autoantibodies (immune proteins) that target nerve receptors. The authors propose this 'autonomic nervous system imbalance' could be a unifying mechanism explaining why these diverse conditions feel so similar.

Autonomic Nervous System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredMeta-Analysis

DNA Methylation Changes in Blood Cells of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients.

Przybylowicz, Patrycja Kamila, Sokolowska, Katarzyna Ewa, Rola, Hubert et al.·Journal of pain research·2023

This study looked at chemical changes called 'methylation' in the blood cells of people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Researchers combined data from three previous studies and found that while the specific methylation patterns differed slightly between studies, they consistently affected genes involved in body processes that could explain symptoms like pain and exhaustion. This suggests that methylation changes may play a role in how these conditions develop.

BiomarkersImmune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredEvidence-Map

Frontiers in chronic fatigue syndrome research: An analysis of the top 100 most influential articles in the field.

Wang, Xingxin, Li, Xuhao, Dong, Tiantian et al.·Medicine·2023

This study analyzed the 100 most-cited scientific papers on ME/CFS to understand what researchers have been focusing on and what directions the field is moving toward. Researchers found that ME/CFS research is a global effort involving hundreds of institutions across many countries, with studies increasingly looking at cognitive behavioral therapy, how to diagnose ME/CFS better, and the biological basis of the condition. The analysis suggests future research will likely focus on finding biological markers, understanding immune system changes, and identifying genetic risk factors.

Biomarkers

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

The role of psychiatry in diagnosis and treatment of paediatric chronic fatigue syndrome - a scoping literature review.

Dolp, Reinhard, Wardle, David Pr, Khalid-Khan, Sarosh·International journal of adolescent medicine and health·2023

This review looked at how psychiatry (the medical specialty focused on mental health) is involved in diagnosing and treating ME/CFS in children and teenagers. The researchers searched medical literature and found that psychiatrists are rarely part of the care team for young people with ME/CFS, and when they are involved, their role is often unclear or limited to treating separate mental health problems. The study suggests that psychiatry could potentially play a more defined and helpful role in caring for children and adolescents with ME/CFS.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredSystematic-Review

Posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and comparison of pathogenesis.

Bai, Natalie A, Richardson, Christie S·Chronic diseases and translational medicine·2023

This review examined 18 studies comparing two similar chronic illnesses: posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS), which affects about 10% of Lyme disease patients even after antibiotic treatment, and ME/CFS. Both conditions cause severe fatigue, cognitive problems, pain, and sleep issues that last for months or years. The researchers found that patients with PTLDS experience many of the same symptoms as ME/CFS patients, suggesting these different illnesses may develop through similar biological pathways in the body.

Severe MEPost-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

A systematic review and meta-analysis of urinary biomarkers in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Taccori, Asher, Maksoud, Rebekah, Eaton-Fitch, Natalie et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2023

Researchers looked at 21 studies examining urine samples from ME/CFS patients to find markers that could help diagnose the condition. They focused especially on a substance called cortisol (a stress hormone) in urine. While they found some differences in urine samples between people with ME/CFS and healthy people, the results were too inconsistent to identify a reliable single marker for diagnosis.

Biomarkers

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Long COVID: Complications, Underlying Mechanisms, and Treatment Strategies.

Zadeh, Farigol Hakem, Wilson, Daniel R, Agrawal, Devendra K·Archives of microbiology & immunology·2023

Long COVID refers to symptoms that persist for weeks or months after an initial COVID-19 infection has cleared. This review examines how COVID-19 damages various organs in the body, what causes these problems, and what treatments might help. The authors also discuss how vaccination may affect Long COVID and identify important gaps in our understanding of the condition.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredSystematic-Review

A scoping review of 'Pacing' for management of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): lessons learned for the long COVID pandemic.

Sanal-Hayes, Nilihan E M, Mclaughlin, Marie, Hayes, Lawrence D et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2023

This review looked at 17 studies about 'pacing'—a strategy where people with ME/CFS carefully manage their activity level to avoid making symptoms worse. The researchers found that studies on pacing had very different designs and results: some showed pacing helped, some showed no benefit, and a few suggested it could be harmful. The evidence so far isn't strong enough to confidently say whether pacing works best for everyone.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Effects of traditional Chinese mind-body exercises for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Kong, Lingjun, Ren, Jun, Fang, Sitong et al.·Journal of global health·2023

This research review looked at whether traditional Chinese exercises like Tai Chi and Qigong help people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Researchers combined results from 13 studies involving 1,187 patients and found that these exercises probably reduce fatigue, depression, and anxiety compared to doing nothing, and may improve sleep and thinking ability. However, the benefits seem to fade over time, and these exercises work about as well as other active treatments like standard exercise programs.

Sleep

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Effectiveness of Pain Neuroscience Education in Patients with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain and Central Sensitization: A Systematic Review.

Lepri, Beatrice, Romani, Daniele, Storari, Lorenzo et al.·International journal of environmental research and public health·2023

This review looked at 15 studies testing whether pain neuroscience education—teaching patients how pain works in the nervous system—helps people with chronic muscle and joint pain, including those with conditions like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. The research found that this type of education does appear to reduce pain and improve disability and mood, especially when delivered one-on-one and combined with other treatments like physical therapy.

Pain and Sensitization

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Functional neurological disorder in people with long COVID: A systematic review.

Teodoro, Tiago, Chen, Jiaying, Gelauff, Jeannette et al.·European journal of neurology·2023

Researchers reviewed 102 studies about long COVID to see whether some of the neurological symptoms (such as brain fog, headaches, and dizziness) might be functional neurological disorder (FND)—a condition where the nervous system doesn't work properly without obvious physical damage. While these symptoms are common in long COVID, the studies didn't carefully look for the specific patterns that would help diagnose FND, so it remains unclear whether FND plays a role in long COVID.

Cognitive Impairment

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Exercise Training in Non-Hospitalized Patients with Post-COVID-19 Syndrome-A Narrative Review.

Sick, Johanna, König, Daniel·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2023

This review looked at seven studies involving 935 people with long-COVID symptoms who were not hospitalized during their initial infection. The studies found that exercise programs improved fitness, physical function, and reduced symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, and depression. The exercise was generally well-tolerated, but the authors urge caution for people with post-exertional malaise or ME/CFS, since these conditions may respond differently to exercise.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredEditorial

The Draft Report by the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Healthcare Does Not Provide Any Evidence That Graded Exercise Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Are Safe and Effective Treatments for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Vink, Mark, Vink-Niese, Alexandra·Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)·2023

This study examined whether a German health institute's recommendation for graded exercise therapy (GET) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat ME/CFS was supported by good evidence. The researchers found serious problems with the studies being used to make this recommendation, including weak study designs, reliance on patient reports rather than objective measurements, and inclusion of people who may not have had ME/CFS. They concluded these treatments should not be recommended based on the available evidence.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Evaluation of viral infection as an etiology of ME/CFS: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Hwang, Jae-Hyun, Lee, Jin-Seok, Oh, Hyeon-Muk et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2023

Researchers analyzed 64 studies involving nearly 5,000 ME/CFS patients to see if viral infections might cause or trigger the illness. They found that certain viruses—particularly Borna disease virus, human herpesvirus-7, parvovirus B19, enterovirus, and Coxsackie B virus—appeared more frequently in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people and those with other diseases. While these associations are promising leads, finding a virus more often in patients doesn't prove it causes ME/CFS.

Immune System

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Female reproductive health impacts of Long COVID and associated illnesses including ME/CFS, POTS, and connective tissue disorders: a literature review.

Biomarkers for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): a systematic review.

Therapeutic Implications of the Microbial Hypothesis of Mental Illness.

Surveying the Metabolic and Dysfunctional Profiles of T Cells and NK Cells in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Experimental drugs in randomized controlled trials for long-COVID: what's in the pipeline? A systematic and critical review.

ME/CFS and Long COVID share similar symptoms and biological abnormalities: road map to the literature

Autoimmune autonomic nervous system imbalance and conditions: Chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, silicone breast implants, COVID and post-COVID syndrome, sick building syndrome, post-orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, autoimmune diseases and autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants.

DNA Methylation Changes in Blood Cells of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients.

Frontiers in chronic fatigue syndrome research: An analysis of the top 100 most influential articles in the field.

The role of psychiatry in diagnosis and treatment of paediatric chronic fatigue syndrome - a scoping literature review.

Posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and comparison of pathogenesis.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of urinary biomarkers in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Long COVID: Complications, Underlying Mechanisms, and Treatment Strategies.

A scoping review of 'Pacing' for management of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): lessons learned for the long COVID pandemic.

Effects of traditional Chinese mind-body exercises for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Effectiveness of Pain Neuroscience Education in Patients with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain and Central Sensitization: A Systematic Review.

Functional neurological disorder in people with long COVID: A systematic review.

Exercise Training in Non-Hospitalized Patients with Post-COVID-19 Syndrome-A Narrative Review.

The Draft Report by the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Healthcare Does Not Provide Any Evidence That Graded Exercise Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Are Safe and Effective Treatments for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Evaluation of viral infection as an etiology of ME/CFS: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

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