ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

1801–1820 of 6,209 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Processing of Laser-Evoked Potentials in Patients with Chronic Whiplash-Associated Disorders, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Healthy Controls: A Case-Control Study.

Goudman, Lisa, Daenen, Liesbeth, Mouraux, Andre et al.·Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.)·2020

Researchers used a specialized brain test called laser-evoked potentials (LEPs) to measure how the nervous system responds to heat pain in ME/CFS patients, whiplash patients, and healthy people. The test involved brief laser pulses applied to the hand and foot while recording brain activity. The study found that ME/CFS patients' nervous systems responded to pain in basically the same way as healthy people, which suggests their pain-sensing pathways are working normally.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Changes in DNA methylation profiles of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome patients reflect systemic dysfunctions.

Helliwell, A M, Sweetman, E C, Stockwell, P A et al.·Clinical epigenetics·2020

This study looked at chemical tags on DNA called methylation patterns in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. These tags can turn genes on or off without changing the DNA itself. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS have different methylation patterns, particularly in genes related to energy production, immune function, and brain chemistry, which may help explain why they experience the symptoms they do.

Energy MetabolismImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

MCP-1 is increased in patients with CFS and FM, whilst several other immune markers are significantly lower than healthy controls.

Groven, Nina, Fors, Egil Andreas, Stunes, Astrid Kamilla et al.·Brain, behavior, & immunity - health·2020

This study looked at immune system markers in the blood of people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia compared to healthy people. Researchers found that one immune marker called MCP-1 was higher in patients, while many other immune markers were actually lower than in healthy controls. This suggests the immune system may work differently in these conditions, though the exact meaning of these differences is still unclear.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Validation of the Severity of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome by Other Measures than History: Activity Bracelet, Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing and a Validated Activity Questionnaire: SF-36.

van Campen, C Linda M C, Rowe, Peter C, Visser, Frans C·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2020

This study tested whether doctors can accurately grade how severe a patient's ME/CFS is based on what patients tell them. Researchers compared clinical severity grades (mild, moderate, or severe) with three objective measures: a questionnaire about physical function, a wristband that counts daily steps, and a heart/lung exercise test. The results confirmed that the clinical grades matched up well with these objective measurements, suggesting that doctors' assessments based on patient reports are reasonably accurate.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Prediction of Discontinuation of Structured Exercise Programme in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients.

Kujawski, Sławomir, Cossington, Jo, Słomko, Joanna et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2020

This study looked at why some people with ME/CFS could complete a gradual exercise programme while others had to stop. Researchers measured several body functions—like nervous system activity, reaction time, and heart rate—before the programme started. They found that people whose bodies showed higher stress responses and slower reaction times were more likely to drop out of the exercise programme.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredObservational

Epidemiological and clinical factors associated with post-exertional malaise severity in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Ghali, Alaa, Richa, Paul, Lacout, Carole et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2020

This study looked at 197 ME/CFS patients to understand which people are more likely to experience severe post-exertional malaise (PEM)—the symptom crash that happens after physical or mental activity. Researchers found that patients who developed ME/CFS after age 32, those who had recurring infections during their illness, and those whose ME/CFS started after a stomach infection were more likely to have severe PEM. Understanding these risk factors could help doctors better predict and manage PEM in individual patients.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Metabolic analysis of amino acids and vitamin B6 pathways in lymphoma survivors with cancer related chronic fatigue.

Fosså, Alexander, Smeland, Knut Halvor, Fluge, Øystein et al.·PloS one·2020

This study looked at blood chemicals called amino acids and B vitamins in lymphoma survivors who experienced lasting fatigue after cancer treatment. Researchers found that people with this fatigue had lower tryptophan (an amino acid) and signs of ongoing low-level immune activation and inflammation. The study suggests that persistent tiredness after lymphoma treatment may be caused by the body's immune system staying activated longer than expected.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Cardiac Dimensions and Function Are Not Altered among Females with the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Iversen, Per Ole, von Lueder, Thomas Gero, Kardel, Kristin Reimers et al.·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2020

Researchers used heart ultrasounds to check if the hearts of people with ME/CFS were structurally different or working differently than healthy people's hearts. They found no significant differences in heart size or function between the 16 women with ME/CFS and 10 healthy women they studied. This suggests that ME/CFS exercise intolerance and lactate buildup may not be caused by problems with how the heart itself is structured or functioning.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Paediatric patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome value understanding and help to move on with their lives.

Rowe, Katherine·Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)·2020

This study followed 784 young people (ages 6-18) with ME/CFS over 14 years at a specialized clinic in Melbourne. The patients received help with symptom management and personalized lifestyle plans adjusted to their severity of illness and individual circumstances. Most patients who responded said the management approach helped them regain control of their lives and stay socially connected and engaged in school.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Accurate and objective determination of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome disease severity with a wearable sensor.

Palombo, Turner, Campos, Andrea, Vernon, Suzanne D et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2020

Researchers developed a wearable sensor that measures how much time ME/CFS patients spend standing or walking each day (called UpTime). In a small study of 15 people, they found that severely ill ME/CFS patients spend less than 20% of their day upright, moderately ill patients spend 20-30%, while healthy people spend more than 30%. This sensor measurement was more accurate than asking patients to estimate their activity themselves, suggesting it could be a reliable way to track disease severity and test new treatments.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Patients with ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and chronic pain report similar level of sickness behavior as individuals injected with bacterial endotoxin at peak inflammation.

Jonsjö, Martin A, Åström, Jenny, Jones, Michael P et al.·Brain, behavior, & immunity - health·2020

This study compared how 'sick' people with ME/CFS and chronic pain feel compared to other groups. Researchers found that ME/CFS and chronic pain patients reported feeling as sick as healthy people who were given a bacterial toxin to trigger temporary inflammation. These high levels of sickness feelings were similar across both conditions and higher than what primary care patients reported, suggesting that the persistent sickness sensation in ME/CFS and chronic pain may involve similar biological mechanisms related to inflammation and how the brain processes illness signals.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

OnabotulinumtoxinA Is an Effective Treatment for Chronic Migraine in Patients With Comorbid Fibromyalgia.

Sastre Real, María, Díaz de Terán, Javier·Frontiers in neurology·2020

This study looked at whether a migraine treatment called botulinum toxin (Botox) could help people who have both chronic migraines and fibromyalgia. Researchers found that about two-thirds of patients improved within 3 months, and by 12 months, nearly 70% had at least a 50% reduction in severe headache days. The treatment was generally safe with only mild side effects.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Evidence of widespread metabolite abnormalities in Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: assessment with whole-brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Mueller, Christina, Lin, Joanne C, Sheriff, Sulaiman et al.·Brain imaging and behavior·2020

Researchers used advanced brain imaging to measure chemical substances in the brains of ME/CFS patients and compared them to healthy people. They found several differences in brain chemistry and temperature in ME/CFS patients, particularly in areas involved in processing pain and regulating energy. These changes suggest that inflammation in the brain may contribute to ME/CFS symptoms.

Neuroinflammation

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Confirmatory factor analysis of a myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome stigma scale.

Terman, Julia M, Awsumb, Jessica M, Cotler, Joseph et al.·Journal of health psychology·2020

This study measured how much stigma (negative judgments and social shame) people with ME/CFS experience. Over 550 people with ME/CFS from around the world filled out a survey designed to assess stigma, feelings of isolation, and concerns about disclosing their illness. The researchers found that people with ME/CFS reported high levels of stigma and struggled with whether to tell others about their condition.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Clinically accessible tools for documenting the impact of orthostatic intolerance on symptoms and function in ME/CFS.

Lee, Jihyun, Wall, Pelle, Kimler, Chris et al.·Work (Reading, Mass.)·2020

This study looked at how much time ME/CFS patients can spend upright (standing or walking around) each day and how this relates to dizziness and other symptoms caused by orthostatic intolerance—a condition where symptoms get worse when standing or being active. Researchers compared 25 women with ME/CFS to 25 healthy women and found that ME/CFS patients spend far fewer hours upright and experience much worse symptoms that interfere with daily life. The study suggests that measuring upright hours and asking patients about orthostatic symptoms could be helpful tools for doctors diagnosing and managing ME/CFS.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Two-Day Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Females with a Severe Grade of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Comparison with Patients with Mild and Moderate Disease.

van Campen, C Linda Mc, Rowe, Peter C, Visser, Frans C·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2020

This study tested how exercise affects female ME/CFS patients with different disease severity levels. Researchers had 82 women complete exercise tests on two consecutive days and measured how much oxygen their bodies could use and how much work they could do. Patients with severe ME/CFS showed the biggest drop in exercise capacity between day one and day two, suggesting their bodies recover more poorly from physical activity.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

A Machine Learning Approach to the Differentiation of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Data of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) From a Sedentary Control.

Provenzano, Destie, Washington, Stuart D, Baraniuk, James N·Frontiers in computational neuroscience·2020

Researchers used a computer algorithm to analyze brain scans from ME/CFS patients and healthy controls while they performed a memory task, both before and after exercise. The algorithm was able to correctly identify which scans came from ME/CFS patients 80% of the time on the first day and 76% on the second day, suggesting that ME/CFS may create a distinctive pattern of brain activity that could eventually be used as an objective diagnostic test.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

The Economic Impacts of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in an Australian Cohort.

Close, Shara, Marshall-Gradisnik, Sonya, Byrnes, Joshua et al.·Frontiers in public health·2020

This Australian study calculated how much ME/CFS costs patients, their families, and the healthcare system. Researchers surveyed people with ME/CFS and found the total annual cost was approximately $14.5 billion, including medical visits, treatments, medicines, and lost income. The study shows that ME/CFS places a heavy financial burden on individuals and society.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

The Prevalence of Pediatric Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in a Community‑Based Sample.

Jason, Leonard A, Katz, Ben Z, Sunnquist, Madison et al.·Child & youth care forum·2020

Researchers studied over 10,000 children and teenagers in the Chicago area to find out how many have ME/CFS. They found that about 0.75% (roughly 1 in 133) young people have the condition, with higher rates among African American and Latino youth. Importantly, less than 5% of these children had been diagnosed before the study, meaning many young people with ME/CFS are going unrecognized by doctors.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Prevalence of functional somatic syndromes and bodily distress syndrome in the Danish population: the DanFunD study.

Petersen, Marie Weinreich, Schröder, Andreas, Jørgensen, Torben et al.·Scandinavian journal of public health·2020

This study looked at how common six functional somatic syndromes—including ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and IBS—are in the general Danish population. Researchers surveyed nearly 10,000 adults and found that about 16% had at least one of these conditions, with ME/CFS being the most common at 8.6%. People with these syndromes reported poor health, difficulty with daily activities, and higher rates of depression and anxiety, especially when they had multiple conditions.

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Processing of Laser-Evoked Potentials in Patients with Chronic Whiplash-Associated Disorders, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Healthy Controls: A Case-Control Study.

Changes in DNA methylation profiles of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome patients reflect systemic dysfunctions.

MCP-1 is increased in patients with CFS and FM, whilst several other immune markers are significantly lower than healthy controls.

Validation of the Severity of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome by Other Measures than History: Activity Bracelet, Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing and a Validated Activity Questionnaire: SF-36.

Prediction of Discontinuation of Structured Exercise Programme in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients.

Epidemiological and clinical factors associated with post-exertional malaise severity in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Metabolic analysis of amino acids and vitamin B6 pathways in lymphoma survivors with cancer related chronic fatigue.

Cardiac Dimensions and Function Are Not Altered among Females with the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Paediatric patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome value understanding and help to move on with their lives.

Accurate and objective determination of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome disease severity with a wearable sensor.

Patients with ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and chronic pain report similar level of sickness behavior as individuals injected with bacterial endotoxin at peak inflammation.

OnabotulinumtoxinA Is an Effective Treatment for Chronic Migraine in Patients With Comorbid Fibromyalgia.

Evidence of widespread metabolite abnormalities in Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: assessment with whole-brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Confirmatory factor analysis of a myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome stigma scale.

Clinically accessible tools for documenting the impact of orthostatic intolerance on symptoms and function in ME/CFS.

Two-Day Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Females with a Severe Grade of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Comparison with Patients with Mild and Moderate Disease.

A Machine Learning Approach to the Differentiation of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Data of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) From a Sedentary Control.

The Economic Impacts of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in an Australian Cohort.

The Prevalence of Pediatric Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in a Community‑Based Sample.

Prevalence of functional somatic syndromes and bodily distress syndrome in the Danish population: the DanFunD study.

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