ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2001–2020 of 6,209 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Circadian rhythm abnormalities and autonomic dysfunction in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

Cambras, Trinitat, Castro-Marrero, Jesús, Zaragoza, Maria Cleofé et al.·PloS one·2018

This study compared daily activity patterns and skin temperature regulation in 10 women with ME/CFS and 10 healthy women over a week in both winter and summer. While sleep patterns were similar between groups, people with ME/CFS had lower overall daily activity levels and their bodies showed weaker responses to the normal daily rhythm patterns that healthy people display (like a post-lunch energy dip). The findings suggest that ME/CFS may involve problems with how the body's internal clock and temperature regulation systems work.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Higher Prevalence of "Low T3 Syndrome" in Patients With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Case-Control Study.

Ruiz-Núñez, Begoña, Tarasse, Rabab, Vogelaar, Emar F et al.·Frontiers in endocrinology·2018

This study compared thyroid hormone levels in 98 ME/CFS patients with 99 healthy controls and found that ME/CFS patients were more than twice as likely to have low levels of an active thyroid hormone called T3. The patients also showed signs of chronic low-grade inflammation and had more reverse T3 (an inactive form), which may explain why their bodies aren't producing or using thyroid hormones efficiently.

Energy Metabolism

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Why do some ME/CFS patients benefit from treatment with sodium dichloroacetate, but others do not?

Comhaire, Frank·Medical hypotheses·2018

This study looked at why some ME/CFS patients improve when taking sodium dichloroacetate (DCA), a drug that helps mitochondria—the energy centers of cells—work better, while others don't benefit at all. By examining 35 ME/CFS patients, researchers found 6 specific patient characteristics that could predict who would respond well to DCA treatment. These findings suggest doctors might be able to identify which patients are most likely to benefit from this treatment before they start taking it.

Interventions

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Low Sensitivity of Abbreviated Tilt Table Testing for Diagnosing Postural Tachycardia Syndrome in Adults With ME/CFS.

van Campen, C Linda M C, Rowe, Peter C, Visser, Frans C·Frontiers in pediatrics·2018

Many people with ME/CFS experience dizziness and rapid heartbeat when standing up, a condition called POTS. This study found that when doctors use shortened tilt table tests (lasting only 2 minutes) to diagnose POTS, they miss more than half of the patients who actually have it. The researchers recommend using the full 10-minute test instead of the abbreviated version to properly identify POTS in ME/CFS patients.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Evaluation of four clinical laboratory parameters for the diagnosis of myalgic encephalomyelitis.

De Meirleir, Kenny L, Mijatovic, Tatjana, Subramanian, Krishnamurthy et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2018

Researchers tested four substances in the blood of 140 ME/CFS patients and 140 healthy people to see if they could help diagnose the disease. They found that three specific markers—sCD14, prostaglandin E2, and interleukin 8—were most useful for identifying ME/CFS. These findings suggest that a simple blood test might one day help doctors confirm ME/CFS diagnosis more quickly and objectively.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Poor self-reported sleep quality and health-related quality of life in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Castro-Marrero, Jesús, Zaragozá, Maria C, González-Garcia, Sergio et al.·Journal of sleep research·2018

This study looked at sleep problems in 1,455 Spanish ME/CFS patients and found that nearly all of them reported poor sleep quality that wasn't refreshing, even when they slept. The researchers discovered that poor sleep was strongly linked to worse pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and lower quality of life overall. Several factors—including pain intensity, mood problems, fibromyalgia, and autonomic nervous system dysfunction—were particularly associated with sleep difficulties.

Pain and SensitizationSleepAutonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Effects of unsupportive social interactions, stigma, and symptoms on patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome.

McManimen, Stephanie L, McClellan, Damani, Stoothoff, Jamie et al.·Journal of community psychology·2018

This study looked at why some ME/CFS patients experience suicidal thoughts and depression. Researchers found that patients who felt blamed for their illness, had their symptoms minimized by others, or felt socially rejected were more likely to experience both depression and suicidal thoughts. Importantly, some patients had suicidal thoughts without meeting the criteria for clinical depression, suggesting that stigma and unsupported social interactions alone can be harmful.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

School Functioning in Adolescents With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Knight, Sarah Jenette, Politis, Jennifer, Garnham, Christine et al.·Frontiers in pediatrics·2018

This study looked at how ME/CFS affects teenagers' school lives by comparing 39 adolescents with ME/CFS to 28 healthy peers. Researchers found that teens with ME/CFS missed more school, felt less connected to school, participated less in school activities, and had lower academic performance. The severity of fatigue and emotional symptoms were linked to these school difficulties.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Rheumatism and chronic fatigue, the two facets of post-chikungunya disease: the TELECHIK cohort study on Reunion island.

Duvignaud, A, Fianu, A, Bertolotti, A et al.·Epidemiology and infection·2018

This study followed over 1,000 people on Reunion Island to understand why some patients infected with chikungunya virus develop long-lasting fatigue and joint pain. Researchers found that people who had chikungunya were much more likely to experience chronic fatigue and a condition resembling ME/CFS compared to those who were never infected. About 24% of people with chikungunya developed CFS-like illness, compared to only 7% of those without the virus.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue syndrome patients have alterations in their oral microbiome composition and function.

Wang, Taiwu, Yu, Lei, Xu, Cong et al.·PloS one·2018

Researchers studied the bacteria living in the mouths of ME/CFS patients and compared them to healthy people. They found that ME/CFS patients have a different balance of oral bacteria, with some types being more common and others less common. These bacterial differences appear to affect how the body processes energy and amino acids, which could be relevant to understanding ME/CFS.

Energy Metabolism

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Genome-epigenome interactions associated with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Herrera, Santiago, de Vega, Wilfred C, Ashbrook, David et al.·Epigenetics·2018

This study examined how genes and chemical switches on genes (called methylation) work together in ME/CFS patients. Researchers compared immune cells from people with ME/CFS to healthy people, looking at hundreds of thousands of genetic markers and chemical modifications. They found that certain chemical switches on genes involved in immune function and energy production are different in ME/CFS patients, and these differences are connected to a person's genetic makeup.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Identification of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome-associated DNA methylation patterns.

Trivedi, Malav S, Oltra, Elisa, Sarria, Leonor et al.·PloS one·2018

Researchers studied chemical tags on DNA (called methylation) in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. While the overall amount of these tags was similar between groups, they found specific locations on thousands of genes where the tags differed. Many of these differences were in genes involved in immune system function, which aligns with what doctors already know about ME/CFS affecting immunity.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Defining the prevalence and symptom burden of those with self-reported severe chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME): a two-phase community pilot study in the North East of England.

Strassheim, Victoria Jane, Sunnquist, Madison, Jason, Leonard A et al.·BMJ open·2018

This study tried to find out how many people in Northern England have severe ME/CFS and what symptoms they experience. Researchers sent questionnaires to people with ME/CFS and then invited five participants to take part in home-based research visits. The study found that people with severe ME/CFS want to participate in research but struggle with their high symptom burden and poor quality of life, which makes completing research visits challenging.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

The etiologic relation between disequilibrium and orthostatic intolerance in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis (chronic fatigue syndrome).

Miwa, Kunihisa, Inoue, Yukichi·Journal of cardiology·2018

This study looked at 44 ME/CFS patients to understand why they struggle to stay upright (orthostatic intolerance). Researchers found that balance problems—difficulty staying steady when standing with eyes closed—were common and seemed to make orthostatic intolerance worse. Patients with balance problems were more likely to have trouble completing a 10-minute standing test than those with only heart rate changes, suggesting balance issues may be just as important as blood pressure and heart rate problems in ME/CFS.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Increased risk of chronic fatigue syndrome following burn injuries.

Tsai, Shin-Yi, Lin, Cheng-Li, Shih, Shou-Chuan et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2018

This study found that people who suffer burn injuries have a higher chance of developing ME/CFS later on. Researchers looked at over 17,000 people in Taiwan who had burn injuries and compared them to a similar group without burns. Those with burns were about 1.5 times more likely to develop ME/CFS, and burns in visible areas like the face and arms had a stronger link to ME/CFS than burns on the trunk.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Comparison of Fatigue Severity and Quality of Life between Unexplained Fatigue Patients and Explained Fatigue Patients.

Yoo, Eun Hae, Choi, Eun Sil, Cho, Soo Hyun et al.·Korean journal of family medicine·2018

This study compared fatigue and quality of life in 200 Korean adults with fatigue. Researchers divided participants into two groups: those whose fatigue had a clear medical explanation (like anemia or thyroid disease) and those whose fatigue remained unexplained after testing. People with unexplained fatigue reported significantly lower quality of life, especially in physical functioning, compared to those with explained fatigue.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Illness beliefs of adolescents with CFS and their parents: the perceived causes of illness and beliefs about recovery.

Loades, Maria E, Rimes, Katharine A, Lievesley, Kate et al.·International journal of adolescent medicine and health·2018

This study asked teenagers with ME/CFS and their parents what they thought caused the illness. Most believed it was triggered by a virus or stressful life events. Interestingly, teenagers and parents largely agreed with each other about the causes. Many teenagers weren't sure how long it would take them to recover, suggesting doctors should better inform young patients about what to expect.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

The effects of warm water immersion on blood pressure, heart rate and heart rate variability in people with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Parker, Romy, Higgins, Zeenath, Mlombile, Zandiswa N P et al.·The South African journal of physiotherapy·2018

This study looked at how warm water bathing affects heart function in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS had less stable heart rate patterns before entering warm water, but this improved during the water immersion. The heart rate stayed slightly elevated in the ME/CFS group even after leaving the water. Overall, warm water immersion appeared safe and may help with managing ME/CFS symptoms.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalopathy are not determined by activity pacing when measured by the chronic pain coping inventory.

Thompson, D P, Antcliff, D, Woby, S R·Physiotherapy·2018

This study looked at whether activity pacing—a common strategy where people with ME/CFS carefully manage their activity levels to avoid worsening symptoms—actually helps reduce pain, fatigue, or disability. Researchers surveyed 114 ME/CFS patients and tracked 35 others through a symptom management program. They found no clear link between how much patients used pacing and their symptom levels, suggesting that pacing alone may not be the key factor in controlling ME/CFS symptoms.

Interventions

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

A Concurrent Cognitive Task Does Not Perturb Quiet Standing in Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Rasouli, Omid, Fors, Egil A, Vasseljen, Ottar et al.·Pain research & management·2018

This study examined how well people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia can balance while standing still, and whether doing mental math at the same time makes balancing harder. Researchers found that both ME/CFS and fibromyalgia patients had slightly worse balance control than healthy people, but surprisingly, adding a math task didn't make their balance worse—unlike what researchers expected.

Cognitive Impairment

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Circadian rhythm abnormalities and autonomic dysfunction in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

Higher Prevalence of "Low T3 Syndrome" in Patients With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Case-Control Study.

Why do some ME/CFS patients benefit from treatment with sodium dichloroacetate, but others do not?

Low Sensitivity of Abbreviated Tilt Table Testing for Diagnosing Postural Tachycardia Syndrome in Adults With ME/CFS.

Evaluation of four clinical laboratory parameters for the diagnosis of myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Poor self-reported sleep quality and health-related quality of life in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Effects of unsupportive social interactions, stigma, and symptoms on patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome.

School Functioning in Adolescents With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Rheumatism and chronic fatigue, the two facets of post-chikungunya disease: the TELECHIK cohort study on Reunion island.

Chronic fatigue syndrome patients have alterations in their oral microbiome composition and function.

Genome-epigenome interactions associated with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Identification of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome-associated DNA methylation patterns.

Defining the prevalence and symptom burden of those with self-reported severe chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME): a two-phase community pilot study in the North East of England.

The etiologic relation between disequilibrium and orthostatic intolerance in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis (chronic fatigue syndrome).

Increased risk of chronic fatigue syndrome following burn injuries.

Comparison of Fatigue Severity and Quality of Life between Unexplained Fatigue Patients and Explained Fatigue Patients.

Illness beliefs of adolescents with CFS and their parents: the perceived causes of illness and beliefs about recovery.

The effects of warm water immersion on blood pressure, heart rate and heart rate variability in people with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalopathy are not determined by activity pacing when measured by the chronic pain coping inventory.

A Concurrent Cognitive Task Does Not Perturb Quiet Standing in Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

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