ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2041–2060 of 6,160 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Elevated brain natriuretic peptide levels in chronic fatigue syndrome associate with cardiac dysfunction: a case control study.

Tomas, Cara, Finkelmeyer, Andreas, Hodgson, Tim et al.·Open heart·2017

This study found that people with ME/CFS have higher levels of a hormone called BNP (brain natriuretic peptide) in their blood compared to healthy people without the condition. Interestingly, those with higher BNP levels had smaller heart chambers, which suggests their hearts may be working differently in ME/CFS. The researchers believe this finding is related to the condition itself, not simply from being inactive.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Heterogeneity in chronic fatigue syndrome - empirically defined subgroups from the PACE trial.

Williams, T E, Chalder, T, Sharpe, M et al.·Psychological medicine·2017

This study found that ME/CFS is not one single condition but rather five distinct subtypes that affect people differently. Researchers analyzed data from 541 patients and identified groups characterized by: low overall symptoms, mood disorders, overlapping conditions like fibromyalgia, combined multiple symptoms, or avoidance behaviors with fear of activity. Understanding these differences could help doctors tailor treatments to what works best for each person's specific type.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Fecal metagenomic profiles in subgroups of patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Nagy-Szakal, Dorottya, Williams, Brent L, Mishra, Nischay et al.·Microbiome·2017

This study looked at the bacteria living in the gut of 50 ME/CFS patients and 50 healthy people to see if differences in gut bacteria might explain some ME/CFS symptoms. The researchers found that ME/CFS patients have unusual patterns of gut bacteria, and these patterns are different depending on whether the patient also has irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Importantly, the type and balance of gut bacteria were linked to how severe patients' fatigue, pain, and other symptoms were.

BiomarkersEnergy Metabolism

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Current Safety Concerns with Human Papillomavirus Vaccine: A Cluster Analysis of Reports in VigiBase®.

Chandler, Rebecca E, Juhlin, Kristina, Fransson, Jonas et al.·Drug safety·2017

Researchers analyzed thousands of reports from a global database of side effects following HPV vaccination. They found that certain combinations of symptoms—headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and fainting—were reported more often after HPV vaccination than with other vaccines, particularly in young women. These symptom clusters resemble conditions like POTS, CRPS, and chronic fatigue syndrome, though most reports did not include an official diagnosis.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Serological profiling of the EBV immune response in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome using a peptide microarray.

Loebel, Madlen, Eckey, Maren, Sotzny, Franziska et al.·PloS one·2017

This study examined whether ME/CFS patients have different immune responses to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a common virus that can cause mononucleosis. Researchers compared antibody patterns in 92 ME/CFS patients versus 50 healthy people and found that ME/CFS patients had slightly higher antibody levels against a specific EBV protein called EBNA-6. This suggests that some ME/CFS patients may have an altered immune response to EBV, though most antibody patterns were similar between patients and healthy controls.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Gross and fine motor function in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Rasouli, Omid, Fors, Egil A, Borchgrevink, Petter Chr et al.·Journal of pain research·2017

This study compared how quickly people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia could start moving when they heard a sound, and how well they could do precise hand movements compared to healthy people. Both ME/CFS and fibromyalgia groups were slower to start walking in response to the sound, though their fine hand movements were similar to healthy controls. The results suggest that ME/CFS and fibromyalgia may affect the speed of starting movement, but not the precision of hand tasks.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Endogenous Pain Facilitation Rather Than Inhibition Differs Between People with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, and Controls: An Observational Study.

Collin, Simon M, Nijs, Jo, Meeus, Mira et al.·Pain physician·2017

This study tested how people with ME/CFS, people with multiple sclerosis (MS), and healthy people respond to pain. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS have lower pain thresholds and more pain amplification than people with MS, suggesting their nervous systems may process pain differently. These findings suggest that ME/CFS pain may involve a different biological mechanism than MS pain.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Trends in the incidence of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia in the UK, 2001-2013: a Clinical Practice Research Datalink study.

Collin, Simon M, Bakken, Inger J, Nazareth, Irwin et al.·Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine·2017

This study looked at how often ME/CFS and fibromyalgia were diagnosed in UK general practices between 2001 and 2013 using medical records. The researchers found that ME/CFS diagnoses decreased over time, while fibromyalgia diagnoses increased. Interestingly, people in poorer areas were less likely to be diagnosed with ME/CFS but more likely to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia compared to people in wealthier areas.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Impact of Rantes from jawbone on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Lechner, J, Huesker, K, Von Baehr, V·Journal of biological regulators and homeostatic agents·2017

This study investigated whether inflammation in the jawbone might contribute to ME/CFS. Researchers compared jawbone tissue from 21 ME/CFS patients with tissue from 19 healthy people and found that ME/CFS patients had significantly higher levels of inflammatory proteins (RANTES and FGF-2) in areas of jawbone that had undergone incomplete healing. The authors suggest that this hidden jawbone inflammation might be a previously unknown trigger for ME/CFS.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Differences in alexithymia and emotional awareness in exhaustion syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Maroti, Daniel, Molander, Peter, Bileviciute-Ljungar, Indre·Scandinavian journal of psychology·2017

This study looked at how people with Exhaustion Syndrome and ME/CFS differ in how they experience and identify their emotions. Researchers tested 31 people with Exhaustion Syndrome, 38 with ME/CFS, and 30 healthy people using emotion-recognition tests and questionnaires about emotional awareness. The results showed that both groups had some difficulty with emotions, but in slightly different ways—people with ME/CFS had more trouble actually identifying what they were feeling in a performance test, while people with Exhaustion Syndrome mainly reported difficulty on a self-assessment questionnaire.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Examining those Meeting IOM Criteria Versus IOM Plus Fibromyalgia.

Jason, Leonard A, McManimen, Stephanie, Sunnquist, Madison et al.·Neurology (E-Cronicon)·2017

This study compared two groups of people with ME/CFS: those who met the official Institute of Medicine diagnostic criteria, and those who met those same criteria plus also had fibromyalgia (a condition involving widespread pain and tender points). The researchers found that patients with both ME/CFS and fibromyalgia experienced more severe symptoms and greater functional impairment across many areas than those with ME/CFS alone.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Can physical assessment techniques aid diagnosis in people with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis? A diagnostic accuracy study.

Hives, Lucy, Bradley, Alice, Richards, Jim et al.·BMJ open·2017

Researchers tested whether five simple physical examination techniques could help doctors quickly identify ME/CFS. They examined 52 people with ME/CFS and 42 people without the condition, using trained practitioners to check for specific physical signs like spine problems and tender points. The study found that two of these physical signs were reliable and accurate enough to potentially help with diagnosis, suggesting that quick physical checks might be a useful screening tool.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Brain 18F-FDG PET Metabolic Abnormalities in Patients with Long-Lasting Macrophagic Myofascitis.

Van Der Gucht, Axel, Aoun Sebaiti, Mehdi, Guedj, Eric et al.·Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine·2017

This study used a special type of brain scan (PET imaging) to look for energy metabolism problems in the brains of people with macrophagic myofascitis, a condition involving immune cell buildup in muscles. Researchers found that MMF patients had lower energy use in multiple brain regions compared to healthy people, and this pattern was especially pronounced in patients who also had thinking and memory problems.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

A Prospective Study of Infectious Mononucleosis in College Students.

Jason, Leonard A, Katz, Ben, Gleason, Kristen et al.·International journal of psychiatry (Overland Park)·2017

This study followed healthy college students over time to see what happens when they catch infectious mononucleosis (IM) and whether some develop ME/CFS afterward. Researchers collected information about students' physical health and emotional well-being before they got sick, while they had IM, and about 6 months later. By tracking students this way, the study aimed to identify which factors might put someone at higher risk of developing ME/CFS after a mono infection.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

Guided Self-Help for Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Prior to Starting Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: a Cohort Study.

Ali, Sheila, Goldsmith, Kimberley, Burgess, Mary et al.·Behavioural and cognitive psychotherapy·2017

This study tested whether guided self-help materials could help ME/CFS patients improve their physical functioning while waiting for cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Patients filled out questionnaires at the start, just before CBT began, and after CBT ended. The self-help guidance helped improve how much patients could physically do, but didn't significantly reduce fatigue or improve social life during the waiting period. However, CBT itself did help with all three areas.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Familiality and Heritability of Fatigue in an Australian Twin Sample.

Corfield, Elizabeth C, Martin, Nicholas G, Nyholt, Dale R·Twin research and human genetics : the official journal of the International Society for Twin Studies·2017

This study looked at whether fatigue runs in families and whether genetics plays a role. Researchers compared identical twins (who share all genes) with fraternal twins (who share about half) and found that when one twin had fatigue, their identical twin was more likely to also have fatigue than fraternal twins were. The results suggest that about 40% of fatigue differences between people are due to genetics, while the remaining 60% comes from environmental factors or lifestyle.

E2 ModerateMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired redox signalling in a subgroup of patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome

Cara Tomas, Jessica Newton, Stuart Watson·The EPMA Journal·2017·n=25

This UK study analyzed mitochondrial function in immune cells from ME/CFS patients using the Seahorse assay. They found reduced ATP production capacity, impaired electron transport chain function, and altered redox signaling in a subgroup of ME/CFS patients compared to healthy controls.

Energy Metabolism

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredObservational

Novel characterisation of mast cell phenotypes from peripheral blood mononuclear cells in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis patients.

Nguyen, Thao, Johnston, Samantha, Chacko, Anu et al.·Asian Pacific journal of allergy and immunology·2017

This study looked at immune cells called mast cells in the blood of people with ME/CFS and compared them to healthy people. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients—especially those with severe illness—had more mast cells and these cells showed different activation patterns. Mast cells are known to release chemicals that cause inflammation, so understanding them better could help explain some ME/CFS symptoms.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Well-being in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Relationship to Symptoms and Psychological Distress.

Jackson, H, MacLeod, A K·Clinical psychology & psychotherapy·2017

This study looked at well-being in people with ME/CFS, not just focusing on what's wrong, but also on what's right. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS had lower well-being than healthy people, especially in areas like personal growth, feeling in control of life, and self-acceptance. Importantly, well-being was more connected to emotional and psychological symptoms than to physical fatigue itself, suggesting that treating the emotional side of living with ME/CFS might be just as important as treating the fatigue.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Fatigue and psychosocial variables in autoimmune rheumatic disease and chronic fatigue syndrome: A cross-sectional comparison.

Ali, Sheila, Matcham, Faith, Irving, Katherine et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2017

This study compared how people with ME/CFS and people with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (like rheumatoid arthritis) experience fatigue and cope with their symptoms. The researchers found that people with ME/CFS were more fatigued, had worse sleep, and were more likely to avoid activities and struggle with accepting their illness, while people with rheumatic diseases were more likely to worry about damage to their bodies. This suggests that fatigue in these different conditions may need different treatment approaches.

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Elevated brain natriuretic peptide levels in chronic fatigue syndrome associate with cardiac dysfunction: a case control study.

Heterogeneity in chronic fatigue syndrome - empirically defined subgroups from the PACE trial.

Fecal metagenomic profiles in subgroups of patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Current Safety Concerns with Human Papillomavirus Vaccine: A Cluster Analysis of Reports in VigiBase®.

Serological profiling of the EBV immune response in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome using a peptide microarray.

Gross and fine motor function in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Endogenous Pain Facilitation Rather Than Inhibition Differs Between People with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, and Controls: An Observational Study.

Trends in the incidence of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia in the UK, 2001-2013: a Clinical Practice Research Datalink study.

Impact of Rantes from jawbone on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Differences in alexithymia and emotional awareness in exhaustion syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Examining those Meeting IOM Criteria Versus IOM Plus Fibromyalgia.

Can physical assessment techniques aid diagnosis in people with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis? A diagnostic accuracy study.

Brain 18F-FDG PET Metabolic Abnormalities in Patients with Long-Lasting Macrophagic Myofascitis.

A Prospective Study of Infectious Mononucleosis in College Students.

Guided Self-Help for Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Prior to Starting Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: a Cohort Study.

Familiality and Heritability of Fatigue in an Australian Twin Sample.

Evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired redox signalling in a subgroup of patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome

Novel characterisation of mast cell phenotypes from peripheral blood mononuclear cells in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis patients.

Well-being in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Relationship to Symptoms and Psychological Distress.

Fatigue and psychosocial variables in autoimmune rheumatic disease and chronic fatigue syndrome: A cross-sectional comparison.

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