ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2301–2320 of 6,188 studies

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

Functional somatic syndromes as risk factors for hysterectomy in early bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis.

Warren, John W, Clauw, Daniel J, Wesselmann, Ursula et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2014

This study looked at women with bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) to understand why some had hysterectomies (surgical removal of the uterus). Researchers found that women who developed new cases of chronic pelvic pain or irritable bowel syndrome, or who had multiple other chronic pain and fatigue conditions at the start of the study, were more likely to undergo hysterectomy. The authors suggest that before having surgery for pain, patients with these conditions should first try non-surgical treatments.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Decreased oxygen extraction during cardiopulmonary exercise test in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Vermeulen, Ruud C W, Vermeulen van Eck, Ineke W G·Journal of translational medicine·2014

This study looked at how well the body uses oxygen during exercise in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS extract less oxygen from their blood during exercise than healthy people do, suggesting their muscles aren't using oxygen efficiently. Interestingly, their hearts have to pump much harder to deliver oxygen, which argues against the idea that ME/CFS is simply caused by deconditioning (being out of shape).

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Effect of high dose vitamin C on Epstein-Barr viral infection.

Mikirova, Nina, Hunninghake, Ronald·Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research·2014

This study looked at whether high-dose vitamin C given through an IV might help people with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, including those with ME/CFS. Researchers reviewed medical records of 178 patients who received vitamin C infusions and had elevated EBV antibodies. They found that patients who received these treatments showed lower levels of EBV antibodies over time, and that higher vitamin C levels in the blood were associated with lower viral markers.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Postural tachycardia syndrome is associated with significant symptoms and functional impairment predominantly affecting young women: a UK perspective.

McDonald, Claire, Koshi, Sharon, Busner, Lorna et al.·BMJ open·2014

This study looked at 136 people in the UK with postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS)—a condition where your heart rate increases too much when you stand up—and found that it causes serious tiredness and functional problems, especially in young women. The researchers compared two groups of PoTS patients and found their symptoms and quality-of-life impacts were similar to those in people with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Importantly, there was no consistent treatment approach across patients, with some taking no medication and others on different drug combinations.

Autonomic Nervous SystemCognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Irritable bowel syndrome may be associated with maternal inheritance and mitochondrial DNA control region sequence variants.

van Tilburg, Miranda A L, Zaki, Essam A, Venkatesan, Thangam et al.·Digestive diseases and sciences·2014

This study looked at whether irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) runs in families through the mother's side, and whether this pattern is linked to variations in mitochondrial DNA (the energy-producing structures in our cells). Researchers found that about 1 in 6 IBS patients had a family history suggesting maternal inheritance, and certain DNA variations were more common in these patients. This suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction may explain IBS symptoms in some people.

Energy Metabolism

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Cognitive functioning in people with chronic fatigue syndrome: a comparison between subjective and objective measures.

Cockshell, Susan J, Mathias, Jane L·Neuropsychology·2014

This study looked at whether people with ME/CFS who report memory and concentration problems actually perform worse on cognitive tests. Fifty people with ME/CFS and 50 healthy controls completed questionnaires about their cognitive difficulties and took standardized memory and attention tests. Surprisingly, while people with ME/CFS reported significantly more cognitive problems in daily life, both groups performed similarly on the objective tests, and reported problems didn't match test results in either group.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Reference values for the Body Image Concern Inventory (BICI), the Whitely Index (WI), and the Checklist Individual Strength (CIS-20R): The Leiden Routine Outcome Monitoring Study.

Schulte-van Maaren, Yvonne W M, Giltay, Erik J, van Hemert, Albert M et al.·Journal of affective disorders·2014

This study established standard reference values for three questionnaires that measure different types of health concerns: body image worries, health anxiety, and fatigue/weakness. Researchers compared how 648 healthy people and 823 patients with these conditions answered the questionnaires, so doctors now have clear cutoff scores to help decide if treatments are working and when to adjust or stop therapy.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Chronic fatigue in adult survivors of childhood cancer: associated symptoms, neuroendocrine markers, and autonomic cardiovascular responses.

Zeller, Bernward, Ruud, Ellen, Havard Loge, Jon et al.·Psychosomatics·2014

This study looked at cancer survivors who experience chronic fatigue and compared them to survivors without fatigue. Researchers measured symptoms, stress hormones, and how the body responds to position changes. People with chronic fatigue reported more pain, confusion, and symptoms like heart palpitations and temperature sensitivity, though their heart responses to standing were similar to those without fatigue.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

No evidence of XMRV provirus sequences in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and individuals with unspecified encephalopathy.

Rasa, Santa, Nora-Krukle, Zaiga, Chapenko, Svetlana et al.·The new microbiologica·2014

Researchers tested blood and brain tissue samples from people with ME/CFS, people with other brain conditions, and healthy people to see if they carried a virus called XMRV. The virus had been suspected as a possible cause of ME/CFS. The study found no evidence of XMRV in any of the samples tested, suggesting this particular virus is not present in ME/CFS patients.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Traditional Chinese medicine and new concepts of predictive, preventive and personalized medicine in diagnosis and treatment of suboptimal health.

Wang, Wei, Russell, Alyce, Yan, Yuxiang et al.·The EPMA journal·2014

This study looked at how to identify people in the early stages of health problems before they develop into serious diseases. The researchers created a simple 25-question survey to measure 'suboptimal health'—a state where people feel unwell with fatigue and other complaints but don't have a clear diagnosis. They tested this survey with over 3,400 people in China and found that answers to the survey were connected to blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels.

Diagnostics

E2 ModeratePEM unclearBiobank-Resource

No association found between the detection of either xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus or polytropic murine leukemia virus and chronic fatigue syndrome in a blinded, multi-site, prospective study by the establishment and use of the SolveCFS BioBank.

Irlbeck, David M, Vernon, Suzanne D, McCleary, K Kimberly et al.·BMC research notes·2014

Researchers investigated whether two viruses (XMRV and pMLV) were present in people with ME/CFS, as had been suggested by earlier studies. They collected blood samples from people with ME/CFS and healthy people across five different U.S. locations and used sensitive testing methods to look for these viruses. They found no meaningful difference in virus detection between the two groups, and the virus sequences they did find appeared to be contamination from lab materials rather than real infections.

E2 ModerateMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Neuroinflammation in Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Yasuhito Nakatomi, Kei Mizuno, Akira Ishii et al.·Brain, Behavior, and Immunity·2014·n=9

Japanese researchers used PET imaging with a neuroinflammation tracer (PK11195) in 9 ME/CFS patients and healthy controls. They found significantly elevated neuroinflammation signals across multiple brain regions in ME/CFS patients, particularly in the cingulate cortex, thalamus, and brainstem — areas regulating fatigue and cognition.

Neuroinflammation

E2 ModerateReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The neuroinflammatory hypothesis of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: an update

Jarred W. Younger, Linda Yan, Sean Mackey·Journal of Neuroinflammation·2014·n=18

Using thermography and brain temperature imaging at Stanford, this study found evidence consistent with neuroinflammation — specifically elevated brain temperature — in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy controls. Brain regions associated with pain and fatigue showed the strongest signal.

Neuroinflammation

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Medically unexplained conditions considered by patients in general practice.

Tschudi-Madsen, Hedda, Kjeldsberg, Mona, Natvig, Bård et al.·Family practice·2014

This study looked at why patients in general practice often worry they might have conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, or food intolerance. Researchers asked over 900 patients about eight unexplained conditions and found that about 40% of them were concerned they might have one or more of these. The main finding was that patients with more symptoms and more stress in their lives were more likely to think they had one of these conditions.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

[A chronic fatigue syndrome and blood platelet serotonin levels in patients with multiple sclerosis].

Baĭdina, T V, Akintseva, Iu V, Trushnikova, T N·Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova·2014

This study looked at fatigue in 60 people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and compared them to 12 healthy people. Researchers measured fatigue using a standardized scale and checked levels of serotonin (a chemical messenger) in blood platelets. They found that nearly 58% of MS patients experienced severe fatigue, and these patients had lower serotonin levels that seemed connected to their MS symptoms.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Pain and pressure pain thresholds in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome and healthy controls: a cross-sectional study.

Winger, Anette, Kvarstein, Gunnvald, Wyller, Vegard Bruun et al.·BMJ open·2014

This study looked at pain in teenagers with ME/CFS compared to healthy teenagers. Teenagers with ME/CFS experienced more pain overall, in more places (headaches, stomach, muscles, and joints), and had lower pain thresholds—meaning their bodies reacted to pressure more sensitively. The researchers found that pain significantly interfered with daily activities in those with ME/CFS.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

The MAPP research network: design, patient characterization and operations.

Landis, J Richard, Williams, David A, Lucia, M Scott et al.·BMC urology·2014

The MAPP Research Network is a large study designed to understand chronic pelvic pain conditions and related illnesses like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and irritable bowel syndrome. Researchers followed over 1,000 patients at six sites across the United States, collecting detailed information about their symptoms, blood samples, and brain imaging to identify what causes these conditions and how they connect to each other.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Multivitamin mineral supplementation in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Maric, Daniela, Brkic, Snezana, Tomic, Slavica et al.·Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research·2014

This study tested whether taking a multivitamin and mineral supplement could help women with ME/CFS feel better. Thirty-eight women took the supplement for 2 months, and researchers measured changes in fatigue, sleep, headaches, and other symptoms. Most symptoms improved notably, including less fatigue and better sleep, though overall quality of life scores did not change.

SleepAutonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Attention processes in chronic fatigue syndrome: attentional bias for health-related threat and the role of attentional control.

Hou, Ruihua, Moss-Morris, Rona, Risdale, Anna et al.·Behaviour research and therapy·2014

This study looked at whether people with ME/CFS pay more attention to health-related words and images, and whether difficulty controlling attention might be connected to this pattern. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS do tend to focus more on health-threat words, and many also have trouble with executive attention (the mental control needed to stay focused). Importantly, people with ME/CFS who had weaker attention control showed the strongest focus on health threats.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Evidence for the existence of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) with and without abdominal discomfort (irritable bowel) syndrome.

Maes, Michael, Leunis, Jean-Claude, Geffard, Michel et al.·Neuro endocrinology letters·2014

This study found that many people with ME/CFS experience stomach and digestive problems, and this appears to be linked to bacteria from the gut leaking into the bloodstream. Researchers identified two groups of ME/CFS patients: those with significant abdominal discomfort and those without. The group with digestive symptoms showed higher levels of immune responses to gut bacteria, suggesting their intestinal barrier may be more permeable.

Immune System

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Evidence browser

Functional somatic syndromes as risk factors for hysterectomy in early bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis.

Decreased oxygen extraction during cardiopulmonary exercise test in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Effect of high dose vitamin C on Epstein-Barr viral infection.

Postural tachycardia syndrome is associated with significant symptoms and functional impairment predominantly affecting young women: a UK perspective.

Irritable bowel syndrome may be associated with maternal inheritance and mitochondrial DNA control region sequence variants.

Cognitive functioning in people with chronic fatigue syndrome: a comparison between subjective and objective measures.

Reference values for the Body Image Concern Inventory (BICI), the Whitely Index (WI), and the Checklist Individual Strength (CIS-20R): The Leiden Routine Outcome Monitoring Study.

Chronic fatigue in adult survivors of childhood cancer: associated symptoms, neuroendocrine markers, and autonomic cardiovascular responses.

No evidence of XMRV provirus sequences in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and individuals with unspecified encephalopathy.

Traditional Chinese medicine and new concepts of predictive, preventive and personalized medicine in diagnosis and treatment of suboptimal health.

No association found between the detection of either xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus or polytropic murine leukemia virus and chronic fatigue syndrome in a blinded, multi-site, prospective study by the establishment and use of the SolveCFS BioBank.

Neuroinflammation in Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

The neuroinflammatory hypothesis of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: an update

Medically unexplained conditions considered by patients in general practice.

[A chronic fatigue syndrome and blood platelet serotonin levels in patients with multiple sclerosis].

Pain and pressure pain thresholds in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome and healthy controls: a cross-sectional study.

The MAPP research network: design, patient characterization and operations.

Multivitamin mineral supplementation in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Attention processes in chronic fatigue syndrome: attentional bias for health-related threat and the role of attentional control.

Evidence for the existence of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) with and without abdominal discomfort (irritable bowel) syndrome.

Curated Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

PEM-Specific Research