ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2401–2420 of 6,160 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Increased ventricular lactate in chronic fatigue syndrome. III. Relationships to cortical glutathione and clinical symptoms implicate oxidative stress in disorder pathophysiology.

Shungu, Dikoma C, Weiduschat, Nora, Murrough, James W et al.·NMR in biomedicine·2012

This study used specialized brain imaging to look for differences in how the brains of people with ME/CFS work compared to healthy people and those with depression or anxiety. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS had higher levels of lactate (a chemical produced when cells don't get enough oxygen) in their brain fluid and lower levels of a natural antioxidant that protects cells from damage. These findings suggest that oxidative stress—damage from harmful molecules—may be an important part of what causes ME/CFS.

Energy Metabolism

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Prevalence of xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus infection in different risk populations in Spain.

Arredondo, Miguel, Hackett, John, de Bethencourt, Fermín R et al.·AIDS research and human retroviruses·2012

Researchers tested blood samples from over 1,100 people in Spain, including those with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia, to look for a virus called XMRV that had been suggested as a possible cause of these conditions. They found no reliable evidence that XMRV was present in any of the groups they studied, including people with ME/CFS, cancer, other viral infections, or healthy blood donors.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Alternative diagnoses to chronic fatigue syndrome in referrals to a specialist service: service evaluation survey.

Devasahayam, Anoop, Lawn, Tara, Murphy, Maurice et al.·JRSM short reports·2012

This study looked at patients referred to a specialist ME/CFS clinic to see how often doctors correctly identified ME/CFS versus other conditions. Researchers found that about half of all referred patients actually had different medical or psychiatric conditions instead of ME/CFS—most commonly sleep disorders or depression. This shows that careful specialist assessment is important to make sure patients get the right diagnosis.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearLongitudinal

A preliminary prospective study of nutritional, psychological and combined therapies for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) in a private care setting.

Arroll, Megan Anne, Howard, Alex·BMJ open·2012

This study looked at whether three different approaches—psychology-based treatment, nutrition-based treatment, or a combination of both—could help people with ME/CFS over a 3-month period. All three groups reported feeling better in terms of fatigue, daily functioning, and overall symptoms, with the psychology group also feeling more in control of their condition. However, the study had important limitations: people weren't randomly assigned to groups, there was no control group to compare against, and many participants dropped out, so the results need to be interpreted carefully.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Chronic fatigue syndrome and subsequent risk of cancer among elderly US adults.

Chang, Cindy M, Warren, Joan L, Engels, Eric A·Cancer·2012

Researchers investigated whether people with ME/CFS have a higher risk of developing cancer. Using medical records from over 1.2 million elderly Americans, they found that people with ME/CFS had a slightly increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (a blood cancer), particularly certain subtypes. The study does not prove that ME/CFS causes cancer, but suggests that shared immune system problems or infections might explain the connection.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Impaired cardiac function in chronic fatigue syndrome measured using magnetic resonance cardiac tagging.

Hollingsworth, K G, Hodgson, T, Macgowan, G A et al.·Journal of internal medicine·2012

This study used advanced heart imaging (MRI) to look at how the hearts of people with ME/CFS work compared to healthy people. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients had smaller hearts with less blood volume, weaker pumping strength, and abnormal twisting and relaxation patterns. These heart changes may help explain why ME/CFS patients experience such severe fatigue and exercise intolerance.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Xenotropic and polytropic murine leukemia virus-related sequences are not detected in the majority of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Paolucci, Stefania, Piralla, Antonio, Zanello, Cinzia et al.·The new microbiologica·2012

This study looked for two viruses (XMRV and MLV-related viruses) that had been suggested as possible causes of ME/CFS. Researchers tested 12 ME/CFS patients and 40 healthy control subjects. They found these viruses in only 2 of the 12 patients, while all controls tested negative. The results suggest these viruses are not common in ME/CFS patients, and previous reports of finding them may have been due to laboratory contamination with mouse DNA.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Visible and near-infrared spectra collected from the thumbs of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome for diagnosis.

Sakudo, Akikazu, Kuratsune, Hirohiko, Kato, Yukiko Hakariya et al.·Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry·2012

Researchers used a special light-based scanner on patients' thumbs to see if they could tell the difference between people with ME/CFS and healthy people. The scanner detected subtle changes in how light passes through the skin in a specific wavelength range. When they analyzed the results using computer models, they were able to correctly identify about 70% of ME/CFS patients and 83% of healthy people, suggesting this method might someday help doctors diagnose ME/CFS more objectively.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Absence of evidence for bornavirus infection in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder.

Hornig, M, Briese, T, Licinio, J et al.·Molecular psychiatry·2012

Researchers tested whether a virus called Borna disease virus (BDV) might cause depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. They carefully compared blood samples from 198 patients with these conditions and 198 healthy people, looking for signs of the virus. They found no evidence that the virus was present in either group, suggesting BDV is not responsible for these psychiatric illnesses.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Prevalence, incidence, and classification of chronic fatigue syndrome in Olmsted County, Minnesota, as estimated using the Rochester Epidemiology Project.

Vincent, Ann, Brimmer, Dana J, Whipple, Mary O et al.·Mayo Clinic proceedings·2012

This study looked at how many people in one county had ME/CFS by reviewing medical records from 1998-2002. Researchers found that about 71 out of every 100,000 people had ME/CFS, and about 13 out of every 100,000 per year were newly diagnosed. Importantly, they discovered that 70% of people initially suspected of having ME/CFS actually had other medical conditions that explained their fatigue instead.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Activation of cell-mediated immunity in depression: association with inflammation, melancholia, clinical staging and the fatigue and somatic symptom cluster of depression.

Maes, Michael, Mihaylova, Ivana, Kubera, Marta et al.·Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry·2012

This study looked at immune system markers in people with depression, comparing them to healthy controls. Researchers measured chemicals called neopterin and inflammatory proteins in the blood and found they were higher in depressed patients, especially those with melancholia (severe depression with physical symptoms). These same markers were also linked to chronic fatigue symptoms, suggesting that immune system activation may play a role in both depression and fatigue.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Factor analysis of the Beck Depression Inventory-II with patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Brown, Molly, Kaplan, Carly, Jason, Leonard·Journal of health psychology·2012

This study looked at how well a depression screening tool (the Beck Depression Inventory-II) works for people with ME/CFS. The researchers found that the tool picks up on physical and emotional symptoms separately, and that people with ME/CFS tend to score high on the physical symptom questions because many overlap with ME/CFS symptoms like fatigue. A simpler version of the tool designed for primary care settings worked better for this group.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Neurohumoral and haemodynamic profile in postural tachycardia and chronic fatigue syndromes.

Okamoto, Luis E, Raj, Satish R, Peltier, Amanda et al.·Clinical science (London, England : 1979)·2012

This study looked at patients with POTS (a condition where heart rate increases too much when standing) to see how many also have ME/CFS and whether they are different from POTS patients without ME/CFS. The researchers found that most POTS patients experience severe fatigue, and about two-thirds also meet ME/CFS criteria. Those with both conditions had stronger heart rate increases when standing and signs of greater stress hormone activity.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

No biological evidence of XMRV infection in cervical smears from HIV/ HPV positive and negative Kenyan women.

He, Xiaotong, Walker, Thomas D J, Maranga, Innocent O et al.·PloS one·2012

This study tested whether a virus called XMRV could be found in cervical samples from 224 Kenyan women, some with HIV and some without. Using sensitive lab techniques, the researchers found no trace of XMRV in any of the samples. This supports the idea that XMRV, once linked to ME/CFS, is likely a lab contamination rather than a real human infection.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

[Epidemiology, diagnostics, and treatment of complications after neuroinfections: chronic fatigue syndrome].

Verner, O M, Murashko, N K·Likars'ka sprava·2012

This study looked at how often ME/CFS occurs in people who have had brain infections, finding that more than 20% of patients who recover from certain infections develop ME/CFS afterward. The condition was more common in people aged 40-59, and women were affected about 4 times more often than men. While the exact cause remains unknown, researchers think it may be related to genetics, immune system problems, or lingering effects from infections like Epstein-Barr virus.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Lyme disease in a British referral clinic.

Cottle, L E, Mekonnen, E, Beadsworth, M B J et al.·QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians·2012

This UK study looked at 115 patients who were referred to a specialist clinic because doctors suspected they had Lyme disease. The researchers found that only 23% actually had Lyme disease, while about one-third had ME/CFS instead. Importantly, some ME/CFS patients had been incorrectly told they had Lyme disease by non-specialist doctors, leading them to take unnecessary antibiotics.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Increased IgA responses to the LPS of commensal bacteria is associated with inflammation and activation of cell-mediated immunity in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Maes, Michael, Twisk, Frank N M, Kubera, Marta et al.·Journal of affective disorders·2012

This study found that people with ME/CFS have higher levels of immune antibodies (IgA) that react to bacteria normally living in their gut. These elevated antibodies were connected to increased inflammation and immune system activation in the blood. The more of these antibodies patients had, the worse their symptoms—including fatigue, brain fog, and digestive problems—tended to be.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Increased autoimmune activity against 5-HT: a key component of depression that is associated with inflammation and activation of cell-mediated immunity, and with severity and staging of depression.

Maes, Michael, Ringel, Karl, Kubera, Marta et al.·Journal of affective disorders·2012

This study found that people with depression have more antibodies attacking serotonin (a brain chemical) compared to healthy people, especially those with severe depression. These antibodies were linked to higher inflammation, immune activation, fatigue, and cognitive problems. The more depressive episodes someone had experienced, the more likely they were to have these antibodies, suggesting that repeated depression may change the immune system over time.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Confidence judgment in depression and dysphoria: the depressive realism vs. negativity hypotheses.

Szu-Ting Fu, Tiffany, Koutstaal, Wilma, Poon, Lucia et al.·Journal of behavior therapy and experimental psychiatry·2012

This study looked at how accurately people judge their own knowledge and abilities. Researchers compared three groups: healthy people, those with clinical depression, and people with chronic fatigue syndrome who felt sad or low. They found that people with depression were overly critical of themselves, while people with chronic fatigue syndrome were more realistic about their abilities—similar to healthy controls.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

No evidence of XMRV infection in immunocompromised patients and HIV-positive individuals from Germany.

Korn, K, Reil, H, Ensser, A et al.·Infection·2012

Researchers tested blood samples from 542 people in Germany—including those with weakened immune systems and people living with HIV—to see if they carried a virus called XMRV that had been suggested as a possible cause of ME/CFS. None of the 814 blood samples tested positive for XMRV, suggesting this virus is not present in these high-risk groups in Germany.

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Evidence browser

Increased ventricular lactate in chronic fatigue syndrome. III. Relationships to cortical glutathione and clinical symptoms implicate oxidative stress in disorder pathophysiology.

Prevalence of xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus infection in different risk populations in Spain.

Alternative diagnoses to chronic fatigue syndrome in referrals to a specialist service: service evaluation survey.

A preliminary prospective study of nutritional, psychological and combined therapies for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) in a private care setting.

Chronic fatigue syndrome and subsequent risk of cancer among elderly US adults.

Impaired cardiac function in chronic fatigue syndrome measured using magnetic resonance cardiac tagging.

Xenotropic and polytropic murine leukemia virus-related sequences are not detected in the majority of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Visible and near-infrared spectra collected from the thumbs of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome for diagnosis.

Absence of evidence for bornavirus infection in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder.

Prevalence, incidence, and classification of chronic fatigue syndrome in Olmsted County, Minnesota, as estimated using the Rochester Epidemiology Project.

Activation of cell-mediated immunity in depression: association with inflammation, melancholia, clinical staging and the fatigue and somatic symptom cluster of depression.

Factor analysis of the Beck Depression Inventory-II with patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Neurohumoral and haemodynamic profile in postural tachycardia and chronic fatigue syndromes.

No biological evidence of XMRV infection in cervical smears from HIV/ HPV positive and negative Kenyan women.

[Epidemiology, diagnostics, and treatment of complications after neuroinfections: chronic fatigue syndrome].

Lyme disease in a British referral clinic.

Increased IgA responses to the LPS of commensal bacteria is associated with inflammation and activation of cell-mediated immunity in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Increased autoimmune activity against 5-HT: a key component of depression that is associated with inflammation and activation of cell-mediated immunity, and with severity and staging of depression.

Confidence judgment in depression and dysphoria: the depressive realism vs. negativity hypotheses.

No evidence of XMRV infection in immunocompromised patients and HIV-positive individuals from Germany.

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