ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2561–2580 of 6,160 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Longitudinal health study of US 1991 Gulf War veterans: changes in health status at 10-year follow-up.

Li, Bo, Mahan, Clare M, Kang, Han K et al.·American journal of epidemiology·2011

This study followed US veterans from the 1991 Gulf War for 10 years (1995–2005) to see how their health changed over time. Deployed veterans reported more ongoing health problems, including chronic fatigue syndrome-like illness, than veterans who were not deployed. By 2005, deployed veterans were also more likely to develop new health problems compared to nondeployed veterans.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Prevalence of XMRV nucleic acid and antibody in HIV-1-Infected men and in men at risk for HIV-1 Infection.

Spindler, J, Hackett, J, Qiu, X et al.·Advances in virology·2011

This study tested blood samples from men in an HIV research study to see if they were infected with XMRV, a virus that had been proposed as a possible cause of ME/CFS. Researchers used two different methods to look for the virus: checking for antibodies (immune system responses) and checking for the virus itself. They found no evidence that XMRV was actually present in any of the samples tested.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Cognitive deficits in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome compared to those with major depressive disorder and healthy controls.

Constant, E L, Adam, S, Gillain, B et al.·Clinical neurology and neurosurgery·2011

This study tested memory and attention in people with ME/CFS, comparing them to people with depression and healthy volunteers. People with ME/CFS showed real, measurable problems with attention and memory, but these problems were NOT simply caused by depression or by getting tired during testing. Importantly, the cognitive difficulties in ME/CFS appeared to be their own distinct issue, separate from their mood symptoms.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus-associated chronic fatigue syndrome reveals a distinct inflammatory signature.

Lombardi, Vincent C, Hagen, Kathryn S, Hunter, Kenneth W et al.·In vivo (Athens, Greece)·2011

This 2011 study looked for a specific virus (XMRV) in the blood of ME/CFS patients and measured immune system chemicals called cytokines and chemokines. Researchers found a distinctive pattern of 10 immune chemicals that could identify XMRV-positive patients with very high accuracy (93-96%), suggesting that this virus may trigger a particular type of immune response in some people with ME/CFS.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Sleep-stage dynamics in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome with or without fibromyalgia.

Kishi, Akifumi, Natelson, Benjamin H, Togo, Fumiharu et al.·Sleep·2011

This study looked at sleep patterns in women with ME/CFS, comparing those with ME/CFS alone to those who also have fibromyalgia (FM). Researchers found that people with ME/CFS alone had trouble staying asleep and waking up too often from REM sleep, while those with both conditions showed different sleep problems including difficulty maintaining deeper sleep stages. These findings suggest that ME/CFS and fibromyalgia may involve different types of sleep disturbances.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Patient-reported outcomes as a source of evidence in off-label prescribing: analysis of data from PatientsLikeMe.

Frost, Jeana, Okun, Sally, Vaughan, Timothy et al.·Journal of medical Internet research·2011

This study looked at how patients can help doctors understand whether existing medicines work for conditions they weren't originally designed to treat. Researchers analyzed information from an online patient community where people with conditions like ME/CFS shared their experiences with two medicines: amitriptyline and modafinil. The study found that most patients were using these drugs for purposes other than what they were officially approved for, and many reported the drugs helped them.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The search for pain relief in people with chronic fatigue syndrome: a descriptive study.

Marshall, Rebecca, Paul, Lorna, Wood, Les·Physiotherapy theory and practice·2011

This study asked 50 people with ME/CFS who experience pain about treatments they had tried to help manage their symptoms. Researchers found that many patients tried complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) and physiotherapy, with acupuncture being the treatment most people reported as helpful for pain relief. The study suggests some of these treatments may help people cope with ME/CFS pain, though more research is needed to confirm how well they actually work.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Increased tenderness in the left third intercostal space in adult patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis: a controlled study.

Puri, B K, Gunatilake, K D R, Fernando, K A C et al.·The Journal of international medical research·2011

Researchers examined the chests of 42 people with ME/CFS and 20 healthy people to look for physical signs. They found that 81% of people with ME/CFS had tenderness (pain when touched) in a specific area on the left side of their rib cage, while none of the healthy people had this tenderness. This suggests there may be a consistent physical finding that doctors could potentially use to help identify ME/CFS.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Gynecological history in chronic fatigue syndrome: a population-based case-control study.

Boneva, Roumiana S, Maloney, Elizabeth M, Lin, Jin-Mann et al.·Journal of women's health (2002)·2011

This study looked at whether gynecological history—including conditions like endometriosis, pelvic pain, and surgeries—might be connected to ME/CFS. Researchers compared 36 women with ME/CFS to 48 healthy women and found that women with ME/CFS reported more pelvic pain, endometriosis, and gynecological surgeries. The study suggests that gynecological health may play a role in ME/CFS and deserves closer medical attention.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Small heart with low cardiac output for orthostatic intolerance in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Miwa, Kunihisa, Fujita, Masatoshi·Clinical cardiology·2011

This study found that ME/CFS patients who experience dizziness or fainting when standing up (orthostatic intolerance) have smaller hearts and pump less blood with each beat compared to ME/CFS patients without these symptoms and healthy people. The researchers used ultrasound imaging to measure heart size and function in different groups and discovered that about half of ME/CFS patients with orthostatic intolerance had unusually small left heart chambers.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Diagnostic accuracy of symptoms characterising chronic fatigue syndrome.

Davenport, Todd E, Stevens, Staci R, Baroni, Katie et al.·Disability and rehabilitation·2011

This study looked at which symptoms best identify people with ME/CFS by comparing 16 patients with the condition to 14 healthy controls. The researchers found that failure to recover within one day after intense exercise was the strongest single indicator of ME/CFS, and combining three symptoms—immune problems, sleep disturbance, and pain—could accurately identify most patients. The findings suggest that fewer symptoms may be needed to diagnose ME/CFS than current guidelines require.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Long-chain acylcarnitine deficiency in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Potential involvement of altered carnitine palmitoyltransferase-I activity.

Reuter, S E, Evans, A M·Journal of internal medicine·2011

This study found that people with ME/CFS have lower levels of certain fat-like molecules called acylcarnitines in their blood compared to healthy people. These molecules are important for cells to produce energy from fat. The researchers suggest this difference might be related to how the body processes fatty acids, and they propose that taking omega-3 fatty acids along with carnitine supplements might help improve symptoms.

Energy Metabolism

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

The role of acceptance in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Brooks, Samantha K, Rimes, Katharine A, Chalder, Trudie·Journal of psychosomatic research·2011

This study looked at whether learning to accept ME/CFS (rather than fighting against it) helps patients feel less fatigued and function better in daily life. Researchers gave 259 patients questionnaires and then provided 90 of them with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). After treatment, patients who had learned greater acceptance reported less fatigue and better ability to work and socialize.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Numbers and types of nonbladder syndromes as risk factors for interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome.

Warren, John W, Wesselmann, Ursula, Morozov, Vadim et al.·Urology·2011

This study looked at whether having multiple conditions alongside bladder pain (like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and allergies) increases the risk of developing interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS). Researchers found that people who had more of these accompanying conditions before developing IC/PBS were at higher risk, and that these conditions often appeared before the bladder symptoms started. The specific types of conditions varied, but their number seemed to matter most.

E2 ModeratePEM not requiredRegistry-Resource

A Disease Register for ME/CFS: Report of a Pilot Study.

Pheby, Derek, Lacerda, Eliana, Nacul, Luis et al.·BMC research notes·2011

Researchers created a disease register (a database) to identify and track people with ME/CFS in a fair and systematic way. They searched GP records in three regions of England and found 510 patients with unexplained chronic fatigue, of which 160 agreed to join the register. By following these patients over time, researchers can better understand how ME/CFS progresses and use this group for future studies.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Psychophysical distress and alexithymic traits in chronic fatigue syndrome with and without comorbid depression.

Sepede, G, Racciatti, D, Gorgoretti, V et al.·International journal of immunopathology and pharmacology·2011

This study compared people with ME/CFS to healthy people and looked at two things: emotional distress and difficulty recognizing their own feelings. They found that ME/CFS patients had more physical symptoms and emotional complaints than healthy people, especially those who also had depression. Interestingly, even ME/CFS patients without depression had some difficulty identifying their emotions, though less than those with depression.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Peripheral blood gene expression in postinfective fatigue syndrome following from three different triggering infections.

Galbraith, Sally, Cameron, Barbara, Li, Hui et al.·The Journal of infectious diseases·2011

Researchers studied blood samples from 18 people who developed long-lasting fatigue after three different infections (Epstein-Barr virus, Ross River virus, and Q fever) and compared them to 18 healthy people who recovered normally. They looked for patterns in which genes were turned on or off that might explain the fatigue syndrome. While they found some differences in gene activity, these patterns were not consistent across the different infection groups, suggesting there may not be a single blood-based marker that identifies post-infectious fatigue.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Failure to Detect XMRV-Specific Antibodies in the Plasma of CFS Patients Using Highly Sensitive Chemiluminescence Immunoassays.

Oakes, Brendan, Qiu, Xiaoxing, Levine, Susan et al.·Advances in virology·2011

In 2009, researchers claimed they found a virus called XMRV in most ME/CFS patients' blood. This study tested whether that finding was real by looking for antibodies (immune system markers) to XMRV in blood samples from ME/CFS patients and healthy people. The researchers found no evidence of XMRV antibodies in any of the samples, suggesting the original finding may not have been accurate.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

The pathway from glandular fever to chronic fatigue syndrome: can the cognitive behavioural model provide the map?

Moss-Morris, R, Spence, M J, Hou, R·Psychological medicine·2011

This study followed 246 people with glandular fever (infectious mononucleosis) to see who developed chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in the months after infection. The researchers found that certain psychological factors—like anxiety, depression, perfectionism, and negative beliefs about the illness—were associated with developing CFS. Interestingly, an 'all-or-nothing' approach to activity (pushing hard then stopping completely) was the strongest predictor of CFS at 6 months.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

Does the heterogeneity of chronic fatigue syndrome moderate the response to cognitive behaviour therapy? An exploratory study.

Cella, Matteo, Chalder, Trudie, White, Peter D·Psychotherapy and psychosomatics·2011

This study looked at whether ME/CFS patients are different from each other in ways that predict how well they respond to cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), a type of talking therapy. Researchers analyzed data from 236 patients and found that most patients improved with CBT regardless of their characteristics, but they identified a smaller group with certain traits—including weight changes, tremors, anxiety, and pain—who were less likely to benefit. The findings suggest CBT can help most people with ME/CFS, though a minority may need different approaches.

Interventions

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Longitudinal health study of US 1991 Gulf War veterans: changes in health status at 10-year follow-up.

Prevalence of XMRV nucleic acid and antibody in HIV-1-Infected men and in men at risk for HIV-1 Infection.

Cognitive deficits in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome compared to those with major depressive disorder and healthy controls.

Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus-associated chronic fatigue syndrome reveals a distinct inflammatory signature.

Sleep-stage dynamics in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome with or without fibromyalgia.

Patient-reported outcomes as a source of evidence in off-label prescribing: analysis of data from PatientsLikeMe.

The search for pain relief in people with chronic fatigue syndrome: a descriptive study.

Increased tenderness in the left third intercostal space in adult patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis: a controlled study.

Gynecological history in chronic fatigue syndrome: a population-based case-control study.

Small heart with low cardiac output for orthostatic intolerance in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Diagnostic accuracy of symptoms characterising chronic fatigue syndrome.

Long-chain acylcarnitine deficiency in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Potential involvement of altered carnitine palmitoyltransferase-I activity.

The role of acceptance in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Numbers and types of nonbladder syndromes as risk factors for interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome.

A Disease Register for ME/CFS: Report of a Pilot Study.

Psychophysical distress and alexithymic traits in chronic fatigue syndrome with and without comorbid depression.

Peripheral blood gene expression in postinfective fatigue syndrome following from three different triggering infections.

Failure to Detect XMRV-Specific Antibodies in the Plasma of CFS Patients Using Highly Sensitive Chemiluminescence Immunoassays.

The pathway from glandular fever to chronic fatigue syndrome: can the cognitive behavioural model provide the map?

Does the heterogeneity of chronic fatigue syndrome moderate the response to cognitive behaviour therapy? An exploratory study.

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