ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2661–2680 of 6,188 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearLongitudinal

The occupational and quality of life consequences of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis in young people.

Taylor, Renee R, O'Brien, Jane, Kielhofner, Gary et al.·The British journal of occupational therapy·2010

This study followed young people aged 12-18 who had glandular fever to see what happened after infection. Most recovered normally, but 39 developed ME/CFS. Compared to those who recovered, young people with ME/CFS reported feeling less confident in their abilities, had more difficulty with physical activities, and experienced worse overall health—affecting school, friendships, and emotional wellbeing.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Postinfectious fatigue in adolescents and physical activity.

Huang, Yue, Katz, Ben Z, Mears, Cynthia et al.·Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine·2010

This study followed 301 teenagers with infectious mononucleosis (mono) for 2 years, comparing those who developed chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) with those who recovered normally. Adolescents with post-infection CFS reported much more severe fatigue and needed more daytime sleep than their peers, even though their overall activity levels looked similar on paper. The key finding suggests that teenagers with CFS after mono may be forcing themselves to stay active like their friends, but at a significant physical cost in terms of exhaustion and sleep needs.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Exercise tolerance testing in a prospective cohort of adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome and recovered controls following infectious mononucleosis.

Katz, Ben Z, Boas, Steven, Shiraishi, Yukiko et al.·The Journal of pediatrics·2010

After infectious mononucleosis, some teenagers develop ME/CFS. Researchers compared how well teenagers with ME/CFS could exercise compared to teenagers who recovered normally from mono. Teenagers with ME/CFS showed lower oxygen use and heart efficiency during exercise tests, even though they looked the same as healthy teens in other ways.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Antibody to parvovirus B19 nonstructural protein is associated with chronic arthralgia in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Kerr, Jonathan R, Gough, John, Richards, Selwyn C M et al.·The Journal of general virology·2010

This study looked at whether parvovirus B19 (a common virus) plays a role in ME/CFS, particularly in patients with joint pain. While ME/CFS patients and healthy people had similar rates of past B19 infection, researchers found that ME/CFS patients were much more likely to have specific antibodies suggesting the virus wasn't being cleared properly from their body. Interestingly, patients with these antibodies were more likely to report chronic joint pain.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Increased ventricular lactate in chronic fatigue syndrome measured by 1H MRS imaging at 3.0 T. II: comparison with major depressive disorder.

Murrough, James W, Mao, Xiangling, Collins, Katherine A et al.·NMR in biomedicine·2010

This study used a special type of brain imaging called MRI to measure a substance called lactate in the fluid around the brain of people with ME/CFS. The researchers found that people with ME/CFS had significantly higher lactate levels compared to healthy people and people with depression. Interestingly, people with depression had normal lactate levels, suggesting this finding may be specific to ME/CFS and not just a symptom of mental illness.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Absence of evidence of xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus infection in persons with chronic fatigue syndrome and healthy controls in the United States.

Switzer, William M, Jia, Hongwei, Hohn, Oliver et al.·Retrovirology·2010

Researchers tested blood samples from 51 ME/CFS patients and 56 healthy people to see if a virus called XMRV was present. Using multiple sensitive tests from different laboratories, they found no evidence of this virus in either group. This study contradicted an earlier claim that XMRV was found in most ME/CFS patients.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Physical and functional impact of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis in childhood.

Kennedy, Gwen, Underwood, Christine, Belch, Jill Janette Freda·Pediatrics·2010

This study compared the quality of life of 25 children with ME/CFS to 23 healthy children of similar age and gender. Children with ME/CFS reported much lower quality of life across nearly all areas measured, including physical health, daily activities, and overall well-being. Most children with ME/CFS attended school part-time or received home tutoring only, showing how significantly the illness affects their ability to participate in normal daily life.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredObservational

Unravelling the nature of postexertional malaise in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: the role of elastase, complement C4a and interleukin-1beta.

Nijs, J, Van Oosterwijck, J, Meeus, M et al.·Journal of internal medicine·2010

This study looked at what happens in the blood after people with ME/CFS exercise. Researchers compared 22 women with ME/CFS to 22 healthy women and measured specific immune markers (elastase, IL-1beta, and complement C4a) before and after two different types of exercise. Both types of exercise triggered postexertional malaise (a worsening of symptoms after activity) in the ME/CFS group, but surprisingly, the immune markers they measured didn't show significant changes in either group.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related gammaretrovirus in respiratory tract.

Fischer, Nicole, Schulz, Claudia, Stieler, Kristin et al.·Emerging infectious diseases·2010

Researchers looked for a virus called XMRV in respiratory samples (like saliva or mucus) from healthy and immunocompromised people. They found viral traces in a small percentage of healthy people (2-3%) and a higher percentage of immunocompromised people (10%). This study was one of several investigating whether XMRV might be linked to ME/CFS, though the findings were modest.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Phenotypes of chronic fatigue syndrome in children and young people.

May, Margaret, Emond, Alan, Crawley, Esther·Archives of disease in childhood·2010

Researchers studied 333 children and young people with ME/CFS to see if the illness presents differently in different people. They found three main patterns: one involving muscle and joint pain, another involving migraine-like symptoms with sensitivity to light and sound, and a third involving sore throat and swollen lymph nodes. These different patterns were linked to varying levels of severity, suggesting that ME/CFS affects children in different ways.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Reduced heart rate variability predicts poor sleep quality in a case-control study of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Burton, A R, Rahman, K, Kadota, Y et al.·Experimental brain research·2010

People with ME/CFS often report poor sleep quality. This study measured heart rate patterns during sleep in 20 patients with ME/CFS and 20 healthy controls, finding that ME/CFS patients had much lower heart rate variability (natural changes in heart rate) during sleep. The researchers concluded that this reduced variability—suggesting the nervous system stays "on high alert" even at night—is closely linked to their sleep problems.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Impaired cardiovascular response to standing in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Hollingsworth, Kieren G, Jones, David E J, Taylor, Roy et al.·European journal of clinical investigation·2010

This study found that people with ME/CFS have abnormal heart function when standing up, and their heart and muscle cells struggle to produce energy efficiently. Researchers used specialized scans to measure energy metabolism in the heart and muscles, and found that about one-third of ME/CFS patients showed significant heart energy problems. When standing, ME/CFS patients had stronger heart contractions and more symptoms compared to healthy controls, suggesting their bodies are working much harder to maintain blood flow.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Absence of xenotropic murine leukaemia virus-related virus in UK patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Groom, Harriet C T, Boucherit, Virginie C, Makinson, Kerry et al.·Retrovirology·2010

This study looked for a virus called XMRV in 170 ME/CFS patients and 395 healthy controls to see if the virus was linked to the disease. Researchers used two methods: direct detection of viral material and blood tests looking for immune responses. They found no evidence that XMRV was associated with ME/CFS, contradicting an earlier study that had reported finding the virus in most CFS patients.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Physical and psychosocial correlates of severe fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis.

van Hoogmoed, Dewy, Fransen, Jaap, Bleijenberg, Gijs et al.·Rheumatology (Oxford, England)·2010

This study looked at severe fatigue in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a condition that causes joint inflammation. Researchers found that 42% of RA patients experienced severe fatigue that felt frustrating and exhausting. Importantly, this severe fatigue was more closely linked to pain, mood, sleep quality, and how patients thought about their fatigue—rather than to inflammation markers alone.

Pain and SensitizationSleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

[Effectiveness of medical rehabilitation in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome at a health resort].

Tovbushenko, M P, Merkulova, G A, Anashkin, V V et al.·Voprosy kurortologii, fizioterapii, i lechebnoi fizicheskoi kultury·2010

Researchers tested whether a spa resort program combined with specific treatments—including electrophoresis with succinic acid, mud therapy, and immune-boosting injections—could help ME/CFS patients feel better. The study found that this combination approach appeared to be effective at improving symptoms in the patients who participated.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

The effects of repeated thermal therapy on quality of life in patients with type II diabetes mellitus.

Beever, Richard·Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)·2010

This study tested whether far-infrared sauna sessions (3 times per week for 3 months) could improve quality of life in people with type II diabetes. Researchers found that participants reported improvements in physical health, general health, stress, and fatigue. The study suggests that saunas might help people with diabetes feel better, and interestingly, more people seemed willing to try saunas compared to other lifestyle changes.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Plasma IL-6, its soluble receptors and F2-isoprostanes at rest and during exercise in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Robinson, M, Gray, S R, Watson, M S et al.·Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports·2010

This study looked at specific markers of inflammation and oxidative stress (cellular damage) in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy individuals, both at rest and after exercise. Researchers found that a marker called F2-isoprostanes—which indicates oxidative stress—was consistently higher in ME/CFS patients. However, they did not find differences in inflammation markers like IL-6 between the two groups.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Longitudinal MRI shows no cerebral abnormality in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Perrin, R, Embleton, K, Pentreath, V W et al.·The British journal of radiology·2010

This study used MRI brain scans to look for physical abnormalities in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. Eighteen patients with ME/CFS and nine healthy volunteers were scanned twice, one year apart. The researchers found no significant differences between the two groups in brain size, fluid levels, blood flow, or white matter lesions, and these measurements remained stable over the year.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Serological and virological investigation of the role of the herpesviruses EBV, CMV and HHV-6 in post-infective fatigue syndrome.

Cameron, Barbara, Flamand, Louis, Juwana, Hedy et al.·Journal of medical virology·2010

Researchers tested blood samples from ME/CFS patients and healthy controls to see whether three common herpesviruses (EBV, CMV, and HHV-6) were actively reactivating or causing ongoing infection. They found no evidence that these viruses were actively infected or reactivating in ME/CFS patients compared to controls who recovered normally from infection.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Impaired sleep in chronic fatigue syndrome: how is it best measured?

Creti, Laura, Libman, Eva, Baltzan, Marcel et al.·Journal of health psychology·2010

This study compared three different ways of measuring sleep in people with ME/CFS: overnight hospital testing (polysomnography), wrist-worn activity monitors (actigraphy), and patients reporting on their own sleep. Researchers found that while objective measurements matched what patients reported about total sleep time, the objective tests didn't capture daytime symptoms like non-refreshing sleep, fatigue, or sleepiness that patients actually experience.

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The occupational and quality of life consequences of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis in young people.

Postinfectious fatigue in adolescents and physical activity.

Exercise tolerance testing in a prospective cohort of adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome and recovered controls following infectious mononucleosis.

Antibody to parvovirus B19 nonstructural protein is associated with chronic arthralgia in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Increased ventricular lactate in chronic fatigue syndrome measured by 1H MRS imaging at 3.0 T. II: comparison with major depressive disorder.

Absence of evidence of xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus infection in persons with chronic fatigue syndrome and healthy controls in the United States.

Physical and functional impact of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis in childhood.

Unravelling the nature of postexertional malaise in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: the role of elastase, complement C4a and interleukin-1beta.

Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related gammaretrovirus in respiratory tract.

Phenotypes of chronic fatigue syndrome in children and young people.

Reduced heart rate variability predicts poor sleep quality in a case-control study of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Impaired cardiovascular response to standing in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Absence of xenotropic murine leukaemia virus-related virus in UK patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Physical and psychosocial correlates of severe fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis.

[Effectiveness of medical rehabilitation in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome at a health resort].

The effects of repeated thermal therapy on quality of life in patients with type II diabetes mellitus.

Plasma IL-6, its soluble receptors and F2-isoprostanes at rest and during exercise in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Longitudinal MRI shows no cerebral abnormality in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Serological and virological investigation of the role of the herpesviruses EBV, CMV and HHV-6 in post-infective fatigue syndrome.

Impaired sleep in chronic fatigue syndrome: how is it best measured?

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