Evidence browser

Autoimmunity-Related Risk Variants in PTPN22 and CTLA4 Are Associated With ME/CFS With Infectious Onset.

Steiner, Sophie, Becker, Sonya C, Hartwig, Jelka et al.·Frontiers in immunology·2020

This study looked at specific genetic variations that are known to affect how the immune system works. Researchers compared DNA from ME/CFS patients and healthy controls, and found that certain genetic variations were more common in ME/CFS patients whose illness started with an infection. These genetic changes affect how immune cells are controlled, suggesting that autoimmunity may play a role specifically in ME/CFS cases that begin with an infection.

Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and human herpesvirus-6 infections in patients with myalgic еncephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Shikova, Evelina, Reshkova, Valentina, Kumanova, Аntoniya et al.·Journal of medical virology·2020

Researchers tested 58 ME/CFS patients and 50 healthy people for three common viruses (EBV, CMV, and HHV-6) that have been suspected of triggering ME/CFS. They found that ME/CFS patients had significantly higher rates of active EBV infection in their bloodstream compared to healthy people, though most people in both groups carried these viruses in a dormant state. This suggests that for some patients, active EBV infection may play a role in ME/CFS development.

Energy MetabolismImmune System

Changes in DNA methylation profiles of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome patients reflect systemic dysfunctions.

Helliwell, A M, Sweetman, E C, Stockwell, P A et al.·Clinical epigenetics·2020

This study looked at chemical tags on DNA called methylation patterns in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. These tags can turn genes on or off without changing the DNA itself. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS have different methylation patterns, particularly in genes related to energy production, immune function, and brain chemistry, which may help explain why they experience the symptoms they do.

Patients with ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and chronic pain report similar level of sickness behavior as individuals injected with bacterial endotoxin at peak inflammation.

Jonsjö, Martin A, Åström, Jenny, Jones, Michael P et al.·Brain, behavior, & immunity - health·2020

This study compared how 'sick' people with ME/CFS and chronic pain feel compared to other groups. Researchers found that ME/CFS and chronic pain patients reported feeling as sick as healthy people who were given a bacterial toxin to trigger temporary inflammation. These high levels of sickness feelings were similar across both conditions and higher than what primary care patients reported, suggesting that the persistent sickness sensation in ME/CFS and chronic pain may involve similar biological mechanisms related to inflammation and how the brain processes illness signals.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

The role of low-grade inflammation in ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) - associations with symptoms.

Jonsjö, Martin A, Olsson, Gunnar L, Wicksell, Rikard K et al.·Psychoneuroendocrinology·2020

This study looked at whether low-level inflammation in the blood is connected to ME/CFS symptoms like exhaustion after activity, brain fog, muscle pain, and flu-like illness. Researchers tested 53 ME/CFS patients for various inflammatory markers and found that several of these markers were associated with cognitive problems and pain, though they were surprisingly less connected to post-exertional fatigue. Interestingly, the connection between inflammation and symptoms was different for men and women in some cases.

BiomarkersImmune SystemCognitive ImpairmentPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Multi-omics examination of Q fever fatigue syndrome identifies similarities with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Raijmakers, Ruud P H, Roerink, Megan E, Jansen, Anne F M et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2020

This study compared people with Q fever fatigue syndrome (a prolonged tiredness that develops after a Q fever infection) to people with ME/CFS and healthy controls. Researchers examined three types of biological markers: gut bacteria, blood chemicals, and inflammatory proteins. They found that people with Q fever fatigue syndrome have very similar patterns to ME/CFS patients, suggesting these two conditions may share similar underlying biological mechanisms.

Energy MetabolismImmune System

MCP-1 is increased in patients with CFS and FM, whilst several other immune markers are significantly lower than healthy controls.

Groven, Nina, Fors, Egil Andreas, Stunes, Astrid Kamilla et al.·Brain, behavior, & immunity - health·2020

This study looked at immune system markers in the blood of people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia compared to healthy people. Researchers found that one immune marker called MCP-1 was higher in patients, while many other immune markers were actually lower than in healthy controls. This suggests the immune system may work differently in these conditions, though the exact meaning of these differences is still unclear.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

MicroRNAs as Biomarkers of Pain Intensity in Patients With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Al-Rawaf, Hadeel A, Alghadir, Ahmad H, Gabr, Sami A·Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain·2019

This study looked at tiny molecules called microRNAs in the blood of adolescents with ME/CFS to see if they could help explain why these patients experience pain. Researchers found that five specific microRNAs were lower in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy teens, and these changes were linked to higher levels of inflammatory chemicals that are known to cause pain. Interestingly, girls with ME/CFS had even lower microRNA levels and higher inflammation markers than boys with the condition.

Changes in the transcriptome of circulating immune cells of a New Zealand cohort with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Sweetman, Eiren, Ryan, Margaret, Edgar, Christina et al.·International journal of immunopathology and pharmacology·2019

Researchers studied blood immune cells from 10 ME/CFS patients and 10 healthy people to understand what's different at the genetic level. They found that several genes related to inflammation were more active in ME/CFS patients, and genes related to energy production and circadian rhythms (your body's internal clock) showed abnormal patterns. These findings suggest ME/CFS involves multiple biological systems working incorrectly at the same time.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Clinical symptoms and markers of disease mechanisms in adolescent chronic fatigue following Epstein-Barr virus infection: An exploratory cross-sectional study.

Kristiansen, Miriam Skjerven, Stabursvik, Julie, O'Leary, Elise Catriona et al.·Brain, behavior, and immunity·2019

This study looked at adolescents who had Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and tracked whether they developed chronic fatigue 6 months later. Researchers found that those with ongoing fatigue had more symptoms overall, but blood tests and heart-monitoring showed only small differences compared to those who recovered—mainly slightly higher inflammation markers and changes in nervous system activity. The study suggests that post-EBV fatigue in teenagers involves subtle changes in the body's stress and immune systems, even though the virus itself had cleared.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Associations between clinical symptoms, plasma norepinephrine and deregulated immune gene networks in subgroups of adolescent with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Nguyen, Chinh Bkrong, Kumar, Surendra, Zucknick, Manuela et al.·Brain, behavior, and immunity·2019

This study looked at blood samples from teenagers with ME/CFS to understand how their immune systems and stress-response chemicals differ from healthy teenagers. Researchers found two distinct subgroups of ME/CFS patients based on immune activity and a stress hormone called norepinephrine. Patients with lower norepinephrine levels had more severe fatigue, while those with higher levels showed different patterns of immune dysfunction.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Supervised machine learning to decipher the complex associations between neuro-immune biomarkers and quality of life in schizophrenia.

Kanchanatawan, Buranee, Sriswasdi, Sira, Maes, Michael·Metabolic brain disease·2019

This study looked at how chemical imbalances in the brain (called tryptophan breakdown products) and memory problems are connected to quality of life in people with schizophrenia. Researchers measured immune markers, cognitive function, and symptoms in 80 patients with schizophrenia and 40 healthy controls. They found that anxiety, fatigue-like symptoms, depression, and psychosis were the strongest predictors of lower quality of life, and these were linked to abnormal tryptophan metabolism and memory difficulties.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Decreased Expression of the CD57 Molecule in T Lymphocytes of Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Espinosa, P, Urra, J M·Molecular neurobiology·2019

Researchers measured levels of a protein called CD57 on immune cells in ME/CFS patients and compared them to healthy people. They found that ME/CFS patients had significantly lower amounts of CD57 on their T cells (a type of white blood cell). This difference was large enough that measuring CD57 levels could potentially help doctors diagnose ME/CFS.

Multidimensional Comparison of Cancer-Related Fatigue and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: The Role of Psychophysiological Markers.

Park, Hye Youn, Jeon, Hong Jun, Bang, Young Rong et al.·Psychiatry investigation·2019

This study compared fatigue in people with cancer (CRF) and people with ME/CFS to see if these conditions are similar or different. Researchers measured fatigue levels, mood, stress, sleep quality, and specific biological markers like inflammation and brain activity. While both groups reported similar amounts of fatigue, they showed different underlying biological patterns, suggesting the two conditions may have different causes.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Increased risk of chronic fatigue syndrome in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a population-based retrospective cohort study.

Tsai, Shin-Yi, Chen, Hsuan-Ju, Lio, Chon-Fu et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2019

This study found that people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are more than twice as likely to develop ME/CFS compared to people without IBD. The researchers looked at medical records from Taiwan and followed patients over time to see who developed ME/CFS. The increased risk was especially high in men and older adults with IBD who didn't have other chronic conditions.

Patients with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome show increased hsCRP compared to healthy controls.

Groven, Nina, Fors, Egil A, Reitan, Solveig Klæbo·Brain, behavior, and immunity·2019

This study measured inflammation markers in the blood of people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia, compared to healthy people. Both patient groups had higher levels of a marker called hsCRP (a sign of inflammation) than healthy controls. The two conditions showed similar inflammation levels, suggesting they may share some biological similarities.

Immunosignature Analysis of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Günther, Oliver P, Gardy, Jennifer L, Stafford, Phillip et al.·Molecular neurobiology·2019

Researchers used a specialized test to examine antibodies (immune proteins) in the blood of people with ME/CFS and healthy controls. They found a pattern of 256 specific protein signatures in ME/CFS patients' blood that was different from healthy people. This suggests the immune system may be reacting to past infections in a way that could help doctors diagnose ME/CFS in the future.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Increased risk of chronic fatigue syndrome following psoriasis: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

Tsai, Shin-Yi, Chen, Hsuan-Ju, Chen, Chi et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2019

This study found that people with psoriasis (a skin condition involving immune system dysfunction) have a higher chance of developing ME/CFS compared to people without psoriasis. Researchers followed over 13,000 people in Taiwan for several years and found that those with psoriasis were about 1.5 times more likely to develop ME/CFS. Interestingly, people who received certain psoriasis treatments appeared to have a lower risk of developing ME/CFS.

E2 ModerateMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Treatment Avenues in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Split-gender Pharmacogenomic Study of Gene-expression Modules.

Jeffrey, Mary G, Nathanson, Lubov, Aenlle, Kristina et al.·Clinical therapeutics·2019

Researchers studied blood samples from 33 ME/CFS patients and 21 healthy people to look for differences in how their genes were working. They found that ME/CFS appears to involve problems with the immune system (the body's defense mechanism) and how cells produce energy. By matching these gene differences with existing FDA-approved drugs, they identified immunosuppressant medications as potential candidates that might help reduce ME/CFS symptoms.

Antibodies to Human Herpesviruses in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients.

Blomberg, Jonas, Rizwan, Muhammad, Böhlin-Wiener, Agnes et al.·Frontiers in immunology·2019

This study looked for evidence that common viruses called herpesviruses might be reactivated or causing problems in ME/CFS patients. Researchers tested blood samples from ME/CFS patients and healthy people to measure immune responses (antibodies) against several herpesviruses. While the overall antibody levels were similar between the two groups, the study found subtle differences in how ME/CFS patients' immune systems reacted to a few specific herpesvirus proteins.