ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

3021–3040 of 6,209 studies

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Family health and characteristics in chronic fatigue syndrome, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and emotional disorders of childhood.

Rangel, Luiza, Garralda, M Elena, Jeffs, Jim et al.·Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry·2005

This study looked at families of children with ME/CFS and compared them to families of children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA, an autoimmune joint disease) and emotional disorders like anxiety or depression. Researchers found that parents of children with ME/CFS were more likely to have ME/CFS-like symptoms themselves, experience greater emotional stress, and report their child's illness as more burdensome to family life compared to parents of children with JRA.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Association of chronic fatigue syndrome with human leucocyte antigen class II alleles.

Smith, J, Fritz, E L, Kerr, J R et al.·Journal of clinical pathology·2005

This study looked at whether certain genetic markers related to the immune system (called HLA types) are more common in people with ME/CFS than in healthy people. Researchers compared the genetic profiles of 49 ME/CFS patients with 102 healthy controls from the same region of England. They found that one particular genetic marker (HLA-DQA1*01) was significantly more common in ME/CFS patients, suggesting genes may play a role in who develops this illness.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Ambulatory monitoring of physical activity and symptoms in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Kop, Willem J, Lyden, Angela, Berlin, Ali A et al.·Arthritis and rheumatism·2005

This study used activity trackers to measure how much people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia move during daily life, and whether their pain and fatigue change based on activity levels. The researchers found that patients with these conditions did less intense activity and experienced more pain and fatigue when they were less active, but interestingly, having pain or fatigue seemed to cause them to reduce activity rather than the other way around.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Chronic fatigue syndrome--a clinically empirical approach to its definition and study.

Reeves, William C, Wagner, Dieter, Nisenbaum, Rosane et al.·BMC medicine·2005

This study tested two different ways of diagnosing ME/CFS to see which one worked better. Researchers in Kansas recruited 227 people—some with ME/CFS, some with unexplained fatigue that didn't meet ME/CFS criteria, some depressed, and some healthy—and admitted them to a hospital for two days of testing. They found that a new method for diagnosing ME/CFS (based on measuring fatigue severity, disability, and symptoms) worked much better at identifying truly ill people than the old method.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Chronic fatigue syndrome: assessment of increased oxidative stress and altered muscle excitability in response to incremental exercise.

Jammes, Y, Steinberg, J G, Mambrini, O et al.·Journal of internal medicine·2005

This study examined how muscles respond to exercise in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. Researchers had patients cycle at increasing intensities while measuring oxygen use, heart rate, muscle electrical signals, and markers of cellular stress. They found that ME/CFS patients showed increased oxidative stress (cellular damage) and abnormal muscle electrical activity during and after exercise, which may explain exercise-related pain and exhaustion.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

[Clinical observation on electroacupuncture for treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome].

Wang, Qian, Xiong, Jia-Xuan·Zhongguo zhen jiu = Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion·2005

This small study looked at whether acupuncture with electrical stimulation could help people with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Forty patients received electroacupuncture treatments targeting specific points on the back. After treatment, patients reported that their fatigue improved, their mood lifted, and anxiety decreased based on questionnaire scores.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

[A preliminary epidemiological study and discussion on traditional Chinese medicine pathogenesis of chronic fatigue syndrome in Hong Kong].

Yiu, Yan-Mun, Qiu, Ming-Yi·Zhong xi yi jie he xue bao = Journal of Chinese integrative medicine·2005

This study surveyed over 1,000 adults in Hong Kong to see how common ME/CFS is and how it appears according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) principles. Researchers found that about 6.4% of adults aged 20-50 met ME/CFS diagnostic criteria. According to TCM assessment, most patients showed patterns related to low energy reserves and poor circulation, with symptoms including fatigue, weak knees, poor sleep, and memory problems.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

[Effect of physical factors on bioelectric properties of cell nuclei of buccal epithelium in students with chronic fatigue syndrome].

Samoĭlovych, V A, Hutarieva, N V, Tondiĭ, L D·Likars'ka sprava·2005

Researchers studied 60 students with chronic fatigue syndrome at a health facility, dividing them into two groups receiving different types of physical activity: one group did water-based exercise therapy while the other did conventional exercise classes and contrast showers. By measuring changes in the electrical properties of cells from the mouth's lining, researchers found that the water-based therapy group showed improved electrical cell activity that matched their clinical improvement, suggesting physical treatments may help restore normal body function in ME/CFS.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Salivary cortisol as a predictor of postoperative fatigue.

Rubin, G James, Hotopf, Matthew, Papadopoulos, Andrew et al.·Psychosomatic medicine·2005

This study tested whether low cortisol (a stress hormone) causes or predicts chronic fatigue by following 161 patients before and after surgery. The researchers measured cortisol levels and fatigue at multiple time points, but found that low cortisol before or after surgery did not predict who would develop fatigue. This suggests that if low cortisol is connected to chronic fatigue, it develops after symptoms begin rather than causing them.

Biomarkers

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Hyperventilation and amplified blood pressure response: is there a link?

Naschitz, J E, Mussafia-Priselac, R, Peck, E R et al.·Journal of human hypertension·2005

This study looked at whether rapid, shallow breathing (hyperventilation) causes blood pressure to rise when people change position, such as standing up. Researchers tested 320 patients with various conditions including ME/CFS using a tilt table test while measuring breathing CO2 levels. They found that hyperventilation during the test did not lead to higher blood pressure increases, suggesting that rapid breathing may not be the cause of blood pressure problems in these patient groups.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Subjective quality of life in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Rakib, A, White, P D, Pinching, A J et al.·Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation·2005

This study asked 73 people with ME/CFS about their overall quality of life and how satisfied they felt with daily activities, leisure time, and finances. The researchers found that people with ME/CFS reported much lower quality of life than healthy people and even people with depression. Depressive symptoms were the strongest factor linked to poor quality of life, suggesting that treating depression alongside ME/CFS might help improve how patients feel about their lives.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

[Cognitive function and psychological characteristics of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome].

Li, Yong-jie, Gao, Xu-guang, Wang, De-Xin et al.·Zhonghua yi xue za zhi·2005

This study looked at how ME/CFS affects thinking and memory in 91 Chinese patients compared to 30 healthy people. Researchers found that 90% of ME/CFS patients had problems with memory and attention, and most also experienced depression, anxiety, and obsessive thoughts. The results show that ME/CFS causes real cognitive problems that are different from those seen in psychiatric illnesses alone.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Exercise and cognitive performance in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Cook, Dane B, Nagelkirk, Paul R, Peckerman, Arnold et al.·Medicine and science in sports and exercise·2005

This study tested whether a 25-minute light exercise session affected thinking and memory skills in people with ME/CFS. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS alone showed slower thinking speed and less consistent performance on cognitive tests compared to healthy people, but light exercise did not make their thinking worse. Interestingly, people with ME/CFS plus fibromyalgia did not show these cognitive problems.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Oxidative stress levels are raised in chronic fatigue syndrome and are associated with clinical symptoms.

Kennedy, Gwen, Spence, Vance A, McLaren, Margaret et al.·Free radical biology & medicine·2005

This study measured harmful molecules called free radicals in the blood of ME/CFS patients and compared them to healthy people. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients had higher levels of these damaging molecules, and in patients without heart disease risk factors, the amount of free radicals correlated with how severe their symptoms were, particularly fatigue after exertion and joint pain.

BiomarkersPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

[Clinical characteristics of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: analysis of 82 cases].

Li, Yong-Jie, Wang, De-Xin, Bai, Xiao-Li et al.·Zhonghua yi xue za zhi·2005

This study examined 82 Chinese patients with ME/CFS to understand what symptoms they experience and what might be causing their illness. Researchers found that most patients had memory and attention problems alongside fatigue, many showed signs of anxiety or depression, and some had low levels of a substance called L-carnitine (which helps produce energy) or evidence of a viral infection. When patients took L-carnitine supplements, their levels improved and symptoms got better.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Long-term medical conditions and major depression: strength of association for specific conditions in the general population.

Patten, Scott B, Beck, Cynthia A, Kassam, Aliya et al.·Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie·2005

This study looked at whether people with long-term medical conditions are more likely to experience depression. Researchers surveyed over 115,000 Canadians and found that people with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) had the strongest link to depression—more than 7 times higher than those without the condition. Fibromyalgia also showed a strong connection to depression, while conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes had weaker connections.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Lymphocyte subset differences in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis and major depression.

Robertson, M J, Schacterle, R S, Mackin, G A et al.·Clinical and experimental immunology·2005

This study looked at immune cells in the blood of people with ME/CFS and compared them to people with depression, multiple sclerosis, and healthy individuals. While the total numbers of major immune cell types were similar across groups, researchers found differences in specific subtypes of these cells, particularly in natural killer cells. This suggests that ME/CFS may involve changes in how the immune system is organized, even if total cell counts appear normal.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

Cognitive behaviour group therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome: a non-randomised waiting list controlled study.

Bazelmans, E, Prins, J B, Lulofs, R et al.·Psychotherapy and psychosomatics·2005

This study tested whether cognitive behavior group therapy (CBGT)—a type of talk therapy done in groups—could help people with ME/CFS feel less fatigued and function better. Researchers compared 31 patients who received 12 sessions of CBGT over 6 months to 36 patients on a waiting list. They found the therapy had a modest benefit for fatigue but unexpectedly made functional problems slightly worse.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue in a population sample: definitions and heterogeneity.

Sullivan, Patrick F, Pedersen, Nancy L, Jacks, Andreas et al.·Psychological medicine·2005

This study looked at how doctors define ME/CFS by surveying over 31,000 Swedish adults about their fatigue symptoms. The researchers found that the current official checklist for diagnosing ME/CFS (requiring 4 out of 8 specific symptoms) doesn't match how fatigue actually varies in real populations. Using statistical analysis, they identified a recognizable ME/CFS-like illness pattern, but concluded that a simpler definition focusing on severe, disabling fatigue might work better.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Cardiovascular reactivity in fibromyalgia: evidence for pathogenic heterogeneity.

Naschitz, Jochanan E, Rozenbaum, Michael, Fields, Madeline C et al.·The Journal of rheumatology·2005

This study looked at how the hearts of fibromyalgia patients respond to position changes (lying down versus standing up) compared to people with other conditions including ME/CFS. Researchers used a specialized test that measures heart rate patterns during a tilt test and analyzed the data with advanced mathematical methods. They found no single heart response pattern that was unique to fibromyalgia, suggesting that fibromyalgia patients have different types of heart responses rather than one shared pattern.

Autonomic Nervous System

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Family health and characteristics in chronic fatigue syndrome, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and emotional disorders of childhood.

Association of chronic fatigue syndrome with human leucocyte antigen class II alleles.

Ambulatory monitoring of physical activity and symptoms in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome--a clinically empirical approach to its definition and study.

Chronic fatigue syndrome: assessment of increased oxidative stress and altered muscle excitability in response to incremental exercise.

[Clinical observation on electroacupuncture for treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome].

[A preliminary epidemiological study and discussion on traditional Chinese medicine pathogenesis of chronic fatigue syndrome in Hong Kong].

[Effect of physical factors on bioelectric properties of cell nuclei of buccal epithelium in students with chronic fatigue syndrome].

Salivary cortisol as a predictor of postoperative fatigue.

Hyperventilation and amplified blood pressure response: is there a link?

Subjective quality of life in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

[Cognitive function and psychological characteristics of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome].

Exercise and cognitive performance in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Oxidative stress levels are raised in chronic fatigue syndrome and are associated with clinical symptoms.

[Clinical characteristics of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: analysis of 82 cases].

Long-term medical conditions and major depression: strength of association for specific conditions in the general population.

Lymphocyte subset differences in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis and major depression.

Cognitive behaviour group therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome: a non-randomised waiting list controlled study.

Chronic fatigue in a population sample: definitions and heterogeneity.

Cardiovascular reactivity in fibromyalgia: evidence for pathogenic heterogeneity.

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