ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

3081–3100 of 6,161 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Determination of fatty acid levels in erythrocyte membranes of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Liu, Zhandong, Wang, Dexin, Xue, Qiming et al.·Nutritional neuroscience·2003

This study looked at the levels of different types of fatty acids in the red blood cells of people with ME/CFS compared to healthy controls. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS had lower levels of two important fatty acids (arachidonic acid and docosahexanoic acid) but higher levels of two others (palmitic acid and oleic acid). The researchers suggested this imbalance might be caused by oxidative stress damaging these fatty acids in the body.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Non-vascular claudication: a clinical conundrum.

Fasih, T, Pickin, M, Cuschieri, R J·International journal of clinical practice·2003

Doctors sometimes see patients complaining of leg pain that resembles poor circulation (claudication), but the pain isn't actually caused by blood vessel problems. This study looked at over 1,000 patients with suspected circulation problems and found that 33 had other causes for their symptoms, including spine problems, nerve damage, or other conditions. One patient was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The study highlights that doctors need to correctly identify the real cause of symptoms before recommending treatments.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

[Disorder of adrenal gland function in chronic fatigue syndrome].

Zarković, Milos, Pavlović, Milorad, Pokrajac-Simeunović, Ana et al.·Srpski arhiv za celokupno lekarstvo·2003

This study tested how well the adrenal glands (which produce stress hormones) respond to a small dose of ACTH hormone in people with ME/CFS, compared to healthy people and those with adrenal problems from steroid use. The researchers found that some people with ME/CFS had a slower initial hormone response similar to adrenal insufficiency, but the response eventually caught up. This suggests ME/CFS patients may have a subtle problem with how quickly their adrenal glands respond to signals.

Endocrine Disruption

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

First-night effect in the chronic fatigue syndrome.

Le Bon, Olivier, Minner, Pierre, Van Moorsel, Cédric et al.·Psychiatry research·2003

When people with ME/CFS spend a night in a sleep lab, their sleep patterns often change between the first and second night—a phenomenon called the 'first-night effect.' This study found that ME/CFS patients do experience this adaptation effect, where sleep measurements like total sleep time and sleep quality improve on the second night. Understanding this pattern helps doctors interpret sleep test results more accurately.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue syndrome in children: a cross sectional survey.

Patel, M X, Smith, D G, Chalder, T et al.·Archives of disease in childhood·2003

This study looked at 36 children with ME/CFS who were seen at a specialist clinic in England. Most children improved significantly or returned to normal health, and those who received treatment attended school more often. However, about one-third of children left school without any qualifications, showing that ME/CFS can seriously disrupt education even when health improves.

Interventions

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Comparing symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome in a community-based versus tertiary care sample.

Jason, Leonard A, Plioplys, Audrius V, Torres-Harding, Susan et al.·Journal of health psychology·2003

This study compared ME/CFS symptoms between two groups of patients: those who sought care at major medical centers and those found in the general community. Researchers found that people being treated at tertiary care hospitals reported experiencing more symptoms than community members with ME/CFS. This suggests that the people typically studied in research may not represent all people living with ME/CFS.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Predictive immunophenotypes: disease-related profile in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Stewart, Carleton C, Cookfair, Diane L, Hovey, Kathleen M et al.·Cytometry. Part B, Clinical cytometry·2003

This study compared immune system cells called natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T cells between people with ME/CFS and healthy controls. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS had different patterns of these immune cells compared to healthy people, but interestingly, healthy people living in the same town as ME/CFS cases had immune cell patterns that looked more similar to ME/CFS patients. This suggests that living in an area where ME/CFS is common might affect how people's immune systems work.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Chronic fatigue syndrome in patients with macrophagic myofasciitis.

Authier, François-Jérôme, Sauvat, Stéphane, Champey, Julien et al.·Arthritis and rheumatism·2003

This study looked at patients with macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF), a rare inflammatory muscle condition, and found that some of them also developed symptoms very similar to chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The researchers observed that these patients experienced persistent fatigue, muscle pain, and other symptoms characteristic of ME/CFS alongside their muscle inflammation.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic fatigue syndrome-like illness among Gulf War veterans: a population-based survey of 30,000 veterans.

Kang, Han K, Natelson, Benjamin H, Mahan, Clare M et al.·American journal of epidemiology·2003

This study compared Gulf War veterans to non-deployed veterans and found that those who served in the Gulf War had much higher rates of both PTSD and a condition resembling ME/CFS. Interestingly, while PTSD risk increased steadily with exposure to combat stress, ME/CFS-like illness only became more common at lower stress levels, suggesting that factors beyond stress alone may have caused the fatigue condition in Gulf War veterans.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Rupture of silicone gel breast implants and symptoms of pain and fatigue.

Vermeulen, Ruud C W, Scholte, Hans R·The Journal of rheumatology·2003

This study looked at women with silicone breast implants to see if their symptoms matched those of ME/CFS patients. Researchers found that women whose implants had ruptured reported more severe fatigue, pain, and memory problems than those with intact implants. While the symptom patterns differed somewhat from typical ME/CFS, rupture of the implant was associated with worsening of fatigue and pain symptoms.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

[Chronic fatigue syndrome following tick-borne diseases].

Gustaw, Katarzyna·Neurologia i neurochirurgia polska·2003

This study looked at whether ME/CFS develops more often in people who have had tick-borne infections like Lyme disease (borreliosis) or tick-borne encephalitis. Researchers examined 86 patients with a history of these infections and found that about half developed ME/CFS. Notably, 71% of those who had Lyme disease developed ME/CFS, compared to only 24% of those who had tick-borne encephalitis. When patients with Lyme disease history were treated with standard ME/CFS treatments, about 61% felt better.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Prospective study of the prognosis of unexplained chronic fatigue in a clinic-based cohort.

Schmaling, Karen B, Fiedelak, Jessica I, Katon, Wayne J et al.·Psychosomatic medicine·2003

This study followed 100 patients with unexplained chronic fatigue for 18 months to see how their symptoms changed over time. Researchers found that about 1 in 5 patients no longer met criteria for chronic fatigue by the end of the study, and energy levels improved somewhat, but fatigue symptoms themselves did not decrease much. Mental health, education level, employment status, and how people thought about their symptoms were important factors in predicting whether patients would improve or get worse.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Comorbid illness in women with chronic fatigue syndrome: a test of the single syndrome hypothesis.

Ciccone, Donald S, Natelson, Benjamin H·Psychosomatic medicine·2003

This study looked at 163 women with ME/CFS to see whether having other conditions like fibromyalgia or chemical sensitivities alongside ME/CFS made their illness different. About a third of the women had fibromyalgia, and another third had chemical sensitivities. The main finding was that women with multiple conditions were more likely to have depression than those with ME/CFS alone, but otherwise their symptoms and disability levels were fairly similar.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Normal production of inflammatory cytokines in chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia syndromes determined by intracellular cytokine staining in short-term cultured blood mononuclear cells.

Amel Kashipaz, M R, Swinden, D, Todd, I et al.·Clinical and experimental immunology·2003

Researchers tested whether immune system cells from ME/CFS and fibromyalgia patients produce abnormal levels of inflammatory chemicals called cytokines. Using advanced microscopy techniques to examine individual immune cells, they found that cytokine production was normal in patients compared to healthy controls. This suggests that abnormal cytokine production may not be the main cause of these conditions.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Association between serotonin transporter gene polymorphism and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Narita, Masaaki, Nishigami, Naoko, Narita, Naoko et al.·Biochemical and biophysical research communications·2003

This study looked at a specific gene that controls serotonin, a chemical messenger in the brain. Researchers compared the genetic versions of this gene in 78 ME/CFS patients and healthy controls. They found that ME/CFS patients were more likely to have a genetic variant that may reduce how much serotonin stays active in the brain, which could make people more vulnerable to developing ME/CFS.

Endocrine Disruption

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCase-Control

Childhood experiences of illness and parenting in adults with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Fisher, Linda, Chalder, Trudie·Journal of psychosomatic research·2003

This study looked at whether childhood experiences—particularly how parents cared for them and how they handled illness—might influence whether someone develops ME/CFS as an adult. Researchers compared 30 people with ME/CFS to 30 people with broken bones (as a comparison group) by asking them about their childhood. They found that having an overprotective mother or a mother with depression was more common in the ME/CFS group, suggesting these factors might increase the risk of developing the condition.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

The head-up tilt test with haemodynamic instability score in diagnosing chronic fatigue syndrome.

Naschitz, J E, Rosner, I, Rozenbaum, M et al.·QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians·2003

Researchers developed a simple test using a tilting table to measure how well the body controls blood pressure and heart rate in ME/CFS patients. By tilting people upright and measuring these vital signs, they found a pattern (called a haemodynamic instability score) that appeared in ME/CFS patients but not in healthy people or those with other conditions. This test could help doctors confirm an ME/CFS diagnosis with objective measurements rather than relying only on symptoms.

Autonomic Nervous SystemDiagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Relationship between musculoskeletal symptoms and blood markers of oxidative stress in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Vecchiet, Jacopo, Cipollone, Francesco, Falasca, Katia et al.·Neuroscience letters·2003

This study compared 21 people with ME/CFS to 20 healthy people and found that those with ME/CFS had signs of increased cellular damage (oxidative stress) and lower levels of protective molecules in their blood. People with ME/CFS also had more fatigue and their muscles were more sensitive to pain. The researchers found that the amount of cellular damage correlated with how fatigued people felt and how sensitive their muscles were.

Pain and Sensitization

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Prolonged acetylcholine-induced vasodilatation in the peripheral microcirculation of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Khan, Faisel, Spence, Vance, Kennedy, Gwen et al.·Clinical physiology and functional imaging·2003

This study looked at how blood vessels in the skin of ME/CFS patients respond to acetylcholine, a chemical messenger in the body. Researchers found that while the initial response was similar in patients and healthy controls, the blood vessels of ME/CFS patients took much longer to return to normal after the chemical was applied. This suggests that the way nerve signals control blood vessel function may be different in ME/CFS.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

RNase L levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells: 37-kilodalton/83-kilodalton isoform ratio is a potential test for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Tiev, Kiet Phong, Demettre, Edith, Ercolano, Philippe et al.·Clinical and diagnostic laboratory immunology·2003

This study looked at a protein called RNase L in the immune cells of ME/CFS patients and healthy people. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients had a different pattern of RNase L forms compared to healthy volunteers, and this pattern could potentially be used as a simple blood test to help diagnose ME/CFS. The test showed promise in distinguishing ME/CFS patients from healthy people in this small group.

Immune System

← Previous Next 20 studies →

Or browse by topic

PEM Immune Neuro Metabolic Biomarkers Severe ME Long COVID Cognitive

Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

Determination of fatty acid levels in erythrocyte membranes of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Non-vascular claudication: a clinical conundrum.

[Disorder of adrenal gland function in chronic fatigue syndrome].

First-night effect in the chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome in children: a cross sectional survey.

Comparing symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome in a community-based versus tertiary care sample.

Predictive immunophenotypes: disease-related profile in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome in patients with macrophagic myofasciitis.

Post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic fatigue syndrome-like illness among Gulf War veterans: a population-based survey of 30,000 veterans.

Rupture of silicone gel breast implants and symptoms of pain and fatigue.

[Chronic fatigue syndrome following tick-borne diseases].

Prospective study of the prognosis of unexplained chronic fatigue in a clinic-based cohort.

Comorbid illness in women with chronic fatigue syndrome: a test of the single syndrome hypothesis.

Normal production of inflammatory cytokines in chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia syndromes determined by intracellular cytokine staining in short-term cultured blood mononuclear cells.

Association between serotonin transporter gene polymorphism and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Childhood experiences of illness and parenting in adults with chronic fatigue syndrome.

The head-up tilt test with haemodynamic instability score in diagnosing chronic fatigue syndrome.

Relationship between musculoskeletal symptoms and blood markers of oxidative stress in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Prolonged acetylcholine-induced vasodilatation in the peripheral microcirculation of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

RNase L levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells: 37-kilodalton/83-kilodalton isoform ratio is a potential test for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Curated Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

PEM-Specific Research