ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

3321–3340 of 6,209 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Frequent HHV-6 reactivation in multiple sclerosis (MS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients.

Ablashi, D V, Eastman, H B, Owen, C B et al.·Journal of clinical virology : the official publication of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology·2000

This study looked at whether a common virus called HHV-6 might be reactivated in ME/CFS patients. Researchers found that ME/CFS and MS patients had higher levels of antibodies (immune markers) to HHV-6 compared to healthy people, and they detected active virus in blood cells from these patients. The findings suggest that HHV-6 reactivation might play a role in causing or worsening ME/CFS symptoms.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Enhanced sensitivity of the peripheral cholinergic vascular response in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Spence, V A, Khan, F, Belch, J J·The American journal of medicine·2000

This study looked at how blood vessels in ME/CFS patients respond to a natural chemical in the body called acetylcholine, which helps control blood vessel widening and narrowing. Researchers compared blood vessel responses in ME/CFS patients versus healthy people and found that ME/CFS patients showed an unusually strong reaction. This finding suggests that the nervous system's control of blood vessels may work differently in ME/CFS.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Attributions in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia syndrome in tertiary care.

Neerinckx, E, Van Houdenhove, B, Lysens, R et al.·The Journal of rheumatology·2000

This study looked at what 192 patients with ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, or chronic pain believed was causing their illness. Most patients thought their condition had both physical causes (like a virus or chemical imbalance) and emotional causes (like stress). The researchers found that patients' beliefs about what caused their illness were quite varied, and these beliefs did not differ much based on their specific diagnosis.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and morphometry of the hippocampus in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Brooks, J C, Roberts, N, Whitehouse, G et al.·The British journal of radiology·2000

This study used brain imaging to examine a part of the brain called the hippocampus in people with ME/CFS and healthy controls. While the size of the hippocampus was normal in ME/CFS patients, a specific chemical marker called N-acetylaspartate was significantly lower in the right side of the hippocampus compared to healthy people. This suggests there may be subtle differences in how brain cells are functioning in ME/CFS, even when the brain structure looks normal.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Salivary gland changes in chronic fatigue syndrome: a case-controlled preliminary histologic study.

Woo, S B, Schacterle, R S, Komaroff, A L et al.·Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology, oral radiology, and endodontics·2000

Researchers examined tiny salivary glands in the lips of 11 ME/CFS patients and compared them to healthy controls. They found that ME/CFS patients had various changes in these glands, including swelling, scarring, and immune cell infiltration. Most notably, ME/CFS patients had significantly more mast cells (immune cells) in their salivary glands than controls, suggesting these glands may be damaged in ME/CFS.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Diagnosis of psychiatric disorder in clinical evaluation of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Deale, A, Wessely, S·Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine·2000

This study looked at how often ME/CFS patients are incorrectly diagnosed with psychiatric conditions like depression. Researchers found that about two-thirds of patients who had been labeled with a psychiatric diagnosis actually didn't have one, while about one-third of patients without a psychiatric diagnosis did have a treatable mental health condition. The study shows that distinguishing between ME/CFS and psychiatric disorders can be difficult, and doctors need better tools and training to get the diagnosis right.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The genetic aetiology of somatic distress.

Gillespie, N A, Zhu, G, Heath, A C et al.·Psychological medicine·2000

This study looked at whether the physical and mental exhaustion seen in chronic fatigue syndrome runs in families and whether it's genetically distinct from depression and anxiety. Researchers surveyed nearly 3,500 Australian twins and found that about one-third of the genetic factors affecting somatic distress (physical symptoms and fatigue) are unique to those symptoms and not shared with depression or anxiety, suggesting these are separate conditions with different causes.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Longitudinal analysis of symptoms reported by patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Nisenbaum, R, Jones, A, Jones, J et al.·Annals of epidemiology·2000

This study followed 74 ME/CFS patients over two years to track how their symptoms changed over time. Researchers found that symptoms fluctuated throughout the illness, but most symptoms stayed about the same whether someone had been sick for 1 year or 20 years. The only exception was stomach pain, which became more common as illness duration increased.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and multiple chemical sensitivities in a community-based sample of persons with chronic fatigue syndrome-like symptoms.

Jason, L A, Taylor, R R, Kennedy, C L·Psychosomatic medicine·2000

This study looked at how often people with ME/CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) also have fibromyalgia or chemical sensitivities, and how these conditions affect daily functioning. Researchers interviewed nearly 19,000 people in Chicago and then examined those with CFS-like symptoms in more detail. They found that people with multiple conditions experienced worse fatigue and disability than those with just one condition.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue syndrome: occupation, medical utilization, and subtypes in a community-based sample.

Jason, L A, Taylor, R R, Kennedy, C L et al.·The Journal of nervous and mental disease·2000

This study looked at people with ME/CFS living in the Chicago community to understand how the condition affects their work, healthcare use, and daily life. Researchers randomly surveyed over 18,000 people, identified those with ME/CFS symptoms, and had doctors confirm their diagnosis. They found that people with ME/CFS differed significantly from each other in how sick they were, when their illness started, and whether a stressful event triggered it.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Overlapping conditions among patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and temporomandibular disorder.

Aaron, L A, Burke, M M, Buchwald, D·Archives of internal medicine·2000

This study found that ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and temporomandibular disorder (TMD) often occur together in the same patients and share similar symptoms like pain, fatigue, and sleep problems. The researchers also discovered that patients with these conditions frequently experience other illnesses like irritable bowel syndrome and headaches—much more often than healthy people do. The study suggests these conditions may be connected in some way we don't yet fully understand.

Pain and SensitizationSleepCognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Characterization of pituitary function with emphasis on GH secretion in the chronic fatigue syndrome.

Moorkens, G, Berwaerts, J, Wynants, H et al.·Clinical endocrinology·2000

This study examined hormone levels in 73 people with ME/CFS compared to 21 healthy people. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS had lower growth hormone (GH) levels, especially at night and when their body was stressed by low blood sugar. They also had higher levels of prolactin and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), suggesting their brain chemistry may be imbalanced. These hormone changes were associated with increased belly fat in ME/CFS patients.

Endocrine Disruption

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

The course of severe chronic fatigue syndrome in childhood.

Rangel, L, Garralda, M E, Levin, M et al.·Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine·2000

This study followed 25 children with severe chronic fatigue syndrome for about 3.5 years after their illness began. Most children (two-thirds) eventually recovered and returned to normal activities, though the illness caused serious problems during its worst phases, including extended time out of school. The researchers found that children who had a clear physical trigger for their illness, started feeling sick in the autumn, or came from higher-income families were more likely to recover.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

High nocturnal melatonin in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Knook, L, Kavelaars, A, Sinnema, G et al.·The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism·2000

Researchers measured melatonin (a natural hormone that helps control sleep) in saliva samples from 13 teenagers with ME/CFS and 15 healthy teenagers. They found that ME/CFS patients had significantly higher melatonin levels during the night, yet paradoxically, all the ME/CFS patients reported their sleep felt unrefreshing and unrestorative. Based on this finding, the researchers suggested that giving melatonin supplements to teenagers with ME/CFS may not be helpful.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Identifying physical activity patterns in chronic fatigue syndrome using actigraphic assessment.

van der Werf, S P, Prins, J B, Vercoulen, J H et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2000

Researchers used a motion-tracking device to measure physical activity patterns in 277 ME/CFS patients over 12 days and compared them to 47 healthy people. Patients with ME/CFS showed less intense bursts of activity, shorter activity periods, and longer rest times afterward. About one-fourth of patients were identified as 'pervasively passive'—meaning they had very low activity levels throughout the entire study period.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue syndrome: an examination of the phases.

Jason, L A, Fricano, G, Taylor, R R et al.·Journal of clinical psychology·2000

This study tested a tool called the Fennell Phase Inventory, which measures four distinct phases that people with ME/CFS typically go through: Crisis, Stabilization, Resolution, and Integration. Researchers gave 65 patients diagnosed by doctors the inventory along with other questionnaires about their symptoms, daily functioning, and coping strategies. The results supported the theory that ME/CFS patients progress through these predictable phases, with each phase showing different levels of disability and different ways of coping.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Human herpesviruses 6 and 7 in chronic fatigue syndrome: a case-control study.

Reeves, W C, Stamey, F R, Black, J B et al.·Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·2000

Researchers tested whether three common viruses (HHV-6A, HHV-6B, and HHV-7) might be linked to ME/CFS. They compared blood samples from 26 ME/CFS patients with 52 healthy people and looked for signs of active or dormant virus infection. The study found no meaningful differences between the two groups, suggesting these particular viruses are not associated with ME/CFS.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Symptom patterns in long-duration chronic fatigue syndrome.

Friedberg, F, Dechene, L, McKenzie, M J et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2000

This study looked at how ME/CFS symptoms change over time by comparing people who had been ill for 10+ years with those ill for only a few years. Researchers found that people with longer illness duration reported more severe cognitive problems (like memory and concentration issues), while both groups had immune-related symptoms and flu-like symptoms. The study suggests that ME/CFS symptoms may shift and worsen in specific ways as the illness persists.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Chronic fatigue syndrome beginning suddenly occurs seasonally over the year.

Zhang, Q W, Natelson, B H, Ottenweller, J E et al.·Chronobiology international·2000

This study looked at 69 people with severe ME/CFS who all experienced a sudden onset of illness, with symptoms like sore throat, extreme fatigue, and body aches developing within 2 days. Researchers found that these sudden onsets happened much more often during winter months (November through January) and least often in spring (April through May). This pattern suggests that ME/CFS may be triggered by an infectious agent rather than being purely psychological.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCase-Control

The role of personality in the development and perpetuation of chronic fatigue syndrome.

White, C, Schweitzer, R·Journal of psychosomatic research·2000

This study compared personality traits between 44 people with ME/CFS and 44 healthy people without the illness. Researchers measured perfectionism (setting very high standards), self-esteem (how people value themselves), and emotional control. People with ME/CFS showed higher levels of perfectionism and lower self-esteem, but emotional control was similar between groups.

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Frequent HHV-6 reactivation in multiple sclerosis (MS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients.

Enhanced sensitivity of the peripheral cholinergic vascular response in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Attributions in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia syndrome in tertiary care.

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and morphometry of the hippocampus in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Salivary gland changes in chronic fatigue syndrome: a case-controlled preliminary histologic study.

Diagnosis of psychiatric disorder in clinical evaluation of chronic fatigue syndrome.

The genetic aetiology of somatic distress.

Longitudinal analysis of symptoms reported by patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and multiple chemical sensitivities in a community-based sample of persons with chronic fatigue syndrome-like symptoms.

Chronic fatigue syndrome: occupation, medical utilization, and subtypes in a community-based sample.

Overlapping conditions among patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and temporomandibular disorder.

Characterization of pituitary function with emphasis on GH secretion in the chronic fatigue syndrome.

The course of severe chronic fatigue syndrome in childhood.

High nocturnal melatonin in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Identifying physical activity patterns in chronic fatigue syndrome using actigraphic assessment.

Chronic fatigue syndrome: an examination of the phases.

Human herpesviruses 6 and 7 in chronic fatigue syndrome: a case-control study.

Symptom patterns in long-duration chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome beginning suddenly occurs seasonally over the year.

The role of personality in the development and perpetuation of chronic fatigue syndrome.

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