ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

3541–3560 of 6,161 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Insulin-like growth factor-I (somatomedin C) levels in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Buchwald, D, Umali, J, Stene, M·The Journal of rheumatology·1996

Researchers tested whether people with ME/CFS have lower levels of a growth hormone called IGF-I, which had previously been found to be low in fibromyalgia patients. They measured IGF-I levels in 15 people with ME/CFS, 15 with both ME/CFS and fibromyalgia, 27 with fibromyalgia alone, and 15 healthy volunteers. The study found no significant differences in IGF-I levels between any of the patient groups and healthy controls, suggesting that low IGF-I may not be a key feature of ME/CFS.

Sleep

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearLongitudinal

Outcome and prognosis of patients with chronic fatigue vs chronic fatigue syndrome.

Bombardier, C H, Buchwald, D·Archives of internal medicine·1995

This study followed 445 patients with chronic fatigue or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) for about 1.5 years to see how they recovered. While 64% of patients improved overall, only 2% felt completely better. Patients diagnosed with CFS had more severe symptoms and lower functioning than those with simple chronic fatigue, and depression made recovery less likely.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Neuropsychological impairments in chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, and depression.

DeLuca, J, Johnson, S K, Beldowicz, D et al.·Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry·1995

This study tested thinking and memory skills in people with ME/CFS, comparing them to people with multiple sclerosis, depression, and healthy individuals. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS had significant trouble processing information quickly, similar to those with depression. The cognitive problems in ME/CFS were not explained by depression or anxiety alone.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Chronic fatigue: risk factors for symptom persistence in a 2 1/2-year follow-up study.

Clark, M R, Katon, W, Russo, J et al.·The American journal of medicine·1995

This study followed 78 patients with chronic fatigue for about 2.5 years to understand why some people recover while others continue to struggle. Researchers found that people were more likely to have ongoing symptoms if they had multiple unexplained physical symptoms, a history of depression-like mood disorder, longer-lasting fatigue, less formal education, and were older than 38. Importantly, standard blood tests and immune system measurements did not predict who would improve.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Parvovirus B19 infection--persistence and genetic variation.

Kerr, J R, Curran, M D, Moore, J E et al.·Scandinavian journal of infectious diseases·1995

Researchers followed 53 people who had acute parvovirus B19 infection (a virus that causes rash and joint pain) for several years. They found that 7 people, all women, still had the virus detectable in their blood years later. Of these 7, one person developed chronic fatigue syndrome along with persistent joint pain, suggesting that B19 infection might sometimes persist in the body and potentially trigger long-term symptoms.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Vagal tone is reduced during paced breathing in patients with the chronic fatigue syndrome.

Sisto, S A, Tapp, W, Drastal, S et al.·Clinical autonomic research : official journal of the Clinical Autonomic Research Society·1995

This study looked at how the vagus nerve—which helps control heart rate and relaxation—works differently in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. Researchers had women with ME/CFS and healthy women breathe at different controlled rates while measuring their heart rate patterns. They found that people with ME/CFS had weaker vagal nerve activity overall, suggesting their nervous system may not be able to relax and recover as effectively as healthy people's.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

The practice of infectious diseases in the 1990s: the Canadian experience.

Schlech, W F·Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·1995

This study surveyed Canadian infectious disease doctors in 1990 to see what kinds of infections they were treating. The researchers found that bacterial infections were more common in hospitalized patients, while viral infections were more common in office visits. Interestingly, the survey included mentions of chronic fatigue syndrome alongside other infectious diseases, suggesting doctors were considering it in their practice at that time.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Sleep disturbances and fatigue in women with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Schaefer, K M·Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN·1995

This study looked at sleep problems in women with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Researchers found that both groups had significant sleep difficulties, and that trouble staying asleep was the most common sleep problem reported. There was a clear link between poor sleep and fatigue—women who slept poorly felt more tired.

Sleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Cell-mediated immune function and the outcome of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Wilson, A, Hickie, I, Lloyd, A et al.·International journal of immunopharmacology·1995

Researchers followed 103 ME/CFS patients for an average of 3.2 years to see if their immune system function predicted how well they would recover. Most patients improved over time, but about one-third remained unable to work. The study found that immune cell measurements taken at the start did not seem to predict who would get better or worse.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Abnormalities of carnitine metabolism in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Majeed, T, de Simone, C, Famularo, G et al.·European journal of neurology·1995

This study examined carnitine, a substance that helps cells produce energy, in people with ME/CFS. Researchers found that while carnitine levels in the blood were normal, the levels inside immune cells were significantly lower in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people. This finding suggests that ME/CFS patients might benefit from taking carnitine supplements to restore normal energy production.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Neuraesthenia revisited: ICD-10 and DSM-III-R psychiatric syndromes in chronic fatigue patients and comparison subjects.

Farmer, A, Jones, I, Hillier, J et al.·The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science·1995

This study examined psychiatric conditions in people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) using standardized diagnostic interviews. Most CFS patients met criteria for a condition called neuraesthenia (an older term for nerve exhaustion) and had higher rates of depression, anxiety, and sleep problems compared to healthy people. Interestingly, when researchers followed patients over about 11 months without giving specific treatment, some psychiatric symptoms improved on their own, while the core fatigue condition remained.

SleepDiagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

A preliminary investigation of chlorinated hydrocarbons and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Dunstan, R H, Donohoe, M, Taylor, W et al.·The Medical journal of Australia·1995

Researchers measured levels of chlorinated hydrocarbons—chemicals that persist in the environment and accumulate in the body—in the blood of people with ME/CFS and compared them to healthy controls. People with ME/CFS had significantly higher levels of these chemicals, particularly a pesticide byproduct called HCB, suggesting that long-term exposure to these substances might play a role in developing the illness.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

Postinfectious fatigue: prospective cohort study in primary care.

Wessely, S, Chalder, T, Hirsch, S et al.·Lancet (London, England)·1995

This study followed over 2,000 people in the UK to see whether common infections like colds and flu lead to chronic fatigue or ME/CFS. Researchers compared people who had recent infections with those who didn't, and checked them again 6 months later. They found no evidence that routine infections trigger ME/CFS—instead, people who were already tired or stressed before getting sick were more likely to experience fatigue afterward.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Reducing heterogeneity in chronic fatigue syndrome: a comparison with depression and multiple sclerosis.

Natelson, B H, Johnson, S K, DeLuca, J et al.·Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·1995

This study examined whether ME/CFS becomes simpler to understand when researchers focus on patients who did not have mental health conditions before getting sick. The researchers found that when they excluded patients with prior psychiatric problems, ME/CFS patients resembled those with mild multiple sclerosis more than those with depression, suggesting the illness may have a physical cause like an infection or immune system problem.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Gait abnormalities in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Boda, W L, Natelson, B H, Sisto, S A et al.·Journal of the neurological sciences·1995

Researchers filmed how people with ME/CFS walked at different speeds and compared them to sedentary (non-exercising) healthy people. They found that people with ME/CFS walked differently—they moved their hips differently, bent their knees less, and took shorter steps relative to their leg length. People with ME/CFS also ran much more slowly than the comparison group.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Contrasting neuroendocrine responses in depression and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Cleare, A J, Bearn, J, Allain, T et al.·Journal of affective disorders·1995

This study compared hormone levels and brain chemistry in people with ME/CFS, people with depression, and healthy controls. The researchers found that people with ME/CFS had lower cortisol (a stress hormone) and higher responses to a serotonin-related chemical, which is the opposite pattern seen in depression. This suggests ME/CFS and depression are biologically different conditions despite sometimes sharing similar symptoms like fatigue.

Endocrine Disruption

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Human herpesvirus 6 and human herpesvirus 7 in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Di Luca, D, Zorzenon, M, Mirandola, P et al.·Journal of clinical microbiology·1995

Researchers looked for two common viruses (HHV-6 and HHV-7) in immune cells of ME/CFS patients and compared them to healthy people. They found that HHV-7 was equally common in both groups, but a specific type of HHV-6 called variant A was found more often in ME/CFS patients. This suggests that HHV-6 variant A may be connected to ME/CFS, though the study does not prove it causes the illness.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

Life-events and the course of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Ray, C, Jefferies, S, Weir, W R·The British journal of medical psychology·1995

This study looked at whether major life events affect how ME/CFS progresses in patients. Researchers asked 130 patients about positive and negative events they experienced over a year and compared these to their fatigue, disability, anxiety, and depression levels. They found that positive life events were linked to less fatigue and better emotional wellbeing, while negative events were mainly associated with increased anxiety.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue syndrome in the community. Prevalence and associations.

Lawrie, S M, Pelosi, A J·The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science·1995

This study surveyed over 1,000 people in a community to understand how common ME/CFS is and what it's associated with. Researchers found that about 0.56% of people met the criteria for ME/CFS, and they discovered a strong connection between fatigue and psychological distress. However, the authors concluded that ME/CFS should not be dismissed as purely a psychiatric disorder.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

[The Epstein-Barr virus and chronic fatigue syndrome].

Jovanović, J, Cvjetković, D, Brkić, S et al.·Medicinski pregled·1995

This small study looked at whether ME/CFS symptoms develop after people recover from infectious mononucleosis caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Researchers followed 31 patients who had recovered from mono and found that several developed ongoing fatigue, sore throats, and sleep problems in the months and years after their acute illness. The results suggest a possible connection between EBV infection and ME/CFS symptoms.

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Insulin-like growth factor-I (somatomedin C) levels in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Outcome and prognosis of patients with chronic fatigue vs chronic fatigue syndrome.

Neuropsychological impairments in chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, and depression.

Chronic fatigue: risk factors for symptom persistence in a 2 1/2-year follow-up study.

Parvovirus B19 infection--persistence and genetic variation.

Vagal tone is reduced during paced breathing in patients with the chronic fatigue syndrome.

The practice of infectious diseases in the 1990s: the Canadian experience.

Sleep disturbances and fatigue in women with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Cell-mediated immune function and the outcome of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Abnormalities of carnitine metabolism in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Neuraesthenia revisited: ICD-10 and DSM-III-R psychiatric syndromes in chronic fatigue patients and comparison subjects.

A preliminary investigation of chlorinated hydrocarbons and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Postinfectious fatigue: prospective cohort study in primary care.

Reducing heterogeneity in chronic fatigue syndrome: a comparison with depression and multiple sclerosis.

Gait abnormalities in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Contrasting neuroendocrine responses in depression and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Human herpesvirus 6 and human herpesvirus 7 in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Life-events and the course of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome in the community. Prevalence and associations.

[The Epstein-Barr virus and chronic fatigue syndrome].

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