ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

3561–3580 of 6,161 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Chronic fatigue and the chronic fatigue syndrome: prevalence in a Pacific Northwest health care system.

Buchwald, D, Umali, P, Umali, J et al.·Annals of internal medicine·1995

This study surveyed over 3,000 people in a Seattle health plan to find out how common ME/CFS and chronic fatigue are in the community. Researchers found that about 19% of people reported chronic fatigue, but only a tiny fraction actually met the strict diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS. Those with ME/CFS or chronic fatigue had worse physical health, more difficulty with daily activities, and more emotional stress compared to healthy people without fatigue.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Detection of human herpesvirus 6 in plasma of children with primary infection and immunosuppressed patients by polymerase chain reaction.

Secchiero, P, Carrigan, D R, Asano, Y et al.·The Journal of infectious diseases·1995

Researchers developed a sensitive test to detect human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) DNA in blood. They tested blood samples from children with a specific rash illness, bone marrow transplant patients, HIV-infected patients, people with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and healthy adults. The test found HHV-6 DNA most often in children with the rash illness, less commonly in transplant and HIV patients, rarely in ME/CFS patients, and not at all in healthy people.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Serum levels of carnitine in chronic fatigue syndrome: clinical correlates.

Plioplys, A V, Plioplys, S·Neuropsychobiology·1995

This study looked at carnitine, a substance that helps cells produce energy. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS have lower levels of carnitine in their blood compared to what would be expected. They also discovered that patients with higher carnitine levels reported better ability to function in daily life, suggesting a link between this energy-related chemical and symptom severity.

Energy Metabolism

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 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 not requiredCross-Sectional

Quality of life in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Schweitzer, R, Kelly, B, Foran, A et al.·Social science & medicine (1982)·1995

This 1995 study compared 47 people with ME/CFS to 30 healthy controls to understand how the condition affects daily life and well-being. Using surveys and interviews, researchers found that ME/CFS patients experienced significantly worse quality of life, particularly in social activities and relationships. The findings showed that isolation and loss of ability to work or participate in hobbies were major impacts that deserved more clinical attention.

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 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 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Comparison of coxsackie B neutralisation and enteroviral PCR in chronic fatigue patients.

Nairn, C, Galbraith, D N, Clements, G B·Journal of medical virology·1995

Researchers tested whether two different methods of detecting enterovirus (a type of virus) could identify it in ME/CFS patients. One method looked for antibodies (immune proteins) the body makes against Coxsackie B virus, while the other used PCR to directly detect viral genetic material. They found that the PCR test was better at distinguishing ME/CFS patients from healthy people, but the antibody test could not tell the two groups apart.

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 ModerateMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Neuroendocrine assessment of serotonin (5-HT) function in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Yatham, L N, Morehouse, R L, Chisholm, B T et al.·Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie·1995

Researchers tested whether serotonin, a chemical messenger in the brain, might be abnormal in ME/CFS. They gave patients and healthy controls a drug that stimulates serotonin release and measured hormonal responses. The study found no differences between the two groups, suggesting that serotonin dysfunction may not be the primary problem in ME/CFS.

Endocrine Disruption

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.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Brainstem perfusion is impaired in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Costa, D C, Tannock, C, Brostoff, J·QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians·1995

Researchers used a brain imaging technique to measure blood flow in the brains of ME/CFS patients and compared it to healthy people, as well as people with depression and epilepsy. They found that ME/CFS patients had consistently lower blood flow throughout their brains, especially in the brainstem—a critical area at the base of the brain that controls basic functions like breathing and heart rate. This pattern was distinct from what they saw in depressed patients, suggesting it may be a specific feature of ME/CFS.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearObservational

Can the chronic fatigue syndrome be defined by distinct clinical features?

Hickie, I, Lloyd, A, Hadzi-Pavlovic, D et al.·Psychological medicine·1995

This study examined whether all people diagnosed with ME/CFS have the same illness or whether they actually have different types. Researchers analyzed symptoms from 565 patients and found that ME/CFS is not one uniform condition—instead, they identified two distinct patient groups with different symptom patterns, illness duration, and recovery rates.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue syndrome: a clinical and laboratory study with a well matched control group.

Swanink, C M, Vercoulen, J H, Bleijenberg, G et al.·Journal of internal medicine·1995

This study compared 88 people with ME/CFS to 77 healthy controls matched by age, sex, and location. Researchers tested blood work, checked for infections, and used questionnaires to measure fatigue, depression, and how much the illness affected daily life. Standard blood tests came back normal in ME/CFS patients, but they reported significantly more fatigue, depression, and difficulty with daily activities than healthy controls.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Cognitive functioning and magnetic resonance imaging in chronic fatigue.

Cope, H, Pernet, A, Kendall, B et al.·The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science·1995

This study tested whether people with chronic fatigue have real problems with thinking and memory, or whether these complaints are mainly due to depression and anxiety. Researchers gave cognitive tests and brain scans (MRI) to people with chronic fatigue, people with depression, and healthy controls. They found that people with chronic fatigue performed similarly to controls on objective tests, and brain scans showed no consistent abnormalities. The researchers concluded that complaints of cognitive problems were likely related to mood symptoms rather than physical brain changes.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

The relationship between neurally mediated hypotension and the chronic fatigue syndrome.

Bou-Holaigah, I, Rowe, P C, Kan, J et al.·JAMA·1995

Researchers tested whether ME/CFS patients have an abnormal blood pressure response when standing upright. They tilted 23 ME/CFS patients and 14 healthy controls on a special table and monitored their vital signs. Nearly all ME/CFS patients showed an abnormal response, and about 9 patients felt much better after taking medications to treat low blood pressure.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Diagnosis in chronic illness: disabling or enabling--the case of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Woodward, R V, Broom, D H, Legge, D G·Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine·1995

This study looked at whether giving someone a CFS diagnosis helps or hurts them. Researchers interviewed 20 doctors and 50 CFS patients over 2 years. Most doctors were reluctant to diagnose CFS because they worried it might make patients feel worse, but patients actually found the diagnosis helpful because it finally explained what was wrong with them.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Silicone breast implant--associated musculoskeletal manifestations.

Cuellar, M L, Gluck, O, Molina, J F et al.·Clinical rheumatology·1995

This study looked at 300 women with silicone breast implants who came to a rheumatology clinic with muscle and joint pain. The researchers found that over 80% of these women had signs of connective tissue disease, and more than half met criteria for fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome. When some women had their implants removed, over 70% reported improvement in their overall symptoms.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

"Abnormal" illness behaviour in chronic fatigue syndrome and multiple sclerosis.

Trigwell, P, Hatcher, S, Johnson, M et al.·BMJ (Clinical research ed.)·1995

This study compared how patients with ME/CFS and patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) responded to questions about their illness and health beliefs. Both groups showed similar patterns of thinking about their conditions, scoring high on worry about disease and low on recognizing psychological factors. The researchers concluded that these thinking patterns alone cannot prove ME/CFS is a psychological condition, since MS patients—who have a clearly physical disease—showed the same patterns.

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Evidence browser

Chronic fatigue and the chronic fatigue syndrome: prevalence in a Pacific Northwest health care system.

Detection of human herpesvirus 6 in plasma of children with primary infection and immunosuppressed patients by polymerase chain reaction.

Serum levels of carnitine in chronic fatigue syndrome: clinical correlates.

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

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

Quality of life in chronic fatigue syndrome.

A preliminary investigation of chlorinated hydrocarbons and chronic fatigue syndrome.

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

Comparison of coxsackie B neutralisation and enteroviral PCR in chronic fatigue patients.

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

Neuroendocrine assessment of serotonin (5-HT) function in chronic fatigue syndrome.

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

Brainstem perfusion is impaired in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Can the chronic fatigue syndrome be defined by distinct clinical features?

Chronic fatigue syndrome: a clinical and laboratory study with a well matched control group.

Cognitive functioning and magnetic resonance imaging in chronic fatigue.

The relationship between neurally mediated hypotension and the chronic fatigue syndrome.

Diagnosis in chronic illness: disabling or enabling--the case of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Silicone breast implant--associated musculoskeletal manifestations.

"Abnormal" illness behaviour in chronic fatigue syndrome and multiple sclerosis.

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