ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

3621–3640 of 6,161 studies

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Psychosocial correlates of illness burden in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Antoni, M H, Brickman, A, Lutgendorf, S et al.·Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·1994

This study looked at how thoughts, feelings, and coping strategies affect how sick ME/CFS patients feel and function day-to-day. Researchers found that negative thinking patterns and avoidance-based coping (like denial) were linked to worse symptoms and lower quality of life, while active problem-solving strategies did not improve outcomes. These relationships held true whether or not patients also had depression.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Gender differences in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Buchwald, D, Pearlman, T, Kith, P et al.·Journal of general internal medicine·1994

This study looked at whether ME/CFS affects men and women differently by comparing 348 patients seen at a specialized clinic. While women more often had swollen lymph nodes and fibromyalgia alongside ME/CFS, and men more often had sore throats, the researchers found that overall, men and women with ME/CFS are quite similar in most ways, including their symptoms, psychological well-being, and how the illness affects their daily functioning.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Lack of evidence for infection with known human and animal retroviruses in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Heneine, W, Woods, T C, Sinha, S D et al.·Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·1994

Researchers tested blood samples from 21 ME/CFS patients and 21 healthy control volunteers to see if several types of retroviruses (viruses that can insert themselves into human DNA) might cause ME/CFS. They looked for eight different retroviruses using sensitive laboratory tests. None of the viruses were found in either patients or controls, suggesting these particular viruses are not responsible for ME/CFS in this group.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Epstein-Barr virus infection in Desert Storm reservists.

Carver, L A, Connallon, P F, Flanigan, S J et al.·Military medicine·1994

This study looked at U.S. Army reservists who developed ME/CFS-like symptoms after returning from the Gulf War. Researchers tested 37 of these service members for Epstein-Barr virus (a common virus that can reactivate in the body) and found that 73% had signs of either a new or reactivated infection. This suggests that viral infections might be making ME/CFS symptoms worse or last longer in some people.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

A potential role for human herpesvirus type 6 in nervous system disease.

Wilborn, F, Schmidt, C A, Brinkmann, V et al.·Journal of neuroimmunology·1994

This study looked for evidence that human herpesvirus type 6 (HHV-6), a common virus, might be involved in nervous system diseases including ME/CFS. Researchers tested blood and spinal fluid samples from patients with different neurological conditions and compared them to healthy controls. They found that a small number of multiple sclerosis patients had HHV-6 DNA in their spinal fluid, and MS patients had higher antibodies to HHV-6 in their blood, suggesting the virus may play a role in that disease.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Concurrent sick building syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome: epidemic neuromyasthenia revisited.

Chester, A C, Levine, P H·Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·1994

This study looked at three groups of people in different buildings who reported feeling sick, and found that some developed symptoms beyond what's typically expected from poor indoor air quality. While many had the usual complaints like respiratory irritation and headaches from their building environments, others developed more serious symptoms like extreme fatigue and neurological problems that match ME/CFS. The researchers concluded that ME/CFS may often occur alongside or be connected to sick building syndrome.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

[Chronic fatigue syndrome--a controlled cross-sectional study].

Rasmussen, A K, Nielsen, H, Andersen, V et al.·Ugeskrift for laeger·1994

This study compared immune system markers in 21 people with ME/CFS to 21 healthy people matched by age and sex. Researchers found that certain immune cells in ME/CFS patients produced higher levels of specific immune signaling molecules, while antibody levels were slightly lower than normal. Overall, the study did not find clear evidence that ME/CFS is caused by a persistent viral infection or a severely damaged immune system.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Simultaneous measurement of antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus, human herpesvirus 6, herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, and 14 enteroviruses in chronic fatigue syndrome: is there evidence of activation of a nonspecific polyclonal immune response?

Manian, F A·Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·1994

This study looked at whether people with ME/CFS have higher levels of antibodies (immune proteins that fight viruses) to multiple different viruses compared to healthy people. Researchers tested blood samples from 20 ME/CFS patients and 20 healthy controls for antibodies to five different viruses. They found that most ME/CFS patients had elevated antibodies to at least one virus, but the pattern didn't suggest a generalized immune overreaction affecting all viruses equally.

Immune System

E2 ModerateReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

A comparative review of systemic and neurological symptomatology in 12 outbreaks collectively described as chronic fatigue syndrome, epidemic neuromyasthenia, and myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Briggs, N C, Levine, P H·Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·1994

This study reviewed 12 documented outbreaks of ME/CFS-like illness from 1934 to the 1980s to understand how symptoms varied between them. While all outbreaks shared common features like extreme fatigue, muscle pain, and headaches, the neurological symptoms (affecting the nervous system) differed significantly. The researchers found that older outbreaks (1930s-1950s) showed more severe objective nerve damage, while later outbreaks (1960s-1980s) had milder neurological findings, possibly because doctors weren't looking for these symptoms as carefully.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Studies on enterovirus in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Gow, J W, Behan, W M, Simpson, K et al.·Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·1994

Researchers tested muscle tissue from 121 ME/CFS patients and 101 people with other muscle disorders to look for enterovirus (a common virus). They found the virus in about 26% of ME/CFS patients and 20% of the comparison group—a difference too small to be meaningful. This contradicts their earlier, smaller study which had found much higher rates in ME/CFS patients, suggesting enterovirus may not be a major ongoing cause of the illness.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Low grade pyrexia: is it chronic fatigue syndrome?

Anand, A C, Kumar, R, Rao, M K et al.·The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India·1994

This study followed 87 patients who had a persistent low-grade fever (99-101°F) along with fatigue, muscle pain, and joint pain. Doctors ran many tests looking for infections, autoimmune diseases, or cancer, but found nothing abnormal. Most patients gradually improved over time, with about half becoming symptom-free within three years. The researchers suggest this condition might be related to ME/CFS.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Immunological abnormalities in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Tirelli, U, Marotta, G, Improta, S et al.·Scandinavian journal of immunology·1994

Researchers studied 265 ME/CFS patients and found unusual patterns in their immune cells compared to healthy people. They discovered that certain types of white blood cells called natural killer (NK) cells and B cells were abnormally increased, and these cells showed signs of being overly activated. These immune abnormalities appeared consistent with what other researchers had found in different countries.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Chronic fatigue syndrome--a controlled cross sectional study.

Rasmussen, A K, Nielsen, H, Andersen, V et al.·The Journal of rheumatology·1994

Researchers compared immune system markers in 21 people with ME/CFS to 21 healthy controls to see if immune problems might cause the illness. They found that people with ME/CFS produced higher levels of certain immune signaling molecules and had slightly different antibody patterns, but overall immune system differences between the groups were small. The study suggests the immune system may be out of balance in ME/CFS, but doesn't prove this imbalance actually causes the disease.

Immune System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Chronic fatigue syndrome: a follow up study.

Bonner, D, Ron, M, Chalder, T et al.·Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry·1994

Researchers followed up with 46 ME/CFS patients four years after their initial diagnosis to see how they were doing. Patients who had improved with treatment generally stayed better, while those who didn't benefit from treatment were unlikely to recover on their own. Patients who still had ME/CFS symptoms four years later tended to have had more physical health problems, greater fatigue levels, and a history of mental health conditions when first diagnosed.

Interventions

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Illness behaviour of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Schweitzer, R, Robertson, D L, Kelly, B et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·1994

This study asked 40 patients with ME/CFS to complete questionnaires about their health concerns and mood. Compared to people visiting general doctors, ME/CFS patients reported more worry about their health and stronger belief that they had a serious illness. However, they were less likely to think their symptoms were purely psychological. About two-thirds of the ME/CFS patients also showed signs of depression or anxiety on screening tests.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Primary juvenile fibromyalgia syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome in adolescents.

Bell, D S, Bell, K M, Cheney, P R·Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·1994

This study looked at whether children diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) also had fibromyalgia, a condition involving widespread muscle pain and tender points. Researchers found that about 30% of children with CFS met the criteria for fibromyalgia, and these children experienced more muscle pain, sleep problems, and neurological symptoms than those without fibromyalgia. The study suggests that CFS and fibromyalgia in children may be closely related or even the same condition.

Pain and SensitizationSleep

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

SPECT imaging of the brain: comparison of findings in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, AIDS dementia complex, and major unipolar depression.

Schwartz, R B, Komaroff, A L, Garada, B M et al.·AJR. American journal of roentgenology·1994

Researchers used a type of brain imaging called SPECT scans to compare brain blood flow patterns in people with ME/CFS, AIDS-related dementia, depression, and healthy people. People with ME/CFS and AIDS dementia showed similar patterns of reduced blood flow in certain brain areas, while people with depression showed different patterns. These findings suggest ME/CFS may involve brain inflammation similar to a chronic viral infection rather than being purely psychological.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Immunologic abnormalities associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Barker, E, Fujimura, S F, Fadem, M B et al.·Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·1994

This study examined immune cells in the blood of ME/CFS patients and compared them to healthy people. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients had normal numbers of immune cells overall, but the cells showed signs of being overactive and tired. Most notably, patients had significantly reduced natural killer cell activity—these are immune cells that normally help fight infections and abnormal cells.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

A controlled study of brain magnetic resonance imaging in patients with the chronic fatigue syndrome.

Natelson, B H, Cohen, J M, Brassloff, I et al.·Journal of the neurological sciences·1993

Researchers compared brain scans (MRIs) of 52 people with ME/CFS to 52 similar healthy people. They found that ME/CFS patients were much more likely to have abnormal brain scans—27% compared to only 2% in the control group. The abnormalities included areas of white matter changes and some brain tissue enlargement, though the researchers noted that some of these findings might actually indicate other medical conditions rather than ME/CFS itself.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Persistence of enterovirus RNA in muscle biopsy samples suggests that some cases of chronic fatigue syndrome result from a previous, inflammatory viral myopathy.

Bowles, N E, Bayston, T A, Zhang, H Y et al.·Journal of medicine·1993

Researchers tested muscle samples from people with post-viral fatigue syndrome (a condition similar to ME/CFS that develops after a viral infection) and found evidence of enterovirus RNA in about 26% of samples. This was much higher than in healthy control samples. The study suggests that some cases of ME/CFS may develop after a viral infection causes inflammation in the muscles, similar to how viral heart infections can lead to long-term heart problems.

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Psychosocial correlates of illness burden in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Gender differences in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Lack of evidence for infection with known human and animal retroviruses in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Epstein-Barr virus infection in Desert Storm reservists.

A potential role for human herpesvirus type 6 in nervous system disease.

Concurrent sick building syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome: epidemic neuromyasthenia revisited.

[Chronic fatigue syndrome--a controlled cross-sectional study].

Simultaneous measurement of antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus, human herpesvirus 6, herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, and 14 enteroviruses in chronic fatigue syndrome: is there evidence of activation of a nonspecific polyclonal immune response?

A comparative review of systemic and neurological symptomatology in 12 outbreaks collectively described as chronic fatigue syndrome, epidemic neuromyasthenia, and myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Studies on enterovirus in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Low grade pyrexia: is it chronic fatigue syndrome?

Immunological abnormalities in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome--a controlled cross sectional study.

Chronic fatigue syndrome: a follow up study.

Illness behaviour of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Primary juvenile fibromyalgia syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome in adolescents.

SPECT imaging of the brain: comparison of findings in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, AIDS dementia complex, and major unipolar depression.

Immunologic abnormalities associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.

A controlled study of brain magnetic resonance imaging in patients with the chronic fatigue syndrome.

Persistence of enterovirus RNA in muscle biopsy samples suggests that some cases of chronic fatigue syndrome result from a previous, inflammatory viral myopathy.

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