ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

3801–3820 of 6,161 studies

Wearable Devices Enable Long COVID Patients to Decrease Symptom Severity: A Case Series From Pilot User Testing.

Goosen, Andrea, Foster-Bonds, Romina, Vogel, Julia Moore·Cardiopulmonary physical therapy journal·2025

This small study looked at whether fitness trackers (Garmin watches) could help Long COVID patients manage their symptoms through pacing—carefully controlling activity levels to avoid overexertion. Eleven patients received a tracker, educational materials about pacing, and were asked about their experience. Most participants found the information helpful for managing their symptoms, and none had difficulty using the device, even those who had never used a wearable before.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

HLA and pathogens in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and other post-infection conditions.

Georgopoulos, Apostolos P, James, Lisa M, Peterson, Philip K·Scientific reports·2025

This study explores why some people develop ME/CFS after viral infections while others don't. Researchers looked at immune system genes (HLA types) and tested how well they recognize and fight nine common human herpes viruses. They found that people with certain HLA types have weak immune recognition of these viruses, potentially allowing the viruses to persist and cause ME/CFS, while people with other HLA types have strong recognition and protection.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryPEM unclear

Static and Kinetic Disequilibrium are Central Neural Signs in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome-Therapeutic Effect of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.

Miwa, Kunihisa·Journal of integrative neuroscience·2025

This study found that nearly half of ME/CFS patients experience balance problems—either when standing still (static disequilibrium) or when walking (kinetic disequilibrium). These balance issues were linked to difficulty standing upright and limitations in daily activities. When researchers used a brain stimulation treatment called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on specific brain regions, most patients' balance problems improved, suggesting the root cause is in the central nervous system rather than the inner ear alone.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM unclearObservational

The Psychological Benefits of Forest Bathing in Individuals with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A Pilot Study.

Serrat, Mayte, Royuela-Colomer, Estíbaliz, Alonso-Marsol, Sandra et al.·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2025

This study looked at whether spending time walking quietly in a forest could help people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia feel better. Forty-four participants took a 3-hour guided walk through a Mediterranean forest, and researchers measured their pain, fatigue, anxiety, and mood before and after. Most symptoms improved after the walk, especially anxiety and negative feelings, though pain levels didn't change significantly.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Histone phosphorylation analysis of two main TCM syndromes of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Xu, Tingting, Gao, Shuo, Cheng, Xinxin et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2025

Researchers studied blood cells from 20 ME/CFS patients (divided into two Traditional Chinese Medicine symptom patterns) and 10 healthy controls. They found differences in how proteins were modified in the blood cells of ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people. These differences involved processes that affect how cells communicate with each other and organize their internal structures.

BiomarkersImmune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM requiredMechanistic

Precision Medicine Study of Post-Exertional Malaise Epigenetic Changes in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Patients During Exercise.

Sharma, Sayan, Hodges, Lynette D, Peppercorn, Katie et al.·International journal of molecular sciences·2025

This study looked at how exercise affects the chemical switches on our genes (epigenetics) in ME/CFS patients, particularly during post-exertional malaise (PEM)—the exhaustion that worsens after physical activity. Researchers took blood samples from five ME/CFS patients before, immediately after, and 24-48 hours after an exercise test, and found distinct patterns of genetic changes that were specific to ME/CFS patients and not seen in healthy controls. These changes affected genes related to immune function, inflammation, and blood vessel health, suggesting the body's response to exercise in ME/CFS is fundamentally different at the molecular level.

BiomarkersImmune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Patient experiences of remote consulting with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis and fibromyalgia: a qualitative study.

Leach, Helen, Eccles, Abi, Chew-Graham, Carolyn A et al.·BJGP open·2025

This study asked 13 people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia about their experiences using phone and video appointments with their doctors during and after 2020. Patients said the most important thing was feeling believed and listened to by their doctor. While remote appointments had some benefits (like being easier when symptoms were bad), many people found it harder to communicate without face-to-face visits, though having a trusted, familiar doctor made a big difference.

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM unclearEditorial

Post-infective myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and post-COVID as two puzzling faces of the same medal. Recent insights.

Chirumbolo, Salvatore, Franzini, Marianno, Tirelli, Umberto·International immunopharmacology·2025

This editorial examines the similarities between ME/CFS (a long-term illness causing extreme fatigue and other symptoms) and post-COVID syndrome (long-term effects some people experience after COVID-19 infection). The authors suggest these two conditions may share common underlying biological mechanisms, even though they arise from different infections. Understanding these connections could help doctors better recognize and treat both conditions.

Long COVID Overlap

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearObservational

Pyridostigmine improves hand grip strength in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Schlömer, Ella, Stein, Elisa, Kedor, Claudia et al.·Frontiers in neuroscience·2025

This small study tested whether a medication called pyridostigmine could help ME/CFS patients recover hand grip strength after exertion. Twenty patients with ME/CFS showed significant muscle weakness and fatigue. When given pyridostigmine, their hand strength improved by about 2.6 kg after one hour, compared to a loss of 4.65 kg without the medication. The medication also appeared to help with blood pressure responses when standing up.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Mixed methods study of views and experience of non-hospitalised individuals with long COVID of using pacing interventions.

McMullan, Christel, Haroon, Shamil, Turner, Grace et al.·Scientific reports·2025

This study asked people with Long COVID about their experiences using 'pacing'—a strategy to manage energy by balancing activity and rest. Researchers gave questionnaires to 28 people and interviewed 19 of them. Most participants found pacing helpful for planning activities and staying motivated, though some found it complicated and difficult to follow without clearer guidance.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

The potential causes of myasthenia and fasciculations in severely ill ME/CFS patients: the role of disturbed electrophysiology.

Wirth, Klaus J, Steinacker, Jürgen M·Frontiers in physiology·2025

This study proposes that muscle weakness, fatigue, and twitching in severely ill ME/CFS patients may result from a problem with a specific pump in muscle cells called the Na+/K+-ATPase. When this pump doesn't work properly, it allows too much sodium and calcium to build up inside muscle cells, damaging the cell's energy-producing structures (mitochondria) and making muscles weaker and more prone to cramping and involuntary twitching. The researchers suggest this single mechanical problem could explain many of the muscle symptoms severely ill ME/CFS patients experience.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Does Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Represent a Poly-Herpesvirus Post-Virus Infectious Disease?

Ariza, Maria Eugenia, Mena Palomo, Irene, Williams, Marshall V·Viruses·2025

This review examines whether ME/CFS might be caused by multiple herpes viruses working together, rather than a single virus. The researchers point out that many people develop ME/CFS after flu-like illnesses, suggesting viruses play a role, but scientists haven't found just one virus responsible. The study suggests that herpes viruses might cause ME/CFS through a special type of incomplete replication that hasn't been fully studied before.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearObservational

Integrated immune, hormonal, and transcriptomic profiling reveals sex-specific dysregulation in long COVID patients with ME/CFS.

Shahbaz, Shima, Osman, Mohammed, Syed, Hussain et al.·Cell reports. Medicine·2025

This study examined blood and immune system samples from Long COVID patients with ME/CFS, comparing men and women. The researchers found that women had stronger inflammatory responses, with changes in immune cells and hormones that may contribute to fatigue and cognitive symptoms. Men showed different patterns, including lower testosterone levels. These sex-based differences suggest that treatments may need to be tailored differently for men and women.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Multifaceted evolution focused on maximal exploitation of domain knowledge for the consensus inference of Gene Regulatory Networks.

Segura-Ortiz, Adrián, Giménez-Orenga, Karen, García-Nieto, José et al.·Computers in biology and medicine·2025

Researchers created a new computer tool called BIO-INSIGHT that helps scientists better understand which genes control other genes by analyzing genetic data from patients. They tested this tool on data from people with fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, and both conditions together, and found it could identify different gene patterns specific to each illness. This could help doctors find better ways to diagnose and treat these conditions in the future.

Biomarkers

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM requiredMethods-Paper

Measuring Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in ME/CFS Patients.

Walker, Max·Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)·2025

This study looked at whether certain molecules in the blood and immune cells could show signs of oxidative stress (cellular damage from harmful molecules called free radicals) in ME/CFS patients. The researchers tested two different markers before and after exercise: one test successfully measured protein damage, while another test designed to measure DNA damage was not sensitive enough to detect changes in this patient group.

BiomarkersPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearObservational

Plasma cell targeting with the anti-CD38 antibody daratumumab in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome-a clinical pilot study.

Fluge, Øystein, Rekeland, Ingrid Gurvin, Sørland, Kari et al.·Frontiers in medicine·2025

Researchers tested a drug called daratumumab that targets specific immune cells (plasma cells) in 10 ME/CFS patients to see if removing these cells could improve symptoms. Six patients experienced significant improvement in fatigue, physical function, and daily activity levels after treatment, while four showed no major changes. The drug was well-tolerated with no serious side effects, and improvements were sustained over 8-24 months of follow-up.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Oxidative stress is a shared characteristic of ME/CFS and Long COVID.

Shankar, Vishnu, Wilhelmy, Julie, Curtis, Ellis J et al.·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025

Researchers found that both ME/CFS and Long COVID patients have higher levels of oxidative stress—a harmful buildup of unstable molecules—in their immune cells, particularly in a type of white blood cell called memory T cells. The study identified specific problems with how the body clears this oxidative stress and showed that the existing medication metformin might help reduce overgrowth of these immune cells. Importantly, they discovered these problems show different patterns in men and women, suggesting that sex-specific treatment approaches may be needed.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredObservational

Cytokine profiles associated with persisting symptoms of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19.

Kwon, Ji-Soo, Chang, Euijin, Jang, Hyeon Mu et al.·The Korean journal of internal medicine·2025

After COVID-19, some people develop long-lasting symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, and difficulty exercising—a condition called long COVID or PASC. This study measured immune system markers (called cytokines) in the blood of 79 people and found that certain symptoms were linked to higher levels of specific immune proteins, suggesting the immune system may stay overactive in some long COVID patients.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Intelligent Eye Tracker Integrated with Cylindrical Capacitive Sensors for Chronic Fatigue Assessment.

Li, Tianyi, Park, Seo-Hyun, Lee, Changwoo et al.·Advanced sensor research·2025

Researchers developed a pair of smart glasses that can measure fatigue by tracking how often and how long you blink, without any contact with your eyes. The glasses use specially designed sensors made from carbon nanotubes to detect these eye movements in real-time. In a 15-minute test involving focused tasks and noise exposure, the system was able to distinguish between normal tiredness and chronic fatigue using artificial intelligence.

E3 PreliminaryGuidelinePEM requiredGuideline

Multidisciplinary collaborative guidance on the assessment and treatment of patients with Long COVID: A compendium statement.

Cheng, Abby L, Herman, Eric, Abramoff, Benjamin et al.·PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation·2025

This is a comprehensive clinical guide created by over 40 Long COVID treatment centers to help doctors evaluate and care for Long COVID patients. The guide covers how to assess symptoms, manage common problems like fatigue and brain fog, and help patients return to work or daily activities. It emphasizes that Long COVID is real, takes it seriously, and recommends treatments based on what doctors currently know while acknowledging many unknowns remain.

Post-Exertional Malaise

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Wearable Devices Enable Long COVID Patients to Decrease Symptom Severity: A Case Series From Pilot User Testing.

HLA and pathogens in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and other post-infection conditions.

Static and Kinetic Disequilibrium are Central Neural Signs in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome-Therapeutic Effect of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.

The Psychological Benefits of Forest Bathing in Individuals with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A Pilot Study.

Histone phosphorylation analysis of two main TCM syndromes of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Precision Medicine Study of Post-Exertional Malaise Epigenetic Changes in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Patients During Exercise.

Patient experiences of remote consulting with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis and fibromyalgia: a qualitative study.

Post-infective myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and post-COVID as two puzzling faces of the same medal. Recent insights.

Pyridostigmine improves hand grip strength in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Mixed methods study of views and experience of non-hospitalised individuals with long COVID of using pacing interventions.

The potential causes of myasthenia and fasciculations in severely ill ME/CFS patients: the role of disturbed electrophysiology.

Does Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Represent a Poly-Herpesvirus Post-Virus Infectious Disease?

Integrated immune, hormonal, and transcriptomic profiling reveals sex-specific dysregulation in long COVID patients with ME/CFS.

Multifaceted evolution focused on maximal exploitation of domain knowledge for the consensus inference of Gene Regulatory Networks.

Measuring Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in ME/CFS Patients.

Plasma cell targeting with the anti-CD38 antibody daratumumab in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome-a clinical pilot study.

Oxidative stress is a shared characteristic of ME/CFS and Long COVID.

Cytokine profiles associated with persisting symptoms of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19.

Intelligent Eye Tracker Integrated with Cylindrical Capacitive Sensors for Chronic Fatigue Assessment.

Multidisciplinary collaborative guidance on the assessment and treatment of patients with Long COVID: A compendium statement.

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