ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

3921–3940 of 6,188 studies

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 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Diagnostic overshadowing in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): A qualitative study.

Harwood, Rupert, Wincup, Chris, D'Cruz, David et al.·Lupus·2025

This study looked at why people with lupus (SLE) often wait a long time to get diagnosed. Researchers found that doctors sometimes overlook or misinterpret lupus symptoms, attributing them instead to other causes like mental health problems, ME/CFS, or fibromyalgia. This "diagnostic overshadowing" can add years to someone's diagnostic journey and delay the treatment they need.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM requiredMechanistic

Gulf War Illness Induced Sex-Specific Transcriptional Differences Under Stressful Conditions.

Frank, Joshua, Tehrani, Lily, Gamer, Jackson et al.·International journal of molecular sciences·2025

Researchers studied how the immune system responds to physical stress in Gulf War veterans with Gulf War Illness (GWI), a condition similar to ME/CFS with fatigue, brain fog, and exhaustion. They found that men and women with GWI have different patterns of immune system activation during and after exercise, suggesting their bodies handle stress differently. These differences could help doctors develop better tests and treatments tailored to each person's sex.

BiomarkersImmune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The Gut-Brain-Immune Axis in Environmental Sensitivity Illnesses: Microbiome-Centered Narrative Review of Fibromyalgia Syndrome, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity.

Watai, Kentaro, Taniguchi, Masami, Azuma, Kenichi·International journal of molecular sciences·2025

This review examines how changes in gut bacteria may contribute to ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and multiple chemical sensitivity—three conditions that share similar symptoms like fatigue, pain, and sensitivity to environmental triggers. The researchers found that people with these conditions tend to have fewer helpful bacteria and more harmful bacteria in their gut, which may affect how their immune system and brain work. The review suggests that treatments targeting the microbiome—such as probiotics or other interventions—might help, though more research is needed to confirm this.

NeuroinflammationEnergy MetabolismImmune System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

"I would love to say it's the fatigue but honestly it's not": Into Adulthood with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

Tenhave, A, Bognar, R, Sidis, A·Psychology, health & medicine·2025

This study interviewed 13 young people (ages 16-25) with ME/CFS about what it's like growing up with this illness. The researchers found that participants struggled with three main challenges: gaining independence in ways different from their healthy peers, figuring out who they are when illness changes their plans, and feeling isolated even when around other people. The study suggests that mental health support could help young people with ME/CFS build confidence, explore their identity, and stay psychologically healthy during these critical years.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Mechanistic Insights Into Long Covid: Viral Persistence, Immune Dysregulation, and Multi-Organ Dysfunction.

Gupta, Gautam, Buonsenso, Danilo, Wood, John et al.·Comprehensive Physiology·2025

This review examines how Long Covid causes persistent symptoms affecting multiple body systems. The research suggests that SARS-CoV-2 virus may hide in body tissues, trigger ongoing immune problems, and damage how cells produce energy, which could explain fatigue and post-exertion crashes. These mechanisms appear similar to ME/CFS, suggesting the two conditions may share common biological pathways.

NeuroinflammationImmune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM unclearEditorial

Skeletal muscle adaptations and post-exertional malaise in long COVID.

Charlton, Braeden T, Goulding, Richie P, Jaspers, Richard T et al.·Trends in endocrinology and metabolism: TEM·2025

This article reviews evidence that long COVID symptoms—especially worsening after activity (post-exertional malaise)—may be caused by problems with how muscles produce energy, damage to blood vessel function, and changes in muscle fiber types that make them rely more on less-efficient energy pathways. The authors suggest that physical or mental exertion may trigger rapid muscle damage and immune cell infiltration, which could explain why patients feel worse after activity.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Application of DNA Methylome Analysis to Patients with ME/CFS.

Peppercorn, Katie, Edgar, Christina D, Al Momani, Suzan et al.·Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)·2025

This study describes a technique called RRBS that examines how chemical tags on our DNA (called methylation) are different in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people. These tags act like switches that turn genes on or off, and abnormal patterns might help explain why ME/CFS causes such severe symptoms. The researchers show how this method can be used to identify patterns that could eventually lead to better diagnostic tests or ways to track how the illness changes over time.

Biomarkers

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

MyGuide long COVID: An online self-management tool for people with long COVID.

Naik, Hiten, Pongratz, Kyla, Malbeuf, Michelle et al.·Internet interventions·2025

Researchers created MyGuide Long COVID, a free website where people with long COVID answer questions about their symptoms and receive personalized information and self-management tips. The website launched in August 2023 and attracted nearly 8,600 users in its first year, with the most popular topics being post-exertional malaise (worsening symptoms after activity) and general information about long COVID. This shows that a patient-centered online tool developed together with both doctors and people living with long COVID can successfully help patients manage their condition.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

'She thought the same way I that I thought:' a qualitative study of patient-provider concordance among Gulf War Veterans with Gulf War Illness.

Lesnewich, Laura M, Hyde, Justeen K, McFarlin, Mikhaela L et al.·Psychology & health·2025

This study talked to 31 Gulf War Veterans with Gulf War Illness to understand what makes them feel heard and supported by their doctors. The researchers found that patients feel better about their care when doctors believe their symptoms are real, show they understand the condition, and build trust with them. When doctors dismissed patients' experiences or didn't know much about Gulf War Illness, it damaged the relationship and made treatment harder.

E3 PreliminaryPEM unclear

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 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Prevalence of EBV, HHV6, HCMV, HAdV, SARS-CoV-2, and Autoantibodies to Type I Interferon in Sputum from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients.

Hannestad, Ulf, Allard, Annika, Nilsson, Kent et al.·Viruses·2025

This study tested sputum (saliva and mucus) samples from ME/CFS patients and healthy people to look for viruses and signs of immune dysfunction. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients had significantly higher levels of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) compared to controls, but surprisingly, most people carried human herpesvirus 6 at similar levels. The study suggests that ME/CFS patients may have trouble fighting off viruses, but this isn't simply due to the immune system attacking itself.

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 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Syed, Abu Mohammad, Karius, Alexander K, Ma, Jin et al.·Physiology (Bethesda, Md.)·2025

This review examines how mitochondria—the parts of cells that produce energy—may not be working properly in ME/CFS patients. The authors suggest that problems with energy production in cells could explain why people with ME/CFS feel severely exhausted after physical activity. They also note that similar energy problems appear in long COVID, which suggests both conditions may share a common underlying cause.

Severe MELong COVID OverlapPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearObservational

Relationship between major depressive disorder and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a two-sample mendelian randomization study analysis.

Song, Wenjing, Hou, Xinlei, Wu, Minmin et al.·Scientific reports·2025

This study used genetic data from large databases to investigate whether depression causes ME/CFS, or vice versa. Researchers compared genetic information from thousands of people with depression and thousands with ME/CFS. They found no evidence that one condition genetically causes the other, even though depression and ME/CFS often happen together in the same person.

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 PreliminaryMechanismPEM requiredMechanistic

Uncovering the genetic architecture of ME/CFS: a precision approach reveals impact of rare monogenic variation.

Birch, Camille L, Wilk, Brandon M, Gajapathy, Manavalan et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2025

Researchers studied the DNA of 31 people with ME/CFS from 25 families to find genetic causes of the illness. They found that about 39% of participants had gene mutations that could contribute to ME/CFS, and these mutations affected how bodies produce energy and handle stress. While the specific genes varied between patients, they all seemed to affect similar biological pathways, suggesting ME/CFS may be caused by different genetic problems that lead to the same symptoms.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Profiling Antibody Reactivity to Gut Microbes in ME/CFS Patients.

Seton, Katharine A, Carding, Simon R·Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)·2025

This study looks at how the immune system of ME/CFS patients reacts to bacteria in the gut. Many ME/CFS patients have changes in their gut bacteria and a leaky gut lining that allows bacteria and their toxic products to enter the bloodstream, potentially triggering widespread inflammation. The researchers developed methods to measure specific immune proteins (antibodies) that ME/CFS patients produce in response to these gut bacteria, compared to healthy household members.

Gut MicrobiomeImmune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Miscellaneous neurologic conditions with a few or no available data.

Benedetti, Fabrizio, Shaibani, Aziz·Handbook of clinical neurology·2025

This review article examines what we know about the placebo effect—when patients feel better simply because they believe they're receiving treatment—in several poorly understood conditions, including ME/CFS and fatigue. The authors found that most available studies on these conditions are small and lack proper comparison groups, making it impossible to draw clear conclusions about how placebo works in these illnesses. They call for more rigorous research to understand the biological mechanisms behind the placebo effect in ME/CFS and other similar conditions.

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

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

Diagnostic overshadowing in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): A qualitative study.

Gulf War Illness Induced Sex-Specific Transcriptional Differences Under Stressful Conditions.

The Gut-Brain-Immune Axis in Environmental Sensitivity Illnesses: Microbiome-Centered Narrative Review of Fibromyalgia Syndrome, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity.

"I would love to say it's the fatigue but honestly it's not": Into Adulthood with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

Mechanistic Insights Into Long Covid: Viral Persistence, Immune Dysregulation, and Multi-Organ Dysfunction.

Skeletal muscle adaptations and post-exertional malaise in long COVID.

Application of DNA Methylome Analysis to Patients with ME/CFS.

MyGuide long COVID: An online self-management tool for people with long COVID.

'She thought the same way I that I thought:' a qualitative study of patient-provider concordance among Gulf War Veterans with Gulf War Illness.

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

Prevalence of EBV, HHV6, HCMV, HAdV, SARS-CoV-2, and Autoantibodies to Type I Interferon in Sputum from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients.

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

Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Relationship between major depressive disorder and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a two-sample mendelian randomization study analysis.

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

Uncovering the genetic architecture of ME/CFS: a precision approach reveals impact of rare monogenic variation.

Profiling Antibody Reactivity to Gut Microbes in ME/CFS Patients.

Miscellaneous neurologic conditions with a few or no available data.

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

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