ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

3981–4000 of 6,209 studies

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

KombOver: Efficient k-core and K-truss based characterization of perturbations within the human gut microbiome.

Sapoval, Nicolae, Tanevski, Marko, Treangen, Todd J·Pacific Symposium on Biocomputing. Pacific Symposium on Biocomputing·2024

This study describes a new computer tool called KombOver that analyzes bacteria in the gut more efficiently than previous methods. Researchers tested it on nearly 1,000 gut samples from people with ME/CFS and other conditions to see how microbial communities change in response to illness. The tool works much faster and requires less computing power than earlier versions, making it more practical for large research studies.

Gut Microbiome

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Potential pathophysiological role of the ion channel TRPM3 in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and the therapeutic effect of low-dose naltrexone.

Löhn, Matthias, Wirth, Klaus Josef·Journal of translational medicine·2024

This study explores how a specific ion channel called TRPM3, which helps control pain signals and immune cell function, may not work properly in ME/CFS patients. The researchers found that immune cells called natural killer cells have reduced function due to TRPM3 problems, and a medication called low-dose naltrexone (LDN) may help restore this function in laboratory tests. This could explain why some ME/CFS patients report feeling better with LDN treatment.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Central 5-HTergic hyperactivity induces myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)-like pathophysiology.

Lee, Jin-Seok, Kang, Ji-Yun, Park, Samuel-Young et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2024

Researchers found that excess serotonin (a brain chemical) in a specific brain region called the dorsal raphe nuclei can cause fatigue and symptoms similar to ME/CFS in mice. They tested this by giving mice high doses of common antidepressants (SSRIs) that increase serotonin levels, and the mice developed severe tiredness, difficulty with physical activity, and problems with their stress response system. This suggests that too much serotonin activity in the brain might be involved in causing ME/CFS symptoms.

Endocrine Disruption

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Creatine Supplementation Beyond Athletics: Benefits of Different Types of Creatine for Women, Vegans, and Clinical Populations-A Narrative Review.

Gutiérrez-Hellín, Jorge, Del Coso, Juan, Franco-Andrés, Arturo et al.·Nutrients·2024

This review article examines how creatine, a natural substance that helps muscles produce energy, might help people beyond just athletes. The authors suggest creatine supplementation could reduce fatigue in women during certain phases of their menstrual cycle, help vegans and vegetarians compensate for lower creatine from their diet, and potentially support people with chronic fatigue syndrome, muscle loss, and other health conditions by improving how their cells produce energy.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Dysregulation of extracellular vesicle protein cargo in female myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome cases and sedentary controls in response to maximal exercise.

Giloteaux, Ludovic, Glass, Katherine A, Germain, Arnaud et al.·Journal of extracellular vesicles·2024

When people without ME/CFS exercise, their bodies release tiny particles called extracellular vesicles that help cells communicate and recover. This study found that in people with ME/CFS, these particles carry different proteins after exercise compared to healthy people, and these differences match how severe a person's symptoms are. This suggests that ME/CFS patients' bodies may have a distinct biological response to exercise that could explain why exertion makes their symptoms worse.

BiomarkersPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Repeated cold stress, an animal model for fibromyalgia, elicits proprioceptor-induced chronic pain with microglial activation in mice.

Wakatsuki, Koji, Kiryu-Seo, Sumiko, Yasui, Masaya et al.·Journal of neuroinflammation·2024

Researchers used mice exposed to repeated cold stress to study how chronic pain develops, similar to fibromyalgia. They found that sensory nerve cells (proprioceptors) become overactive and trigger immune cells in the nervous system called microglia to become inflamed. When they reduced microglial activity with a drug, the pain improved, suggesting that this immune activation along nerve pathways may be a key driver of long-lasting pain.

Neuroinflammation

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM unclearCase-Control

[Effect of ECT on chronic fatigue syndrome].

Novakovic, Mina, Løhde, Linda, Brandt-Christensen, Anne Mette et al.·Ugeskrift for laeger·2024

This case report describes an older woman who was diagnosed with ME/CFS 30 years ago but was later found to actually have depression with severe fatigue as a main symptom. She received electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for depression and regained the ability to walk after six years of immobility. The case highlights how depression and ME/CFS can look similar and sometimes get confused with one another.

E3 PreliminaryPEM unclear

Virtual reality education on myalgic encephalomyelitis for medical students and healthcare professionals: a pilot study.

Anderson, Tara, Duffy, Grace, Corry, Dagmar·BMC medical education·2024

Researchers tested whether a virtual reality (VR) experience could help medical students and healthcare professionals better understand ME/CFS. The VR program showed real stories from people living with ME/CFS and their families. After using the VR experience, both groups showed significantly better understanding of the condition and greater empathy for patients—suggesting that immersive storytelling could be a useful training tool to address the widespread lack of knowledge about ME/CFS in healthcare.

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM unclear

False Alarm: XMRV, Cancer, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Coffin, John M, Kearney, Mary F·Annual review of virology·2024

In 2009, scientists found a virus called XMRV in some people with ME/CFS, which created excitement that they might have discovered a cause of the illness. However, when researchers around the world tried to confirm this finding, they repeatedly could not—and eventually realized the virus had contaminated the laboratory samples with mouse virus rather than coming from patients. This article tells the story of how this discovery was made, why it turned out to be false, and what we learned from this experience.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Conceptual foundations of acetylcarnitine supplementation in neuropsychiatric long COVID syndrome: a narrative review.

Helbing, Dario Lucas, Dommaschk, Eva-Maria, Danyeli, Lena Vera et al.·European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience·2024

This review examines whether a natural supplement called acetylcarnitine might help treat long COVID symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, and depression. Acetylcarnitine is a substance your body normally makes that helps cells produce energy. The authors looked at research showing this supplement has helped some people with similar illnesses like ME/CFS and depression, and they propose studying whether it could help long COVID patients too.

Neuroinflammation

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM requiredCase-Control

Mitochondrial DNA Missense Mutations ChrMT: 8981A > G and ChrMT: 6268C > T Identified in a Caucasian Female with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Triggered by the Epstein-Barr Virus.

Tang-Siegel, Gaoyan G, Maughan, David W, Frownfelter, Milah B et al.·Case reports in genetics·2024

This study describes one patient with ME/CFS whose symptoms began after a severe viral infection (Epstein-Barr virus, which causes mononucleosis) 24 years ago. Researchers found that her cells had genetic mutations affecting the mitochondria—the 'power plants' that produce energy for our bodies—which may explain her extreme fatigue and difficulty recovering from physical activity. The study also found abnormal mitochondria circulating in her blood, suggesting that energy production problems may be contributing to her ME/CFS symptoms.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM requiredCase-Control

Pediatric and adult patients with ME/CFS following COVID-19: A structured approach to diagnosis using the Munich Berlin Symptom Questionnaire (MBSQ).

Peo, Laura-Carlotta, Wiehler, Katharina, Paulick, Johannes et al.·European journal of pediatrics·2024

This study looked at young people (ages 11-25) who developed ME/CFS after having COVID-19, even when their initial infection was mild or asymptomatic. Researchers created new questionnaires called the Munich Berlin Symptom Questionnaires (MBSQs) to help doctors diagnose ME/CFS more easily and consistently. The study found that ten young patients had severe problems with daily activities and quality of life after developing ME/CFS following COVID-19.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Investigation into the restoration of TRPM3 ion channel activity in post-COVID-19 condition: a potential pharmacotherapeutic target.

Sasso, Etianne Martini, Muraki, Katsuhiko, Eaton-Fitch, Natalie et al.·Frontiers in immunology·2024

This study looked at a tiny channel (called TRPM3) that sits on immune cells called NK cells, which help fight infections. Researchers found that both ME/CFS and post-COVID patients have a broken version of this channel. Importantly, they discovered that a drug called naltrexone (NTX) could fix this broken channel in lab-grown cells from post-COVID patients, suggesting it might help real patients feel better.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Immune exhaustion in ME/CFS and long COVID.

Eaton-Fitch, Natalie, Rudd, Penny, Er, Teagan et al.·JCI insight·2024

This study looked at immune system genes in blood samples from people with ME/CFS and long COVID to understand why their immune systems aren't working properly. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS had reduced immune signaling and infection-fighting genes, suggesting immune suppression, while long COVID patients showed different patterns of immune dysregulation. These findings suggest that both conditions involve problems with how the immune system activates and responds, which may help explain why people with these illnesses struggle with persistent symptoms.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearObservational

Head-down tilt reduces the heart rate in postural tachycardia syndrome in acute setting: a pilot study.

Novak, Peter·Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology·2024

This small study tested whether tilting the head downward slightly could help people with POTS (a condition causing rapid heart rate when standing). Researchers found that a 10-degree head-down tilt for 2 minutes safely reduced heart rate by about 10% and improved blood oxygen levels. Four of the seven patients tested also had ME/CFS, suggesting this approach might have potential for multiple related conditions.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infections: Exercise Limitation and Rehabilitation.

Mathew, Joscilin, Nugent, Kenneth·The Yale journal of biology and medicine·2024

Some people who had COVID-19 develop long-lasting symptoms and struggle with exercise—a condition called long COVID. This article explains that exercise problems can happen for different reasons: heart issues, lung problems, weak muscles, being out of shape, or symptoms that seem worse than what physical tests show. While many patients improve with standard rehabilitation programs, those with post-exertional malaise (getting worse after activity) need special, carefully monitored exercise plans.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Determining the societal value of a prospective drug for ME/CFS in Germany.

Gandjour, Afschin·PloS one·2024

This study examined how much money Germany should invest in developing a new ME/CFS drug to provide the greatest benefit to patients and society. Researchers calculated that an effective ME/CFS drug could improve quality of life for thousands of patients and save billions of euros, and they determined that Germany's optimal investment would be around €676 million. The study emphasizes that developing ME/CFS treatments requires countries to work together internationally because no single country can bear the full cost alone.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Over-Representation of Torque Teno Mini Virus 9 in a Subgroup of Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Pilot Study.

Giménez-Orenga, Karen, Martín-Martínez, Eva, Oltra, Elisa·Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)·2024

Researchers found that a virus called Torque Teno Mini Virus 9 (TTMV9) was present at much higher levels in the blood cells of some ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people and patients with fibromyalgia. This virus could potentially be used as a biological marker to identify and categorize certain ME/CFS patients. The findings suggest that viruses may play a role in ME/CFS, though more research is needed to understand exactly how.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM requiredCross-Sectional

A Multimodal Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Feasibility and Clinical Correlation.

Kaur, Raminder, Greeley, Brian, Ciok, Alexander et al.·Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)·2024

Researchers used two advanced brain imaging techniques together to look for differences between people with ME/CFS and healthy people. The study found specific changes in brain chemistry and activity patterns in ME/CFS patients, particularly in areas related to thinking and fatigue control. The imaging was safe and didn't make patients immediately more fatigued, suggesting these techniques could be useful for studying ME/CFS in the future.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearCase-Control

Identification of CD8 T-cell dysfunction associated with symptoms in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and Long COVID and treatment with a nebulized antioxidant/anti-pathogen agent in a retrospective case series.

Gil, Anna, Hoag, George E, Salerno, John P et al.·Brain, behavior, & immunity - health·2024

This study found that people with ME/CFS and Long COVID have immune cells (called CD8 T-cells) that don't work properly—they can't produce certain protective substances as well as healthy people can. The researchers also tested a nebulized (inhaled) treatment made from five natural antioxidant ingredients in a small group of patients and found that both the immune cell function and symptom severity improved over time with treatment, without serious side effects.

Immune System

← Previous Next 20 studies →

Or browse by topic

PEM Immune Neuro Metabolic Biomarkers Severe ME Long COVID Cognitive

Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

KombOver: Efficient k-core and K-truss based characterization of perturbations within the human gut microbiome.

Potential pathophysiological role of the ion channel TRPM3 in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and the therapeutic effect of low-dose naltrexone.

Central 5-HTergic hyperactivity induces myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)-like pathophysiology.

Creatine Supplementation Beyond Athletics: Benefits of Different Types of Creatine for Women, Vegans, and Clinical Populations-A Narrative Review.

Dysregulation of extracellular vesicle protein cargo in female myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome cases and sedentary controls in response to maximal exercise.

Repeated cold stress, an animal model for fibromyalgia, elicits proprioceptor-induced chronic pain with microglial activation in mice.

[Effect of ECT on chronic fatigue syndrome].

Virtual reality education on myalgic encephalomyelitis for medical students and healthcare professionals: a pilot study.

False Alarm: XMRV, Cancer, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Conceptual foundations of acetylcarnitine supplementation in neuropsychiatric long COVID syndrome: a narrative review.

Mitochondrial DNA Missense Mutations ChrMT: 8981A > G and ChrMT: 6268C > T Identified in a Caucasian Female with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Triggered by the Epstein-Barr Virus.

Pediatric and adult patients with ME/CFS following COVID-19: A structured approach to diagnosis using the Munich Berlin Symptom Questionnaire (MBSQ).

Investigation into the restoration of TRPM3 ion channel activity in post-COVID-19 condition: a potential pharmacotherapeutic target.

Immune exhaustion in ME/CFS and long COVID.

Head-down tilt reduces the heart rate in postural tachycardia syndrome in acute setting: a pilot study.

Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infections: Exercise Limitation and Rehabilitation.

Determining the societal value of a prospective drug for ME/CFS in Germany.

Over-Representation of Torque Teno Mini Virus 9 in a Subgroup of Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Pilot Study.

A Multimodal Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Feasibility and Clinical Correlation.

Identification of CD8 T-cell dysfunction associated with symptoms in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and Long COVID and treatment with a nebulized antioxidant/anti-pathogen agent in a retrospective case series.

Curated Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

PEM-Specific Research