ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

41–60 of 1,205 studies

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The microbiome in post-acute infection syndrome (PAIS).

Guo, Cheng, Yi, Boyang, Wu, Jianyong et al.·Computational and structural biotechnology journal·2023

This review examined how the bacteria and other microorganisms living in our bodies—particularly in the gut and mouth—may be altered in patients with prolonged illnesses following infections, including ME/CFS and long COVID. The researchers looked at existing studies to understand whether changes in these microbial communities might contribute to why some people develop long-lasting symptoms after being sick. They explored possible explanations for how these microbial changes could trigger or worsen symptoms in post-infection syndromes.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Surveying the Metabolic and Dysfunctional Profiles of T Cells and NK Cells in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Maya, Jessica·International journal of molecular sciences·2023

This review examined research on how immune cells (T cells and NK cells) work differently in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people. The authors found evidence that these immune cells may be exhausted or damaged, similar to what happens in chronic viral infections. Understanding why these immune cells aren't functioning properly could help explain ME/CFS symptoms and guide development of better treatments.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearEditorial

Understanding, diagnosing, and treating Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome - State of the art: Report of the 2nd international meeting at the Charité Fatigue Center.

Steiner, Sophie, Fehrer, Annick, Hoheisel, Friederike et al.·Autoimmunity reviews·2023

Over 100 international researchers gathered in Berlin in May 2023 to discuss what we currently know about ME/CFS, how to diagnose it, and how to treat it. The conference highlighted that ME/CFS involves problems with the immune system, blood vessel function, and nervous system control, and that some cases may be triggered by viruses reactivating in the body. Despite growing interest due to Long COVID, ME/CFS remains under-researched and needs significantly more funding to find better diagnostic tests and targeted treatments.

Autonomic Nervous SystemImmune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearEvidence-Map

ME/CFS and Long COVID share similar symptoms and biological abnormalities: road map to the literature

Anthony L. Komaroff, W. Ian Lipkin·Frontiers in Medicine·2023

Harvard and Columbia researchers conducted a comprehensive review of biological abnormalities in ME/CFS and Long COVID. They found striking overlaps in immune dysregulation, autonomic dysfunction, metabolic disruption, and neurological features. The paper maps the literature to guide researchers working across both conditions.

Immune SystemLong COVID Overlap

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Pathogenic mechanisms of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC).

Sherif, Zaki A, Gomez, Christian R, Connors, Thomas J et al.·eLife·2023

This review examines how COVID-19 can lead to Long COVID, a condition where people experience ongoing fatigue, difficulty with exercise, and brain fog that can last months or years. The researchers explored multiple possible explanations for why this happens, including lingering virus in the body, problems with blood clotting, nerve signaling problems, immune system dysfunction, and reactivation of old viruses like Epstein-Barr. Since Long COVID affects different people in different ways, the authors suggest that different patients may need different treatments.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

DNA Methylation Signatures of Functional Somatic Syndromes: Systematic Review.

Fischer, Susanne, Kleinstäuber, Maria, Fiori, Laura M et al.·Psychosomatic medicine·2023

This review looked at research on DNA changes in people with ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome. Scientists found that people with these conditions have different patterns of chemical switches on their genes compared to healthy people, particularly in genes that control immune function and stress response. These differences may help explain why people with ME/CFS experience fatigue, pain, and other symptoms.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Aetiological Understanding of Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Classificatory Analogues: A Systematic Umbrella Review.

Kleinstäuber, Maria, Schröder, Andreas, Daehler, Sarah et al.·Clinical psychology in Europe·2023

This study reviewed hundreds of scientific articles about ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome to understand what researchers think causes these conditions. The researchers found that most studies focus on biological factors like immune system problems, while far fewer examine psychological or social causes. The review suggests that the best understanding comes from looking at multiple factors together—biological, psychological, and social—rather than just one type of cause.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Persistent SARS-CoV-2 Infection, EBV, HHV-6 and Other Factors May Contribute to Inflammation and Autoimmunity in Long COVID.

Vojdani, Aristo, Vojdani, Elroy, Saidara, Evan et al.·Viruses·2023

This review examines how long COVID—a condition where symptoms persist months after a coronavirus infection—may develop through similar mechanisms to ME/CFS. The authors suggest that viral persistence, reactivation of old herpes viruses (like Epstein-Barr virus), immune system dysfunction, and gut microbiome changes may all contribute to ongoing inflammation and autoimmune problems. They propose testing for antibodies and other markers to better identify and treat long COVID.

Gut MicrobiomeImmune SystemLong COVID Overlap

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Therapeutic Implications of the Microbial Hypothesis of Mental Illness.

Savitz, Jonathan, Yolken, Robert H·Current topics in behavioral neurosciences·2023

This review examines whether certain germs—especially viruses like EBV and CMV, and parasites—might contribute to mental illness and ME/CFS. Researchers looked at studies testing whether anti-viral and anti-parasite medications could help treat these conditions, and also explored whether changes in gut bacteria might play a role. The authors found some evidence supporting these connections, though much more research is needed to understand how they work.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredMeta-Analysis

DNA Methylation Changes in Blood Cells of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients.

Przybylowicz, Patrycja Kamila, Sokolowska, Katarzyna Ewa, Rola, Hubert et al.·Journal of pain research·2023

This study looked at chemical changes called 'methylation' in the blood cells of people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Researchers combined data from three previous studies and found that while the specific methylation patterns differed slightly between studies, they consistently affected genes involved in body processes that could explain symptoms like pain and exhaustion. This suggests that methylation changes may play a role in how these conditions develop.

BiomarkersImmune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Application and development of fecal microbiota transplantation in the treatment of gastrointestinal and metabolic diseases: A review.

Mahmoudi, Hassan, Hossainpour, Hadi·Saudi journal of gastroenterology : official journal of the Saudi Gastroenterology Association·2023

This review examines how fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT)—transferring healthy bacteria from a donor's stool to a patient's gut—can treat various diseases. While FMT is very effective for serious C. difficile infections, researchers are exploring whether it might help other conditions including chronic fatigue syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and irritable bowel syndrome by restoring a healthy balance of gut bacteria.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Evaluation of viral infection as an etiology of ME/CFS: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Hwang, Jae-Hyun, Lee, Jin-Seok, Oh, Hyeon-Muk et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2023

Researchers analyzed 64 studies involving nearly 5,000 ME/CFS patients to see if viral infections might cause or trigger the illness. They found that certain viruses—particularly Borna disease virus, human herpesvirus-7, parvovirus B19, enterovirus, and Coxsackie B virus—appeared more frequently in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people and those with other diseases. While these associations are promising leads, finding a virus more often in patients doesn't prove it causes ME/CFS.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredSystematic-Review

Biomarkers for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): a systematic review.

Maksoud, Rebekah, Magawa, Chandi, Eaton-Fitch, Natalie et al.·BMC medicine·2023

Researchers reviewed 101 studies looking for biological markers (biomarkers) that could help diagnose ME/CFS. A biomarker is something measurable in your blood or body that shows a disease is present. While scientists found many potential biomarkers affecting the immune system, energy production, circulation, and other body functions, none have been proven reliable enough to use as a diagnostic test yet.

BiomarkersImmune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Mindfulness Meditation Interventions for Long COVID: Biobehavioral Gene Expression and Neuroimmune Functioning.

Porter, Nicole, Jason, Leonard A·Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment·2022

This review examines whether mindfulness meditation—a practice involving focused attention and relaxation—might help people with Long COVID and ME/CFS. The authors looked at existing research showing that meditation can reduce fatigue and sleep problems, and may help calm inflammation in the body after viral infections. They suggest that meditation could be a helpful tool to manage symptoms and potentially address some of the underlying biological problems in these conditions.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Breast Implant-Associated Immunological Disorders.

Suh, Lily J, Khan, Imran, Kelley-Patteson, Christine et al.·Journal of immunology research·2022

This review examined reports of illness associated with breast implants, which can cause fatigue, joint pain, difficulty concentrating, and other symptoms similar to those in ME/CFS. Researchers found evidence that breast implants may trigger autoimmune problems in some people, and that removing implants improved symptoms in over half of patients studied. The review suggests that bacterial infections around implants, rather than the implant material itself, might be responsible for these problems.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Fatigue in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and systemic sclerosis (SSc): similarities with Myalgic encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). A critical review of the literature.

van Eeden, Charmaine, Osman, Mohammed S, Cohen Tervaert, Jan Willem·Expert review of clinical immunology·2022

This review examined severe, long-lasting fatigue in patients with certain autoimmune diseases and compared it to ME/CFS. The researchers found that fatigue in these autoimmune diseases shares similarities with ME/CFS, including common immune and metabolic problems. Importantly, this fatigue often persists even after the main disease is brought under control, suggesting it may need different treatment approaches than the underlying condition.

Severe MEImmune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Genetics of COVID-19 and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review.

Tziastoudi, Maria, Cholevas, Christos, Stefanidis, Ioannis et al.·Annals of clinical and translational neurology·2022

This study looked at genetic research on both COVID-19 and ME/CFS to see if they share common genetic factors that might explain why both conditions cause extreme fatigue. Researchers reviewed 71 studies on COVID-19 genetics and 26 studies on ME/CFS genetics, then identified six genes that appear in both conditions. The findings suggest that immune system dysfunction—specifically problems with inflammation and how immune cells communicate—may play a role in both illnesses.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Animal Models for Neuroinflammation and Potential Treatment Methods.

Tamura, Yasuhisa, Yamato, Masanori, Kataoka, Yosky·Frontiers in neurology·2022

This review looked at how ME/CFS may be caused by inflammation in the brain and examined animal studies testing anti-inflammatory treatments. Researchers found that brain inflammation is connected to how severe ME/CFS symptoms are, and that certain compounds with anti-inflammatory properties showed promise in reducing these inflammatory responses in animal models. This suggests that anti-inflammatory medicines might help improve symptoms in ME/CFS patients.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Analysis of post COVID-19 condition and its overlap with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Sukocheva, Olga A, Maksoud, Rebekah, Beeraka, Narasimha M et al.·Journal of advanced research·2022

This study compared long-term effects of COVID-19 infection (long-COVID) with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) to see how similar they are. Researchers found that many people who develop long-COVID experience the same symptoms as ME/CFS patients, including severe fatigue, brain fog, headaches, and worsening of symptoms after physical activity. The study suggests that COVID-19 may trigger a ME/CFS-like condition in some people through inflammatory processes in the body.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The Neurological Manifestations of Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Moghimi, Narges, Di Napoli, Mario, Biller, José et al.·Current neurology and neuroscience reports·2021

This review examined what we know about how COVID-19 can affect the nervous system in people who experience long-term symptoms after infection (called PASC or long COVID). The researchers looked at published studies to understand how common these neurological problems are, who is most at risk, why they happen, and how they might be treated. They found that long COVID can range from mild to severely disabling symptoms that last weeks or longer, and that multiple factors—including lingering inflammation, immune system problems, and possible viral effects on the brain—may play a role.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

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The microbiome in post-acute infection syndrome (PAIS).

Surveying the Metabolic and Dysfunctional Profiles of T Cells and NK Cells in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Understanding, diagnosing, and treating Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome - State of the art: Report of the 2nd international meeting at the Charité Fatigue Center.

ME/CFS and Long COVID share similar symptoms and biological abnormalities: road map to the literature

Pathogenic mechanisms of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC).

DNA Methylation Signatures of Functional Somatic Syndromes: Systematic Review.

Aetiological Understanding of Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Classificatory Analogues: A Systematic Umbrella Review.

Persistent SARS-CoV-2 Infection, EBV, HHV-6 and Other Factors May Contribute to Inflammation and Autoimmunity in Long COVID.

Therapeutic Implications of the Microbial Hypothesis of Mental Illness.

DNA Methylation Changes in Blood Cells of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients.

Application and development of fecal microbiota transplantation in the treatment of gastrointestinal and metabolic diseases: A review.

Evaluation of viral infection as an etiology of ME/CFS: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Biomarkers for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): a systematic review.

Mindfulness Meditation Interventions for Long COVID: Biobehavioral Gene Expression and Neuroimmune Functioning.

Breast Implant-Associated Immunological Disorders.

Fatigue in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and systemic sclerosis (SSc): similarities with Myalgic encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). A critical review of the literature.

Genetics of COVID-19 and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review.

Animal Models for Neuroinflammation and Potential Treatment Methods.

Analysis of post COVID-19 condition and its overlap with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Neurological Manifestations of Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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