ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

4001–4020 of 6,162 studies

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 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Machine learning algorithms for detection of visuomotor neural control differences in individuals with PASC and ME.

Ahuja, Harit, Badhwar, Smriti, Edgell, Heather et al.·Frontiers in human neuroscience·2024

Researchers developed a new method using a simple headband that reads brain activity (EEG) to help identify people with long COVID or ME/CFS. The study used artificial intelligence to analyze brain patterns, and when trained on computer-generated synthetic data, the system was able to correctly identify these conditions 93% of the time. This approach could eventually help doctors diagnose and monitor these conditions more quickly.

Biomarkers

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 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 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

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not required

Stress-Related Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Case Report with a Positive Response to Alpha-Methyl-P-Tyrosine (AMPT) Treatment.

Ljungström, Maria, Oltra, Elisa, Pardo, Marta·International journal of molecular sciences·2024

This case report describes one patient with ME/CFS who had high levels of stress and an overactive stress-response system in his body. He was treated with a medication called alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (AMPT), which lowers stress chemicals in the body, and his symptoms improved. The report suggests that some people with ME/CFS may have problems with how their body produces and manages stress chemicals, and this medication might help them.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Development of an expert system for the classification of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Yagin, Fatma Hilal, Shateri, Ahmadreza, Nasiri, Hamid et al.·PeerJ. Computer science·2024

Researchers used artificial intelligence to analyze blood samples from 32 women with ME/CFS and 19 healthy controls, examining 832 different substances in their blood. The AI model identified just 50 key substances that could distinguish ME/CFS patients from healthy people with 98.85% accuracy. The study found that ME/CFS patients had different levels of five specific metabolites in their blood, which could potentially be used as biomarkers for diagnosis.

Biomarkers

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM unclearEditorial

Unravelling shared mechanisms: insights from recent ME/CFS research to illuminate long COVID pathologies.

Annesley, Sarah J, Missailidis, Daniel, Heng, Benjamin et al.·Trends in molecular medicine·2024

This article reviews recent research on ME/CFS and long COVID, two illnesses that share similar symptoms and may have overlapping causes. ME/CFS typically develops after a viral infection and can last for many years, while long COVID is a newer condition affecting some people recovering from COVID-19. By studying ME/CFS, which has been around longer, researchers hope to better understand what might happen to long COVID patients over time and develop better treatments and tests for both conditions.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryGuidelinePEM unclearGuideline

Designing and optimizing clinical trials for long COVID.

Vogel, Julia Moore, Pollack, Beth, Spier, Ezra et al.·Life sciences·2024

This study looked at all the clinical trials being tested for Long COVID on a public database and found that most trials are not well-designed or testing treatments that have enough evidence to justify testing. The researchers recommend that future trials should test actual medications that might cure Long COVID, be able to run remotely so sick patients don't have to travel, compare Long COVID to similar illnesses like ME/CFS, include diverse patients of all backgrounds and illness levels, and involve patients as research partners.

Long COVID Overlap

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Transcriptional reprogramming primes CD8+ T cells toward exhaustion in Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Iu, David S, Maya, Jessica, Vu, Luyen T et al.·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2024

This study found that certain immune cells called CD8+ T cells in people with ME/CFS show signs of exhaustion—they appear worn out and unable to function properly. Researchers used advanced techniques to examine the genes active in these cells and discovered that the cells have shifted into a state similar to what happens when the immune system fights a long-lasting infection. This exhaustion might explain some of the immune system problems seen in ME/CFS.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Successful Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin Therapy in a Case Series of Patients With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Sjogren, Per, Bragée, Bjorn, Britton, Sven·Clinical therapeutics·2024

This study tested a treatment called subcutaneous immunoglobulin (a protein that helps the immune system) in 17 ME/CFS patients whose symptoms seemed to be triggered by infections. After 5 weeks of treatment, patients reported significant improvements in their symptoms, quality of life, and ability to work, with no serious side effects. One patient reported their ME/CFS symptoms disappeared completely.

Immune System

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 PreliminaryMechanismPEM requiredMechanistic

Post-exertional malaise - A functional brain aberration?

Bruun Bratholm Wyller, Vegard·Brain, behavior, and immunity·2024

This study explores whether post-exertional malaise (PEM)—the hallmark symptom of ME/CFS where activity makes symptoms worse—might be caused by problems in how the brain functions. Researchers examined brain activity patterns in ME/CFS patients to understand what happens after exertion. The findings suggest that brain function abnormalities could play a role in why patients experience this debilitating symptom.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Acute Compartment Syndrome and Rhabdomyolysis Caused by a Single Electrical Muscle Stimulation in a 46-Year-Old Female Professional Athlete With Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Myofascial Disorder: A Case Report.

von Deneen, Karen M, Alemayehu, Dereje Gobena, Khosla, Ajit·Clinical journal of sport medicine : official journal of the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine·2024

This case report describes a 46-year-old female athlete with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia who experienced a serious muscle injury called rhabdomyolysis after just one session of electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) training. Her muscles broke down severely enough to cause compartment syndrome—a dangerous swelling in the muscle tissue—requiring intensive hospital care with fluids and medications. The report warns that people with ME/CFS and similar chronic conditions should be very cautious with EMS training because their bodies may react more severely to this type of exercise.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryPEM unclear

Patient experiences with requests for medical assistance in dying: Perspectives of those with complex chronic conditions.

Fruhstorfer, Clark, Kelly, Michaela, Spiegel, Laura et al.·Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien·2024

This Canadian study interviewed 16 people with chronic conditions like ME/CFS and fibromyalgia who had requested medical assistance in dying (MAID) because their suffering was not relieved by available treatments. Participants reported that the approval process gave them a sense of control and validation of their illness, even if they didn't immediately use it. Many found value in simply being listened to by researchers who took their experiences seriously.

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM not requiredEditorial

What Makes It Tick: Exploring the Mechanisms of Post-treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome.

Wester, Kate E, Nwokeabia, Bianca C, Hassan, Rehana et al.·Cureus·2024

This article discusses Post-treatment Lyme disease Syndrome (PTLDS), a condition where some people experience lasting fatigue, pain, and thinking problems for more than six months after being treated with antibiotics for Lyme disease. The authors suggest these symptoms may result from the body's immune system continuing to react to damage caused by the Lyme bacteria, even after the infection is gone. Currently, there is no blood test or scan to diagnose PTLDS, so doctors rely on patient symptoms and medical history.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

The interplay between Sars-Cov-2 infection related cardiovascular diseases and depression. Common mechanisms, shared symptoms.

Gonjilashvili, Ana, Tatishvili, Sophio·American heart journal plus : cardiology research and practice·2024

This review examines how COVID-19 can affect both the heart and mental health, and why these problems often occur together. The authors explain that inflammation, unhealthy lifestyle changes, and communication between organs may all play a role. They note that long COVID shares many symptoms with heart and brain problems—like fatigue, brain fog, dizziness, chest pain, and depression—which is why patients need care from multiple medical specialists.

Autonomic Nervous SystemCognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Infectious Mononucleosis: An Updated Review.

Leung, Alexander K C, Lam, Joseph M, Barankin, Benjamin·Current pediatric reviews·2024

Infectious mononucleosis is a common viral infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) that mainly affects teenagers and young adults. Most people recover on their own within a few months, though severe fatigue can occur. This review explains the symptoms, how doctors diagnose it, and how to treat it—mainly through rest and avoiding strenuous activity.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

An Exercise Immune Fitness Test to Unravel Disease Mechanisms-A Proof-of-Concept Heart Failure Study.

Bondar, Galyna, Mahapatra, Abhinandan Das, Bao, Tra-Mi et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2024

This study examined how genes in immune cells respond to exercise in people with heart failure and healthy volunteers. Researchers took blood samples before, during, and after exercise on a stationary bike and looked for changes in gene activity. They found that certain genes responded differently to exercise depending on how fit someone was, suggesting that gene patterns might help doctors understand exercise capacity and predict outcomes.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Widespread Myalgia and Chronic Fatigue: Phagocytes from Macrophagic Myofasciitis Patients Exposed to Aluminum Oxyhydroxide-Adjuvanted Vaccine Exhibit Specific Inflammatory, Autophagic, and Mitochondrial Responses.

Masson, Jean-Daniel, Badran, Ghidaa, Gherardi, Romain K et al.·Toxics·2024

This study examined immune cells from people with macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF), a condition involving long-term inflammation from vaccine aluminum adjuvants lodged in muscle tissue. Researchers found that these immune cells behave abnormally when exposed to aluminum adjuvants: they produce more pain-causing molecules, show signs of energy exhaustion, and struggle to respond to their normal workload. These findings suggest a possible mechanism for why MMF patients develop severe fatigue and widespread muscle pain similar to ME/CFS.

Energy MetabolismImmune System

← Previous Next 20 studies →

Or browse by topic

PEM Immune Neuro Metabolic Biomarkers Severe ME Long COVID Cognitive

Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

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

Machine learning algorithms for detection of visuomotor neural control differences in individuals with PASC and ME.

[Effect of ECT on chronic fatigue syndrome].

Immune exhaustion in ME/CFS and long COVID.

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.

Stress-Related Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Case Report with a Positive Response to Alpha-Methyl-P-Tyrosine (AMPT) Treatment.

Development of an expert system for the classification of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Unravelling shared mechanisms: insights from recent ME/CFS research to illuminate long COVID pathologies.

Designing and optimizing clinical trials for long COVID.

Transcriptional reprogramming primes CD8+ T cells toward exhaustion in Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Successful Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin Therapy in a Case Series of Patients With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

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

Post-exertional malaise - A functional brain aberration?

Acute Compartment Syndrome and Rhabdomyolysis Caused by a Single Electrical Muscle Stimulation in a 46-Year-Old Female Professional Athlete With Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Myofascial Disorder: A Case Report.

Patient experiences with requests for medical assistance in dying: Perspectives of those with complex chronic conditions.

What Makes It Tick: Exploring the Mechanisms of Post-treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome.

The interplay between Sars-Cov-2 infection related cardiovascular diseases and depression. Common mechanisms, shared symptoms.

Infectious Mononucleosis: An Updated Review.

An Exercise Immune Fitness Test to Unravel Disease Mechanisms-A Proof-of-Concept Heart Failure Study.

Widespread Myalgia and Chronic Fatigue: Phagocytes from Macrophagic Myofasciitis Patients Exposed to Aluminum Oxyhydroxide-Adjuvanted Vaccine Exhibit Specific Inflammatory, Autophagic, and Mitochondrial Responses.

Curated Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

PEM-Specific Research