ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

4261–4280 of 6,163 studies

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

An attempt to explain the neurological symptoms of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Wirth, Klaus J, Scheibenbogen, Carmen, Paul, Friedemann·Journal of translational medicine·2021

This paper proposes an explanation for why ME/CFS patients experience brain fog, cognitive problems, headaches, and other neurological symptoms. The authors suggest that blood vessels in the brain may not be working properly, reducing blood flow to the brain and increasing pressure inside the skull. They argue this could also cause an overactive stress response in the nervous system, leading to the wide range of symptoms patients experience.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Potential Implications of Mammalian Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 7 in the Pathophysiology of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Review.

Du Preez, Stanley, Cabanas, Helene, Staines, Donald et al.·International journal of environmental research and public health·2021

This review examines a protein called TRPM7 that may play a role in ME/CFS. TRPM7 is an ion channel—a type of gateway that controls how calcium and other minerals move in and out of cells—and it appears to affect the nervous system, immune system, heart, and metabolism. The authors suggest that problems with TRPM7 could help explain some of the complex symptoms seen in ME/CFS, though this is still a developing area of research.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Lessons From Heat Stroke for Understanding Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Stanculescu, Dominic, Sepúlveda, Nuno, Lim, Chin Leong et al.·Frontiers in neurology·2021

This study compares how the body breaks down during heat stroke with what happens in ME/CFS. Both conditions involve similar problems: inflammation, damage to the gut lining that allows harmful substances into the bloodstream, blood clotting issues, and problems with how cells produce energy. By understanding heat stroke better, researchers hope to find new ways to treat ME/CFS.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryGuidelinePEM requiredGuideline

Caring for the Patient with Severe or Very Severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Montoya, Jose G, Dowell, Theresa G, Mooney, Amy E et al.·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2021

This guide focuses on caring for people with severe ME/CFS who struggle to leave their homes or beds. The authors explain that these patients often can't visit doctors' offices and doctors frequently don't have good information about how to help them. The guide provides practical recommendations for diagnosis, assessment, and treatment options, including using telemedicine and working closely with patients and caregivers to provide better care.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearObservational

Insights From Invasive Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing of Patients With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Joseph, Phillip, Arevalo, Carlo, Oliveira, Rudolf K F et al.·Chest·2021

This study used specialized heart and lung testing during exercise to understand why people with ME/CFS struggle with physical activity. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients had two different problems during exercise: some had reduced blood flow returning to the heart, while others couldn't efficiently extract oxygen from their blood. About 31% of patients also showed evidence of small nerve fiber damage in their skin biopsies.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): An Overview.

Deumer, Undine-Sophie, Varesi, Angelica, Floris, Valentina et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2021

ME/CFS is a long-term illness that causes extreme tiredness, worsening of symptoms after activity, and difficulty thinking clearly. Patients experience these symptoms very differently from one another, and currently there are no blood tests or physical exams that can definitively diagnose the condition. This review examines several potential causes, including past infections, genetic factors, hormone imbalances, and changes in gut bacteria, while exploring whether a simple blood test might someday help diagnose ME/CFS.

BiomarkersPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

COVID-19 and post-infectious myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a narrative review.

Poenaru, Sonia, Abdallah, Sara J, Corrales-Medina, Vicente et al.·Therapeutic advances in infectious disease·2021

Some people who recover from COVID-19 continue experiencing prolonged symptoms like fatigue, difficulty breathing, and brain fog for months afterward. These lingering symptoms are remarkably similar to ME/CFS, a chronic illness characterized by severe fatigue that worsens with activity. While COVID-19 could potentially trigger ME/CFS in some people, researchers currently don't have enough evidence to confirm this connection.

Severe MEPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Photobiomodulation and Sports: Results of a Narrative Review.

Ailioaie, Laura Marinela, Litscher, Gerhard·Life (Basel, Switzerland)·2021

This review looked at studies on photobiomodulation (PBM)—a treatment using light to help cells work better—and how it might help athletes recover faster and perform better. The researchers found that in about 25 human studies, PBM appeared helpful for reducing fatigue and supporting recovery, though some studies didn't show clear benefits. The authors suggest that with better devices and clearer protocols, PBM could potentially help people dealing with exhaustion and physical stress.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome and the cardiovascular system: What is known?

Dixit, Neal M, Churchill, Austin, Nsair, Ali et al.·American heart journal plus : cardiology research and practice·2021

Some people who have had COVID-19 develop long-lasting symptoms weeks or months later, including chest pain and heart palpitations (feeling your heart racing). This review examines what we know about how COVID-19 affects the heart during this long-COVID period. While the virus itself rarely causes direct heart damage, it can trigger several heart-related conditions that may explain why patients experience these symptoms.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Split-Second Unlearning: Developing a Theory of Psychophysiological Dis-ease.

Hudson, Matt, Johnson, Mark I·Frontiers in psychology·2021

This study proposes that early emotional experiences—both traumatic and everyday—can create lasting patterns in how our bodies respond to stress. When we encounter triggers related to those memories, our body automatically activates a stress response even if the threat is no longer present. The researchers describe a new therapy approach where patients learn to observe their own automatic responses in the moment and gradually 'unlearn' the connection between the memory and the physical stress reaction.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Improvement Effects of Myelophil on Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in a Reserpine-Induced Mouse Model.

Song, Ji-Hye, Won, Seul-Ki, Eom, Geun-Hyang et al.·International journal of molecular sciences·2021

Researchers tested a herbal mixture called myelophil (made from two traditional medicinal plants) in mice engineered to show ME/CFS-like symptoms including fatigue, pain, and depression. The treatment improved all three symptoms and appeared to work by increasing important brain chemicals like dopamine and serotonin, reducing inflammation, and protecting against cell damage. While these results are encouraging, this study was only in mice, so it's too early to know if the same benefits would occur in people with ME/CFS.

Neuroinflammation

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclear

Comorbidity of chronic fatigue syndrome, postural tachycardia syndrome, and narcolepsy with 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) mutation in an adolescent: a case report.

Liao, Ying, Qi, Jian-Guang, Yan, Hui et al.·Chinese medical journal·2021

This case report describes one adolescent patient who had three conditions at the same time: ME/CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome), postural tachycardia syndrome (a condition where heart rate increases abnormally when standing), and narcolepsy (excessive daytime sleepiness). The doctors discovered this patient had a genetic variation in the MTHFR gene, which is involved in processing folate and other important molecules in the body. The authors suggest this genetic variation might help explain why this patient developed all three conditions together.

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM unclear

Is Cognitive Change Necessary to Alleviate Symptoms in Patients With Functional Somatic Syndrome?

Maroti, Daniel, Johansson, Robert·Frontiers in psychiatry·2021

This study examined whether changing how patients think about their symptoms (cognitive change) is necessary to improve symptoms in people with functional somatic syndromes like ME/CFS. The researchers explored the relationship between psychological thinking patterns and symptom improvement to understand better which approaches might help patients feel better.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

An Audit of UK Hospital Doctors' Knowledge and Experience of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

Hng, Keng Ngee, Geraghty, Keith, Pheby, Derek F H·Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)·2021

This study surveyed 44 UK hospital doctors about their knowledge of ME/CFS. Most doctors had little formal training on ME and lacked confidence in diagnosing or treating it, even though many had seen patients with the condition. The doctors showed significant gaps in understanding what ME actually is, how to properly diagnose it, and how to manage it effectively.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Case Report: Neutralization of Autoantibodies Targeting G-Protein-Coupled Receptors Improves Capillary Impairment and Fatigue Symptoms After COVID-19 Infection.

Hohberger, Bettina, Harrer, Thomas, Mardin, Christian et al.·Frontiers in medicine·2021

This case report describes one patient with long COVID who had ongoing fatigue, loss of taste, and poor blood flow in the eyes after a mild COVID-19 infection. The patient was found to have unusual antibodies that attack certain receptors in the body. When treated with a drug called BC 007 that neutralizes these antibodies, the patient's fatigue, taste, and eye blood flow all improved within days and stayed better for at least 4 weeks.

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Qualitative study of the acceptability and feasibility of acceptance and commitment therapy for adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Clery, Philippa, Starbuck, Jennifer, Laffan, Amanda et al.·BMJ paediatrics open·2021

This study asked teenagers with ME/CFS who weren't getting better, along with their parents and doctors, what they thought about a therapy called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Everyone interviewed thought ACT sounded like a good option because it helps people focus on what matters to them while accepting difficult thoughts and feelings, rather than trying to fight them. Most teenagers were willing to try ACT, though they worried about being randomly assigned to different treatment groups in a future study.

E3 PreliminaryPEM unclear

How do women suffering from multiple chemical sensitivity experience the medical encounter? a qualitative study in Spain.

Briones-Vozmediano, Erica, Espinar-Ruiz, Eva·Disability and rehabilitation·2021

This study interviewed 22 Spanish women with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) to understand their experiences with doctors and the healthcare system. The women reported two major problems: they cannot avoid exposure to chemicals in their environment, and they struggle to find effective treatment. Many also felt that healthcare providers didn't believe their illness was real or took their symptoms seriously.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Discernment of mediator and outcome measurement in the PACE trial.

Carr, Ewan, Vitoratou, Silia, Chalder, Trudie et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2021

Researchers wanted to check whether different questionnaires used in ME/CFS studies were actually measuring different things. They looked at data from 640 people in a large treatment trial and used statistical methods to see if the questions meant to measure thinking/behavior problems overlapped too much with questions measuring physical function and fatigue. They found that most of the questionnaires were measuring distinct concepts, which means the study design was solid.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Inflammation plays a causal role in fatigue-like behavior induced by pelvic irradiation in mice.

Wolff, Brian S, Alshawi, Sarah A, Feng, Li Rebekah et al.·Brain, behavior, & immunity - health·2021

Researchers gave mice targeted radiation to the pelvis (similar to cancer treatment) and found that the mice became less active afterward—a fatigue-like behavior. They discovered that inflammation, particularly a protein called IL-6, plays a key role in causing this fatigue. When they reduced inflammation using a drug called minocycline or using mice genetically unable to trigger certain inflammatory pathways, the fatigue was reduced but not completely eliminated.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM not requiredCase-Control

Recovery from refractory chronic fatigue syndrome with CBT and modafinil.

Garg, Himanshu, Douglas, Maggie, Turkington, Gordon Douglas et al.·BMJ case reports·2021

This small study looked at three patients with severe, long-lasting ME/CFS who had not improved with standard treatments. When doctors added a medication called modafinil to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), two of the three patients reported meaningful improvements in fatigue, pain, and concentration, and all three were able to return to work or study. This suggests that combining modafinil with CBT might help some treatment-resistant patients, though more research is needed.

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Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

An attempt to explain the neurological symptoms of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Potential Implications of Mammalian Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 7 in the Pathophysiology of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Review.

Lessons From Heat Stroke for Understanding Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Caring for the Patient with Severe or Very Severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Insights From Invasive Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing of Patients With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): An Overview.

COVID-19 and post-infectious myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a narrative review.

Photobiomodulation and Sports: Results of a Narrative Review.

Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome and the cardiovascular system: What is known?

Split-Second Unlearning: Developing a Theory of Psychophysiological Dis-ease.

Improvement Effects of Myelophil on Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in a Reserpine-Induced Mouse Model.

Comorbidity of chronic fatigue syndrome, postural tachycardia syndrome, and narcolepsy with 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) mutation in an adolescent: a case report.

Is Cognitive Change Necessary to Alleviate Symptoms in Patients With Functional Somatic Syndrome?

An Audit of UK Hospital Doctors' Knowledge and Experience of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

Case Report: Neutralization of Autoantibodies Targeting G-Protein-Coupled Receptors Improves Capillary Impairment and Fatigue Symptoms After COVID-19 Infection.

Qualitative study of the acceptability and feasibility of acceptance and commitment therapy for adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome.

How do women suffering from multiple chemical sensitivity experience the medical encounter? a qualitative study in Spain.

Discernment of mediator and outcome measurement in the PACE trial.

Inflammation plays a causal role in fatigue-like behavior induced by pelvic irradiation in mice.

Recovery from refractory chronic fatigue syndrome with CBT and modafinil.

Curated Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

PEM-Specific Research