ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

4341–4360 of 6,209 studies

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Cardiovascular Disease: JACC State-of-the-Art Review.

Natelson, Benjamin H, Brunjes, Danielle L, Mancini, Donna·Journal of the American College of Cardiology·2021

This review examines how ME/CFS affects the heart and blood vessels. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS often have hearts that pump less blood than healthy people, and their blood pressure drops at night. Many also experience rapid heartbeat when standing up. These heart changes may be connected to why people feel worse after physical or mental activity (postexertional malaise).

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

The effect of IL-2 stimulation and treatment of TRPM3 on channel co-localisation with PIP2 and NK cell function in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

Eaton-Fitch, Natalie, Cabanas, Hélène, du Preez, Stanley et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2021

This study looked at immune cells called NK cells in ME/CFS patients and compared them to healthy people. The researchers focused on a protein channel called TRPM3 that helps control calcium levels in cells, which may be important for immune function. They found that this channel doesn't work properly in ME/CFS patients, but when cells were stimulated with a chemical called IL-2, the NK cells from ME/CFS patients could kill viruses and abnormal cells as effectively as healthy people's cells.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryPEM unclearRegistry-Resource

mapMECFS: a portal to enhance data discovery across biological disciplines and collaborative sites.

Mathur, Ravi, Carnes, Megan U, Harding, Alexander et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2021

Researchers created mapMECFS, an online database that brings together research information about ME/CFS from scientists around the world. Instead of having data scattered across different locations and websites, this portal allows researchers to easily find, share, and compare information about the disease in one place. This tool is designed to help scientists discover patterns and connections that might reveal new ways to diagnose and treat ME/CFS.

Biomarkers

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM requiredCase-Control

Three Cases of Severe ME/CFS in Adults.

Williams, Leah R, Isaacson-Barash, Carol·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2021

This study describes the experiences of three adults living with ME/CFS at different severity levels—moderate, severe, and very severe. The researchers wanted to show how differently this illness affects people and how overwhelming it can be, especially for those who are housebound or bedbound. The study highlights what doctors and healthcare providers can do to better support patients with this complex condition.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Acute Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Receptor Type 2 Agonism Results in Sustained Symptom Improvement in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Pereira, Gerard, Gillies, Hunter, Chanda, Sanjay et al.·Frontiers in systems neuroscience·2021

Researchers tested a new drug called CT38s that targets a receptor in the brain called CRFR2, which they believe may be overactive in ME/CFS. Fourteen ME/CFS patients received a single infusion of this drug, and most experienced symptom improvement that lasted at least 28 days. Side effects were mild and similar to typical ME/CFS symptoms, suggesting the drug was working on systems related to the disease.

Endocrine Disruption

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearObservational

Experiences of Living with Severe Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

Strassheim, Victoria, Newton, Julia L, Collins, Tracy·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2021

This study listened to five people living with the most severe form of ME/CFS—those who are bedbound, housebound, or wheelchair-dependent—to understand what their daily lives are really like. By interviewing them and analyzing their stories, researchers found three main themes: how they experience living with the illness, the major challenges it creates, and how they try to manage their condition. This research helps doctors and scientists better understand the needs of the most severely affected patients.

Severe ME

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM unclearEditorial

COVID-19 and chronic fatigue syndrome: Is the worst yet to come?

Wostyn, Peter·Medical hypotheses·2021

This paper proposes a theory about why some people develop prolonged fatigue after COVID-19 that resembles ME/CFS. The author suggests that COVID-19 may damage nerve cells in the nose, which could reduce the brain's ability to clear out waste products, leading to toxic buildup and fatigue. The paper calls for research to test whether treatments that help drain fluid from around the brain might help patients with post-COVID fatigue.

Neuroinflammation

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM requiredObservational

Reduced Endothelial Function in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome-Results From Open-Label Cyclophosphamide Intervention Study.

Sørland, Kari, Sandvik, Miriam Kristine, Rekeland, Ingrid Gurvin et al.·Frontiers in medicine·2021

This study found that blood vessels in people with ME/CFS don't work as well as they do in healthy people. The researchers measured how blood vessels widen and respond to changes in blood flow, and found these responses were reduced in ME/CFS patients. Interestingly, when patients received a strong immune-suppressing drug called cyclophosphamide, improvements in symptoms didn't match up with improvements in blood vessel function.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The Impact of Severe ME/CFS on Student Learning and K-12 Educational Limitations.

Newton, Faith R·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2021

This article examines how severe ME/CFS affects children's ability to attend school and learn. Many severely ill children are confined to bed or home and cannot attend regular classes. The study suggests that schools are not providing adequate support for these students and proposes new educational approaches and resources that could help them continue learning despite their illness.

Severe ME

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Evaluation of natural killer cell assay performance on shipped blood specimens.

Querec, Troy D, Abrams, Joseph, Stewart, Jennifer J et al.·Journal of immunological methods·2021

This study tested different laboratory methods for measuring natural killer (NK) cell function—an immune system measurement that may be important for ME/CFS—using blood samples that were shipped overnight instead of tested immediately. Researchers compared three different testing approaches and found that two of them (CRCA and FCCA) gave similar results when blood samples were processed a day after collection, suggesting these tests could work for clinical settings where samples need to be shipped.

BiomarkersImmune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not required

Deconditioning does not explain orthostatic intolerance in ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome).

van Campen, C Linda M C, Rowe, Peter C, Visser, Frans C·Journal of translational medicine·2021

This study examined whether being physically deconditioned (out of shape) causes the dizziness and fainting symptoms that many ME/CFS patients experience when standing up. Researchers tested 199 ME/CFS patients and 22 healthy people using exercise tests and a tilt table test that measures blood flow to the brain. The results showed that ME/CFS patients had significant problems with blood flow to their brain when tilted upright, but this problem occurred regardless of how deconditioned they were.

Autonomic Nervous System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearObservational

An Open-Label, Pilot Trial of HRG80™ Red Ginseng in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Post-Viral Fatigue.

Teitelbaum, Jacob, Goudie, Sarah·Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)·2021

This study tested a special form of red ginseng called HRG80 in people with ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and post-COVID fatigue. Over one month, 188 patients took daily ginseng supplements and reported their symptoms. About 60% of participants felt better, with improvements in energy, mental clarity, sleep, and stamina.

Pain and SensitizationSleepCognitive Impairment

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 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 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Potential Therapeutic Benefit of Low Dose Naltrexone in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Role of Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 3 Ion Channels in Pathophysiology and Treatment.

Cabanas, Helene, Muraki, Katsuhiko, Eaton-Fitch, Natalie et al.·Frontiers in immunology·2021

This study investigated whether a low-dose medication called naltrexone (LDN) might help treat ME/CFS by examining how it affects immune cells called NK cells. Researchers found that NK cells from ME/CFS patients taking LDN showed restored activity in a specific ion channel (TRPM3) that had previously been impaired. This suggests LDN may help restore normal immune function in ME/CFS patients, though larger clinical trials are needed to confirm whether it actually improves symptoms.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Oxidative stress caused by a dysregulated Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway is involved in abnormal placenta formation in pregnant mice with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Zhao, Hai, Zhang, Jian, Qian, Ning et al.·Zygote (Cambridge, England)·2021

This study looked at how ME/CFS affects pregnancy in mice, focusing on how the placenta (which nourishes a developing baby) forms and functions. Researchers found that mice with CFS had more pregnancy complications, abnormal placentas, and increased cellular damage from oxidative stress (a harmful buildup of unstable molecules). The study suggests that two biological processes—oxidative stress and a disrupted cellular communication pathway called Wnt/β-catenin—may be responsible for these pregnancy problems.

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 requiredMechanistic

Modulatory effects of cognitive exertion on regional functional connectivity of the salience network in women with ME/CFS: A pilot study.

Manca, Riccardo, Khan, Katija, Mitolo, Micaela et al.·Journal of the neurological sciences·2021

This study looked at how the brain responds to mental effort in women with ME/CFS compared to healthy women. Researchers used brain imaging to examine specific networks involved in attention and awareness before and after a cognitive task. Women with ME/CFS experienced increased fatigue and pain after the mental exertion, while a particular brain region (the insula) showed stronger connections to areas controlling reward and decision-making—changes that matched worsening symptoms.

Post-Exertional Malaise

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 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

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Evidence browser

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Cardiovascular Disease: JACC State-of-the-Art Review.

The effect of IL-2 stimulation and treatment of TRPM3 on channel co-localisation with PIP2 and NK cell function in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

mapMECFS: a portal to enhance data discovery across biological disciplines and collaborative sites.

Three Cases of Severe ME/CFS in Adults.

Acute Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Receptor Type 2 Agonism Results in Sustained Symptom Improvement in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Experiences of Living with Severe Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

COVID-19 and chronic fatigue syndrome: Is the worst yet to come?

Reduced Endothelial Function in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome-Results From Open-Label Cyclophosphamide Intervention Study.

The Impact of Severe ME/CFS on Student Learning and K-12 Educational Limitations.

Evaluation of natural killer cell assay performance on shipped blood specimens.

Deconditioning does not explain orthostatic intolerance in ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome).

An Open-Label, Pilot Trial of HRG80™ Red Ginseng in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Post-Viral Fatigue.

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

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

Potential Therapeutic Benefit of Low Dose Naltrexone in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Role of Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 3 Ion Channels in Pathophysiology and Treatment.

Oxidative stress caused by a dysregulated Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway is involved in abnormal placenta formation in pregnant mice with chronic fatigue syndrome.

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

Modulatory effects of cognitive exertion on regional functional connectivity of the salience network in women with ME/CFS: A pilot study.

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

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

Curated Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

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Biomarkers

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