ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

441–460 of 6,157 studies

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Altered immune response to exercise in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a systematic literature review.

Nijs, Jo, Nees, Andrea, Paul, Lorna et al.·Exercise immunology review·2014

When people with ME/CFS exercise, their immune system reacts differently than healthy people's immune systems do. This review looked at 23 studies comparing immune responses to exercise in ME/CFS patients versus healthy people. The key finding is that ME/CFS patients show stronger reactions in certain immune markers and more oxidative stress (damage from chemical imbalances), which may be connected to post-exertional malaise—the worsening of symptoms that happens after activity.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

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

Brurberg, Kjetil Gundro, Fønhus, Marita Sporstøl, Larun, Lillebeth et al.·BMJ open·2014

This study reviewed 20 different definitions doctors use to diagnose ME/CFS and examined 38 research studies that tested how well these definitions work. The researchers found that while one definition (CDC-1994/Fukuda) is used most often, no single definition has been proven to be the best. The study suggests that instead of creating more new definitions, doctors should focus on using the same definitions consistently and grouping patients by symptom patterns to predict who will improve with different treatments.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Overcoming the barriers to the diagnosis and management of chronic fatigue syndrome/ME in primary care: a meta synthesis of qualitative studies.

Bayliss, Kerin, Goodall, Mark, Chisholm, Anna et al.·BMC family practice·2014

This study looked at 21 previous research articles about why many doctors struggle to diagnose and treat ME/CFS in general practice. The main problem found was that many doctors don't fully understand the condition and rely too much on traditional medical thinking that looks for single physical causes. Doctors who successfully diagnosed and managed ME/CFS patients tended to take a wider view of the illness and worked together with patients to find management strategies that worked for them.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Gynecological disorders in bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis patients.

Cervigni, Mauro, Natale, Franca·International journal of urology : official journal of the Japanese Urological Association·2014

This review examined how often bladder pain syndrome (chronic bladder inflammation and pain) occurs together with gynecological conditions like endometriosis and vulvodynia in women. The researchers found that these conditions frequently overlap—for example, about 48% of women with endometriosis also have bladder pain syndrome. They also found that pelvic floor muscle dysfunction is very common in bladder pain patients, affecting up to 87% of them.

Pain and Sensitization

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Is chronic fatigue syndrome the same illness as fibromyalgia: evaluating the 'single syndrome' hypothesis.

Abbi, B, Natelson, B H·QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians·2013

This study looked at whether ME/CFS and fibromyalgia are actually the same illness or two different conditions. Researchers reviewed published studies comparing these two syndromes and found meaningful differences between them, suggesting they are distinct illnesses rather than just variations of one condition. This finding helps doctors understand that these are separate health problems that may need different approaches to treatment.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Evidence for overlap between urological and nonurological unexplained clinical conditions.

Bullones Rodríguez, María Ángeles, Afari, Niloofar, Buchwald, Dedra S et al.·The Journal of urology·2013

This study looked at how often people with unexplained urinary and bladder conditions also have other unexplained pain and fatigue conditions like fibromyalgia and ME/CFS. Researchers reviewed over 1,000 published studies and found that these conditions often occur together in the same person—sometimes up to 79% of people with chronic pelvic pain also had irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. This suggests these conditions may share common underlying causes rather than being completely separate diseases.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Unstimulated cortisol secretory activity in everyday life and its relationship with fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review and subset meta-analysis.

Powell, Daniel J H, Liossi, Christina, Moss-Morris, Rona et al.·Psychoneuroendocrinology·2013

This review looked at whether cortisol levels (a stress hormone) measured in saliva throughout the day are different in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy controls. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS showed a slightly smaller increase in cortisol when they first wake up, compared to healthy people. However, total cortisol levels during the day were not consistently related to how fatigued people felt.

Endocrine Disruption

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Chronic fatigue syndrome.

Moss-Morris, Rona, Deary, Vincent, Castell, Bronwyn·Handbook of clinical neurology·2013

ME/CFS is a complex illness where extreme tiredness lasts at least 6 months and can severely limit daily activities. Rather than having one single cause, the condition likely develops from a combination of factors: some people may be triggered by viral infections or stressful life events, while others have genetic traits or personality patterns that increase risk. The condition is then maintained by a cycle involving sleep problems, reduced activity, worry about the illness, and uncertainty from doctors. Treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy and graded exercise have shown promise in helping reduce fatigue and improve function.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Natural killer cells in patients with severe chronic fatigue syndrome.

Brenu, E W, Hardcastle, S L, Atkinson, G M et al.·Auto- immunity highlights·2013

This review examined how natural killer (NK) cells—a type of white blood cell that fights infections and abnormal cells—work differently in ME/CFS patients. The researchers found that people with ME/CFS often have unusual numbers of NK cells or reduced ability to fight infections, which may help explain why patients suffer from persistent symptoms and recurrent infections. Understanding these immune cell problems could eventually lead to better treatments.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

A review of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Tomas, Cara, Newton, Julia, Watson, Stuart·ISRN neuroscience·2013

This review examined how ME/CFS affects the HPA axis, a system in the brain that controls stress hormones like cortisol. Researchers found that many ME/CFS patients have problems with this system, including lower cortisol levels and changes in how their bodies respond to stress. The review suggests that genetics, past trauma, and oxidative stress may play a role, and notes that women are more commonly affected than men.

Endocrine Disruption

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Fecal microbiota transplantation: past, present and future.

Aroniadis, Olga C, Brandt, Lawrence J·Current opinion in gastroenterology·2013

This review examines fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), a treatment that restores healthy gut bacteria by transferring stool from a healthy donor to a patient. While FMT works very well for a specific bacterial infection, researchers are exploring whether it might help with other conditions including gut disorders and diseases affecting other parts of the body, such as chronic fatigue syndrome. The authors emphasize that more research is needed before FMT can be widely used for conditions beyond its proven application.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Interventions in pediatric chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a systematic review.

Knight, Sarah J, Scheinberg, Adam, Harvey, Adrienne R·The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine·2013

This review looked at 21 different studies testing various treatments for ME/CFS in children and teenagers. The researchers found that talking therapies based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) showed the most promise, while rehabilitation programs showed weaker results. However, the studies were quite different from each other, making it hard to draw strong conclusions about what works best.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Chronic fatigue syndrome following infections in adolescents.

Katz, Ben Z, Jason, Leonard A·Current opinion in pediatrics·2013

This review examined teenagers who developed chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) after infections like mononucleosis. About 13% of teens had ME/CFS six months after infection, dropping to 7% at one year and 4% at two years. The good news is that teenagers generally recover better from post-infectious ME/CFS than adults do.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusGuidelinePEM not requiredGuideline

[Chronic fatigue syndrome].

Henningsen, P, Martin, A·Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift (1946)·2013

ME/CFS is characterized by persistent, severe fatigue that cannot be traced to a known medical condition. This guideline emphasizes that ME/CFS should be understood as a functional somatic syndrome, meaning the body's systems aren't working optimally even though traditional tests may appear normal. Treatment recommendations include cognitive behavioral therapy and gradually increasing physical activity, which have shown evidence of benefit.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Heart rate variability in patients with fibromyalgia and patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review.

Meeus, Mira, Goubert, Dorien, De Backer, Fien et al.·Seminars in arthritis and rheumatism·2013

This review looked at 16 studies comparing heart rhythm patterns between people with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and healthy controls. Both conditions showed changes in how the heart responds to stress, but the patterns were different: fibromyalgia patients had heart rhythm problems throughout the day, while CFS patients mainly showed them during sleep. Exercise helped improve heart rhythm patterns in fibromyalgia patients.

Autonomic Nervous System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Pesticides and human chronic diseases: evidences, mechanisms, and perspectives.

Mostafalou, Sara, Abdollahi, Mohammad·Toxicology and applied pharmacology·2013

This review examined whether pesticide exposure is connected to various chronic illnesses, including ME/CFS. Researchers looked at evidence showing that pesticides may damage cells and disrupt the body's normal functions through several pathways, such as causing oxidative stress, harming mitochondria (the cell's energy centers), and interfering with protein disposal systems. The review suggests pesticides could contribute to many diseases, but more specific research is needed to prove direct causation in individual conditions.

Energy Metabolism

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

A narrative review on the similarities and dissimilarities between myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and sickness behavior.

Morris, Gerwyn, Anderson, George, Galecki, Piotr et al.·BMC medicine·2013

This study compares ME/CFS with sickness behavior—the tired, achy feeling you get when you have the flu. While ME/CFS and sickness behavior share some symptoms like fatigue and body pain, they are fundamentally different conditions. Sickness behavior is your body's helpful, temporary response to infection that goes away once you recover, whereas ME/CFS is a chronic disease that persists long-term and involves ongoing immune system problems.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Is there effective behavioural treatment for children with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis?

Smith, Simon N, Crawley, Esther·Archives of disease in childhood·2013

This review examined whether talking therapies and behavioral approaches can effectively treat ME/CFS in children. The researchers looked at existing studies to understand what treatments have been tested and how well they worked. This helps doctors and families understand what options might help children with ME/CFS manage their condition.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Sleep in the chronic fatigue syndrome.

Mariman, An N, Vogelaers, Dirk P, Tobback, Els et al.·Sleep medicine reviews·2013

Many people with ME/CFS report that their sleep doesn't feel refreshing, even when they sleep a normal amount. This review looked at whether ME/CFS patients actually have measurable sleep problems. Surprisingly, when doctors measured sleep objectively using machines, ME/CFS patients' sleep looked similar to healthy people's sleep, even though patients reported feeling worse. This suggests that the problem may be more about how patients perceive their sleep quality rather than an actual biological sleep disorder.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredMeta-Analysis

The prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome/ myalgic encephalomyelitis: a meta-analysis.

Johnston, Samantha, Brenu, Ekua W, Staines, Donald et al.·Clinical epidemiology·2013

This study looked at 14 different research studies to understand how many people have ME/CFS. The researchers found that when people reported their own symptoms, about 3.3% said they had ME/CFS, but when doctors clinically assessed patients, only about 0.76% were diagnosed. This big difference suggests that how doctors test for and diagnose ME/CFS matters a lot.

Diagnostics

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Evidence browser

Altered immune response to exercise in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a systematic literature review.

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

Overcoming the barriers to the diagnosis and management of chronic fatigue syndrome/ME in primary care: a meta synthesis of qualitative studies.

Gynecological disorders in bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis patients.

Is chronic fatigue syndrome the same illness as fibromyalgia: evaluating the 'single syndrome' hypothesis.

Evidence for overlap between urological and nonurological unexplained clinical conditions.

Unstimulated cortisol secretory activity in everyday life and its relationship with fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review and subset meta-analysis.

Chronic fatigue syndrome.

Natural killer cells in patients with severe chronic fatigue syndrome.

A review of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Fecal microbiota transplantation: past, present and future.

Interventions in pediatric chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a systematic review.

Chronic fatigue syndrome following infections in adolescents.

[Chronic fatigue syndrome].

Heart rate variability in patients with fibromyalgia and patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review.

Pesticides and human chronic diseases: evidences, mechanisms, and perspectives.

A narrative review on the similarities and dissimilarities between myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and sickness behavior.

Is there effective behavioural treatment for children with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis?

Sleep in the chronic fatigue syndrome.

The prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome/ myalgic encephalomyelitis: a meta-analysis.

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