ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

4581–4600 of 6,209 studies

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

A Molecular Neurobiological Approach to Understanding the Aetiology of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease) with Treatment Implications.

Monro, Jean A, Puri, Basant K·Molecular neurobiology·2018

This paper argues that ME/CFS is caused by biological problems in the brain and body rather than primarily psychological factors. The authors reviewed evidence showing that ME/CFS involves issues with immune chemicals, infections, brain barrier function, and how cells use energy. They suggest that treatments targeting these biological problems—such as supplements, antivirals, and immune therapies—should be studied instead of or alongside psychological approaches.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Dehydroepiandrosterone Research: Past, Current, and Future.

Klinge, Carolyn M, Clark, Barbara J, Prough, Russell A·Vitamins and hormones·2018

This is a historical review of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a hormone that naturally decreases with age. Scientists have studied whether DHEA might help with various health conditions including chronic fatigue syndrome, but the evidence in humans is limited. While some benefits have been found in postmenopausal women and certain autoimmune disorders, most human studies show only weak connections between DHEA levels and disease outcomes.

Energy MetabolismImmune System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Circulating extracellular vesicles as potential biomarkers in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: an exploratory pilot study.

Castro-Marrero, Jesús, Serrano-Pertierra, Esther, Oliveira-Rodríguez, Myriam et al.·Journal of extracellular vesicles·2018

This small pilot study looked at tiny particles called extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the blood of ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people. The researchers found that ME/CFS patients had higher amounts of these particles, and the particles were smaller than in healthy controls. This suggests that blood tests measuring these particles might one day help doctors identify ME/CFS.

Biomarkers

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The link between idiopathic intracranial hypertension, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome: exploration of a shared pathophysiology.

Hulens, Mieke, Rasschaert, Ricky, Vansant, Greet et al.·Journal of pain research·2018

This review paper proposes that ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and a condition called idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IICH—where pressure builds up around the brain) may share similar underlying causes. All three conditions cause widespread pain, fatigue, cognitive problems, and other symptoms that could potentially be explained by increased pressure in the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

Pain and SensitizationCognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Rituximab impedes natural killer cell function in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis patients: A pilot in vitro investigation.

Eaton, Natalie, Cabanas, Hélène, Balinas, Cassandra et al.·BMC pharmacology & toxicology·2018

This study examined how a drug called Rituximab affects natural killer (NK) cells—immune cells that help fight infections—in people with ME/CFS. Researchers tested blood samples from 8 ME/CFS patients and 9 healthy people in a lab dish. When exposed to Rituximab, NK cells from ME/CFS patients became less effective at killing infected cells and showed signs of stress, suggesting the drug might harm these already-weakened immune cells.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Case Study of Homeopathic Bowel Nosode Remedies for Dysbiotic Japanese Patients.

Uchiyama-Tanaka, Yoko·Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)·2018

This study tested homeopathic bowel remedies (made from old bacterial samples) in 28 Japanese patients with digestive problems like constipation and diarrhea. About 70% of patients reported some improvement in their symptoms, and no harmful side effects were reported. The researchers suggest these remedies might be a simpler and cheaper option for treating gut-related digestive issues.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Anti-stress effects of human placenta extract: possible involvement of the oxidative stress system in rats.

Park, Hyun-Jung, Shim, Hyun Soo, Lee, Sunyoung et al.·BMC complementary and alternative medicine·2018

Researchers tested whether a supplement made from human placenta could help reduce stress-related depression and fatigue in rats. They found that rats treated with this supplement showed improvements in depression-like behaviors and had better antioxidant protection in their brains compared to untreated rats.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM requiredMechanistic

Pharmacological activation of AMPK and glucose uptake in cultured human skeletal muscle cells from patients with ME/CFS.

Brown, Audrey E, Dibnah, Beth, Fisher, Emily et al.·Bioscience reports·2018

This study looked at muscle cells from ME/CFS patients to understand why their muscles struggle to use energy properly. Researchers tested two drugs (metformin and compound 991) that can activate AMPK, a protein that helps cells use glucose for energy. Both drugs successfully improved how the muscle cells used glucose, suggesting that the problem in ME/CFS muscles is not AMPK itself, but something that happens before AMPK gets activated.

Energy MetabolismPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

[Brain Science on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome].

Watanabe, Yasuyoshi·Brain and nerve = Shinkei kenkyu no shinpo·2018

This study examined the brains of people with ME/CFS using three types of imaging technology (PET scans, MRI, and MEG) to look for physical differences compared to healthy people. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS have reduced blood flow and energy use in certain brain areas, decreased levels of important chemical messengers, and inflammation in the brain that appears connected to symptom severity. These findings suggest ME/CFS involves real, measurable brain changes rather than being purely psychological.

Neuroinflammation

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Macrophagic myofasciitis-associated dysfunctioning: An update of neuropsychological and neuroimaging features.

Aoun Sebaiti, Mehdi, Abrivard, Marie, Blanc-Durand, Paul et al.·Best practice & research. Clinical rheumatology·2018

Macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF) is a condition where aluminum particles from vaccines remain in muscle tissue and trigger long-term inflammation and immune system problems. People with MMF often experience fatigue, joint and muscle pain, and cognitive difficulties like trouble concentrating and memory problems. Brain imaging shows abnormalities in specific regions, suggesting these cognitive problems are caused by actual changes in the brain.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

[Narcolepsy and Other 'Central Disorders of Hypersomnolence'].

Mathis, Johannes·Praxis·2018

This article discusses how doctors can tell the difference between several sleep-related conditions that cause excessive daytime sleepiness or fatigue. The authors explain that complaints like tiredness and fatigue are common, but they can have many different causes. Careful diagnosis using sleep studies and other tests is needed to distinguish narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, and chronic fatigue syndrome from one another, since each condition requires different treatments.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryPEM not requiredRegistry-Resource

Supplementation with Robuvit® in post-traumatic stress disorders associated to high oxidative stress.

Belcaro, Gianni, Luzzi, Roberta, Hosoi, Morio et al.·Minerva medica·2018

This study looked at whether a plant-based supplement called Robuvit® could help people with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) recover faster alongside standard therapy. Over 4 weeks, people who took Robuvit® along with therapy showed greater improvements in symptoms like intrusive memories, nightmares, flashbacks, sleep problems, and fatigue compared to those who received therapy alone.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

[History of Researches on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome].

Watanabe, Yasuyoshi, Kuratsune, Hirohiko·Brain and nerve = Shinkei kenkyu no shinpo·2018

This review summarizes research on ME/CFS conducted in Japan since the disease was first identified there in 1990. Scientists have been searching for objective biological markers to help diagnose ME/CFS and understand what causes it. Recent brain imaging studies found evidence of immune cell activation in the brains of ME/CFS patients, which may be linked to the severity of their symptoms.

NeuroinflammationBiomarkers

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Chronic fatigue syndrome and quality of life.

Roberts, Deb·Patient related outcome measures·2018

This study looked at how to measure quality of life in people with ME/CFS, since this condition affects many different aspects of daily living in complex ways. The researchers reviewed existing tools that ask patients about their wellbeing and found that current measures don't fully capture the unique experience of ME/CFS. They explored whether a standard quality-of-life questionnaire from the World Health Organization could work for ME/CFS patients and help doctors track how well treatments are working.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearObservational

Open-label pilot for treatment targeting gut dysbiosis in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: neuropsychological symptoms and sex comparisons.

Wallis, Amy, Ball, Michelle, Butt, Henry et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2018

This study tested whether treating an overgrowth of Streptococcus bacteria in the gut could help ME/CFS patients, particularly those with brain fog and sleep problems. Forty-four patients received alternating weeks of an antibiotic and a probiotic for 4 weeks. The treatment reduced the problematic bacteria and improved several symptoms including sleep quality, attention, and memory, though it did not significantly affect fatigue or mood.

SleepCognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Clinical Criteria of Central Sensitization in Chronic Pelvic and Perineal Pain (Convergences PP Criteria): Elaboration of a Clinical Evaluation Tool Based on Formal Expert Consensus.

Levesque, Amélie, Riant, Thibault, Ploteau, Stéphane et al.·Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.)·2018

This study created a simple checklist to help doctors identify when chronic pelvic pain is caused by the nervous system becoming overly sensitive, rather than from a structural injury or disease they can see on tests. Experts agreed on 10 key signs to look for, including pain that changes in intensity, pain triggered by normal activities, and having other conditions like fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome alongside pelvic pain.

Pain and Sensitization

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Infection Elicited Autoimmunity and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: An Explanatory Model.

Blomberg, Jonas, Gottfries, Carl-Gerhard, Elfaitouri, Amal et al.·Frontiers in immunology·2018

This study proposes that ME/CFS may develop when a person's immune system mistakenly attacks their own body after an infection, particularly affecting energy production in muscles and the brain. The researchers suggest that some people may have a genetic tendency to develop these harmful immune responses, especially when their gut bacteria are out of balance. When exposed to a triggering infection, the immune system can begin attacking proteins involved in energy metabolism and nerve function, leading to the exhaustion and post-exertion symptoms that characterize ME/CFS.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Autonomic dysfunction and HPV immunization: an overview.

Blitshteyn, Svetlana, Brinth, Louise, Hendrickson, Jeanne E et al.·Immunologic research·2018

This review looked at case reports from multiple countries describing people who developed serious symptoms after HPV vaccination, including extreme fatigue, pain, dizziness, and cognitive problems. These symptoms are similar to those seen in ME/CFS, POTS, and other conditions. The authors suggest that in some genetically vulnerable people, the vaccine might trigger an immune system response that affects the nervous system, but they emphasize that timing alone doesn't prove the vaccine caused the illness.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Stress, inflammation and natural treatments.

Theoharides, T C, Kavalioti, M·Journal of biological regulators and homeostatic agents·2018

This study explores how stress and inflammation work together to cause several conditions including ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and others. The researchers found that immune cells called mast cells and brain cells called microglia may communicate in ways that trigger inflammation during stress. They suggest that a natural supplement combining luteolin and Ashwagandha might help reduce this inflammation and benefit patients with these conditions.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Integration of DNA methylation & health scores identifies subtypes in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

de Vega, Wilfred C, Erdman, Lauren, Vernon, Suzanne D et al.·Epigenomics·2018

Researchers studied 70 women with ME/CFS and found that their DNA showed different chemical patterns in immune cells. These chemical differences matched up with specific symptoms and health problems that patients reported. The study identified four distinct subtypes of ME/CFS, each with its own pattern of DNA changes and symptom profile, suggesting that ME/CFS may not be one uniform condition but rather several related conditions with different underlying biology.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

← Previous Next 20 studies →

Or browse by topic

PEM Immune Neuro Metabolic Biomarkers Severe ME Long COVID Cognitive

Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

A Molecular Neurobiological Approach to Understanding the Aetiology of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease) with Treatment Implications.

Dehydroepiandrosterone Research: Past, Current, and Future.

Circulating extracellular vesicles as potential biomarkers in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: an exploratory pilot study.

The link between idiopathic intracranial hypertension, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome: exploration of a shared pathophysiology.

Rituximab impedes natural killer cell function in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis patients: A pilot in vitro investigation.

Case Study of Homeopathic Bowel Nosode Remedies for Dysbiotic Japanese Patients.

Anti-stress effects of human placenta extract: possible involvement of the oxidative stress system in rats.

Pharmacological activation of AMPK and glucose uptake in cultured human skeletal muscle cells from patients with ME/CFS.

[Brain Science on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome].

Macrophagic myofasciitis-associated dysfunctioning: An update of neuropsychological and neuroimaging features.

[Narcolepsy and Other 'Central Disorders of Hypersomnolence'].

Supplementation with Robuvit® in post-traumatic stress disorders associated to high oxidative stress.

[History of Researches on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome].

Chronic fatigue syndrome and quality of life.

Open-label pilot for treatment targeting gut dysbiosis in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: neuropsychological symptoms and sex comparisons.

Clinical Criteria of Central Sensitization in Chronic Pelvic and Perineal Pain (Convergences PP Criteria): Elaboration of a Clinical Evaluation Tool Based on Formal Expert Consensus.

Infection Elicited Autoimmunity and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: An Explanatory Model.

Autonomic dysfunction and HPV immunization: an overview.

Stress, inflammation and natural treatments.

Integration of DNA methylation & health scores identifies subtypes in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Curated Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

PEM-Specific Research