ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

4901–4920 of 6,188 studies

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells in the duodenum of individuals diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis are uniquely immunoreactive to antibodies to human endogenous retroviral proteins.

De Meirleir, Kenny L, Khaiboullina, Svetlana F, Frémont, Marc et al.·In vivo (Athens, Greece)·2013

Researchers found that a specific type of immune cell in the gut (called plasmacytoid dendritic cells) reacts to remnants of ancient viral DNA in 8 out of 12 ME/CFS patients, but not in healthy controls. These cells appear to be displaying signs of viral proteins on their surface, which suggests the gut may be involved in triggering immune problems seen in ME/CFS.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Clinical Practice: Chronic fatigue syndrome.

Werker, Charlotte L, Nijhof, Sanne L, van de Putte, Elise M·European journal of pediatrics·2013

This review explains how doctors diagnose ME/CFS in teenagers and describes what we know works to treat it. ME/CFS is a serious illness causing extreme fatigue that doesn't get better with rest, along with other symptoms like trouble thinking clearly, sore throat, and muscle pain. The good news is that a type of talking therapy called cognitive behavioural therapy helps about two-thirds of teenagers with ME/CFS feel better and stay better for years.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

[A case of lyme disease requiring over 1 year to diagnose at an infectious-disease clinic].

Iwata, Kentaro, Shimada, Tomoe, Kawabata, Hiroki·Kansenshogaku zasshi. The Journal of the Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases·2013

This case report describes a 42-year-old woman who had fever and vague symptoms for years but was initially diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. After 14 months, she developed facial paralysis, which prompted testing that revealed she actually had Lyme disease—an infection spread by tick bites. A month of antibiotics improved her symptoms. The report highlights that Lyme disease is rare in Japan but may be underdiagnosed and should be considered in patients with unexplained fevers.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Energy Conservation/Envelope Theory Interventions to Help Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Jason, Leonard A, Brown, Molly, Brown, Abigail et al.·Fatigue : biomedicine, health & behavior·2013

This study reviewed research on the Energy Envelope approach, a self-management strategy that helps ME/CFS patients track and limit their daily activities to stay within their available energy level. Rather than pushing through exhaustion, patients learn to pace themselves carefully to avoid crashes. Research shows this approach can reduce symptom flare-ups and improve quality of life for people with ME/CFS.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

[Fatigue syndromes--an overview of terminology, definitions and classificatory concepts].

Dörr, Johanna, Nater, Urs·Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik, medizinische Psychologie·2013

This article reviews how doctors classify and differentiate between different fatigue conditions, including ME/CFS, burnout, and an older condition called neurasthenia. The authors found that while these conditions share some symptoms, they have important differences—but there currently isn't enough research to clearly separate them. Depression often occurs alongside ME/CFS and burnout, making diagnosis more complicated.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM unclear

'The letting go, the building up, [and] the gradual process of rebuilding': identity change and post-traumatic growth in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Arroll, Megan A, Howard, Alex·Psychology & health·2013

This study talked to 10 people with ME/CFS about how the illness changed who they are as a person. Participants described losing abilities they once had, feeling isolated from others, and worrying about their future. Interestingly, some people reported finding unexpected personal growth through this experience—developing a stronger sense of their 'true self' after accepting their new limitations.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Irritable bowel syndrome and migraine: bystanders or partners?

Chang, Full-Young, Lu, Ching-Liang·Journal of neurogastroenterology and motility·2013

This editorial examines two common chronic pain conditions—irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and migraine—and explores whether they might be related. Both conditions are more common in women, significantly reduce quality of life, and often occur together in the same patients. The authors suggest these disorders may share underlying causes related to how the nervous system processes pain, rather than being completely separate diseases.

Pain and Sensitization

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Chronic Lyme; diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.

Ljøstad, U, Mygland, Å·Acta neurologica Scandinavica. Supplementum·2013

This review discusses chronic Lyme disease, a rare condition caused by ongoing infection with the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. The main symptoms include progressive brain and spinal cord inflammation, skin changes, nerve damage, and joint pain. The authors explain how doctors can diagnose chronic Lyme using specific blood tests and cerebrospinal fluid tests, and recommend standard antibiotic treatment rather than experimental or prolonged approaches.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Coenzyme Q10 depletion in medical and neuropsychiatric disorders: potential repercussions and therapeutic implications.

Morris, Gerwyn, Anderson, George, Berk, Michael et al.·Molecular neurobiology·2013

This review examines how a natural substance called Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) helps cells produce energy and protect themselves from damage. The authors found that low levels of CoQ10 may contribute to ME/CFS and similar conditions that cause fatigue and exhaustion. Studies suggest that taking CoQ10 supplements might help reduce fatigue and improve exercise tolerance in people with ME/CFS, similar to benefits seen in patients with Parkinson's disease and fibromyalgia.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Brain dysfunction as one cause of CFS symptoms including difficulty with attention and concentration.

Natelson, Benjamin H·Frontiers in physiology·2013

This study suggests that ME/CFS is not one single disease but rather multiple conditions with different underlying causes. By grouping patients based on specific characteristics—like whether they have psychiatric diagnoses, fibromyalgia, or blood pressure problems when standing—researchers found that different groups showed different types of brain dysfunction. This approach could help explain why some patients experience trouble with concentration and attention in different ways.

Autonomic Nervous SystemCognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Somatic symptoms in consultation-liaison psychiatry.

Grover, Sandeep, Kate, Natasha·International review of psychiatry (Abingdon, England)·2013

This review discusses how doctors who specialize in both medical and mental health (called consultation-liaison psychiatrists) can help patients with ME/CFS and similar conditions where physical symptoms don't have a clear medical explanation. The review explains that these patients often experience depression and anxiety alongside their physical symptoms, and they use healthcare services frequently. Treatment options include talking therapies, cognitive behavior therapy, and antidepressants, which work with varying degrees of success.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Immunostimulation in the treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Proal, Amy D, Albert, Paul J, Marshall, Trevor G et al.·Immunologic research·2013

This study suggests that ME/CFS may be caused by multiple germs (bacteria, viruses, and fungi) working together in the body, rather than a single pathogen. The researchers proposed that these microbes interfere with how our genes are expressed, and developed an immunostimulatory treatment that showed promise in improving both how patients feel and measurable health markers.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

A metagenomic approach to investigate the microbial causes of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: moving beyond XMRV.

Miller, Ruth R, Gardy, Jennifer L, Tang, Patrick et al.·Fatigue : biomedicine, health & behavior·2013

This study used advanced genetic sequencing techniques to search for microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, and fungi) that might cause ME/CFS. Rather than looking for one specific virus, the researchers cast a wider net to detect any microbes present in patient samples. This approach moved beyond previous unsuccessful searches for a single virus, offering a more comprehensive way to understand whether infections play a role in ME/CFS.

Gut Microbiome

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

A neuro-immune model of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic fatigue syndrome.

Morris, Gerwyn, Maes, Michael·Metabolic brain disease·2013

This study proposes a theory about how ME/CFS develops and persists. The researchers suggest that an initial infection triggers the immune system, which then gets stuck in an overactive state even after the infection is cleared. This causes ongoing inflammation, energy problems in cells, and damage to the nervous system, leading to the characteristic symptoms including post-exertional malaise (feeling worse after activity).

NeuroinflammationAutonomic Nervous SystemImmune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Assessment of intracellular cytokines and regulatory cells in patients with autoimmune diseases and primary immunodeficiencies - novel tool for diagnostics and patient follow-up.

Osnes, Liv T, Nakken, Britt, Bodolay, Edit et al.·Autoimmunity reviews·2013

This article reviews how scientists measure specific immune system molecules called cytokines and immune cells to help diagnose and monitor autoimmune diseases and immune deficiencies. By measuring both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory markers together, doctors can better understand what's happening in a patient's immune system and track whether treatments are working.

BiomarkersImmune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Neurocognitive impairment in childhood chronic fatigue syndrome.

Mizuno, Kei, Watanabe, Yasuyoshi·Frontiers in physiology·2013

This study examined how ME/CFS affects thinking and attention skills in children and teenagers. Researchers found that young people with ME/CFS have difficulty with tasks that require switching between activities or paying attention to multiple things at once. The brain regions responsible for these skills are still developing during childhood, and severe fatigue may slow down or disrupt this normal development.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryPEM not required

[Neurasthenia in Norway 1880-1920].

Lillestøl, Kristine, Bondevik, Hilde·Tidsskrift for den Norske laegeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny raekke·2013

This study looked at historical medical records from Norway between 1880 and 1920 to understand how doctors understood and treated a condition called neurasthenia, which many believe was similar to today's ME/CFS. Doctors at that time described it as a weakness of the nervous system with exhaustion as the main symptom, though they couldn't find any physical cause. Treatment focused on rest and electrical therapy to strengthen the nerves.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Multiple chemical sensitivity caused by exposure to ignition coal fumes: a case report.

Yun, Myeong-Ja, Kang, Dong-Mug, Lee, Kyoung-Hye et al.·Annals of occupational and environmental medicine·2013

This case report describes a 55-year-old woman who developed multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS)—a condition where exposure to everyday smells and chemicals triggers symptoms like swelling and muscle pain—after being exposed to coal fumes at work. Her symptoms started with coal fumes but gradually expanded to include reactions to city gas, burning smells, and exhaust. After careful testing ruled out other conditions, she was diagnosed with MCS and learned to avoid her triggers.

Pain and Sensitization

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Diagnosing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in South Asians: Lessons from a Secondary Analysis of a UK Qualitative Study.

De Silva, R Erandie Ediriweera, Bayliss, Kerin, Riste, Lisa et al.·Journal of family medicine and primary care·2013

This study looked at why ME/CFS is rarely diagnosed in South Asia, even though people there experience its symptoms. By interviewing South Asian patients, doctors, and community leaders in the UK, researchers found that cultural beliefs, language barriers, and doctors' lack of knowledge about ME/CFS make it harder for people to get a proper diagnosis. The study suggests that raising awareness about ME/CFS in South Asia could help more people get diagnosed and treated.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM unclear

[Moxibustion at Yongquan (KI 1) for sleep disorders of chronic fatigue syndrome].

Chen, Xiao-Qin, Gang, Zhi-Xiu, Xu, Zhi-Peng·Zhongguo zhen jiu = Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion·2013

This study explored whether moxibustion—a traditional Chinese medicine technique involving burning herbs near the skin—might help improve sleep problems in people with ME/CFS. The treatment focused on a specific acupuncture point on the sole of the foot called Yongquan (KI 1). While the study suggests this approach may have helped some patients sleep better, the research quality is limited and more rigorous testing is needed.

Sleep

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Evidence browser

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells in the duodenum of individuals diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis are uniquely immunoreactive to antibodies to human endogenous retroviral proteins.

Clinical Practice: Chronic fatigue syndrome.

[A case of lyme disease requiring over 1 year to diagnose at an infectious-disease clinic].

Energy Conservation/Envelope Theory Interventions to Help Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

[Fatigue syndromes--an overview of terminology, definitions and classificatory concepts].

'The letting go, the building up, [and] the gradual process of rebuilding': identity change and post-traumatic growth in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Irritable bowel syndrome and migraine: bystanders or partners?

Chronic Lyme; diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.

Coenzyme Q10 depletion in medical and neuropsychiatric disorders: potential repercussions and therapeutic implications.

Brain dysfunction as one cause of CFS symptoms including difficulty with attention and concentration.

Somatic symptoms in consultation-liaison psychiatry.

Immunostimulation in the treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

A metagenomic approach to investigate the microbial causes of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: moving beyond XMRV.

A neuro-immune model of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic fatigue syndrome.

Assessment of intracellular cytokines and regulatory cells in patients with autoimmune diseases and primary immunodeficiencies - novel tool for diagnostics and patient follow-up.

Neurocognitive impairment in childhood chronic fatigue syndrome.

[Neurasthenia in Norway 1880-1920].

Multiple chemical sensitivity caused by exposure to ignition coal fumes: a case report.

Diagnosing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in South Asians: Lessons from a Secondary Analysis of a UK Qualitative Study.

[Moxibustion at Yongquan (KI 1) for sleep disorders of chronic fatigue syndrome].

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