ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

61–80 of 298 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Circulating extracellular vesicles-microRNAs as potential biomarkers for the identification of ME/CFS: differentiating fatigue-related conditions.

Eguchi, Akiko, Kuratsune, Hirohiko, Nakatomi, Yasuhito et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2026

Researchers analysed tiny particles called extracellular vesicles in blood samples from patients with ME/CFS, chronic fatigue without a known cause, and depression, looking for differences in small RNA molecules that could help diagnose ME/CFS. They found a pattern of 114 different RNA molecules that appeared associated with ME/CFS and were rarely seen in healthy people, though these findings come from a small group of patients and have not yet been replicated in larger studies.

NeuroinflammationBiomarkersDiagnosticsLong COVID Overlap

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Metabolomic Classification of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome via Explainable Ensemble Learning and Pareto-Guided Feature Selection.

Yagin, Fatma Hilal, Korkmaz, Yavuz, Colak, Cemil et al.·International journal of molecular sciences·2026

Researchers analysed blood metabolite patterns (small molecules in blood) from 106 people with ME/CFS and 91 healthy controls using machine learning to see whether these patterns could distinguish ME/CFS from health. A computer model called Explainable Boosting Machine achieved 91% accuracy in this one study group. Importantly, the findings remain preliminary—they describe associations observed in this cross-sectional sample and require external validation in new populations before clinical use.

BiomarkersEnergy MetabolismDiagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Raman Spectroscopy Combined with Machine Learning Reveals Myalgic Encephalomyelitis-Associated Biomolecular Signatures at Rest and After Standardized Stress.

Heidarifard, Maryam, Moezzi, Atefeh, Dallaire, Frédérick et al.·International journal of molecular sciences·2026

Researchers used a laboratory technique called Raman spectroscopy combined with computer learning to identify chemical signatures in blood plasma that are associated with ME/CFS. They collected blood samples from 115 ME/CFS patients and 45 healthy controls both at rest and 90 minutes after a standardized stress test, and found the method could distinguish between the two groups with moderate-to-good accuracy (79–84%). However, this is an early-stage study and much more work is needed before such a test could be used in clinical practice.

BiomarkersDiagnosticsPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

3D Virtual Reality Performance Metrics as a Future Fatigue Biomarker in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Ladek, Anja-Maria, Priebe, Leonie, Harrer, Thomas et al.·Biomedicines·2026

Researchers tested how quickly 60 ME/CFS patients and 60 healthy controls could react to visual tasks presented in 3D virtual reality. ME/CFS patients showed slower reaction times across all difficulty levels, and they improved less with practice than controls did. The study reports an association between ME/CFS and prolonged reaction times, though the findings are preliminary and whether this could become a reliable test for fatigue severity requires further validation.

BiomarkersDiagnosticsCognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Subclinical Hypercoagulable Viscoelastic Characteristics Associated with Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV2 Physical Symptoms in COVID-19 ALI/ARDS Survivors.

Jones, Ansley E, Mira-Sanchez, Margarita, Khan, Zain et al.·Journal of intensive care medicine·2026

This study examined blood clotting patterns in 93 people who survived severe COVID-19 requiring hospitalization, testing them 15 months after discharge. Researchers observed that those with lingering post-COVID symptoms—particularly fatigue and post-exertional malaise (worsening after activity)—showed altered clotting characteristics on specialized blood tests, specifically higher fibrinogen levels. However, this is a single cross-sectional study and does not establish whether these clotting changes cause the symptoms or are simply associated with them.

BiomarkersLong COVID Overlap

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Disrupted glymphatic function and its relationship with sleep and cognitive impairment in ME/CFS assessed via DTI-ALPS.

Thapaliya, Kiran, Marshall-Gradisnik, Sonya, Inderyas, Maira et al.·Frontiers in neuroscience·2026

Researchers used a brain imaging technique called DTI-ALPS to measure how well the brain clears waste during sleep in 31 ME/CFS patients and 27 healthy controls. They observed that ME/CFS patients had lower measurements than controls, and these measurements were associated with worse sleep disturbance and concentration problems. However, this is a preliminary study in a small group, and it remains unclear whether reduced glymphatic function actually causes ME/CFS symptoms or is simply correlated with them.

NeuroinflammationBiomarkersSleepCognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Involvement of autoantibodies against G protein-coupled receptors in post-COVID condition and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Azcue, N, Prada, A, Del Pino, R et al.·Scientific reports·2026

Researchers compared immune markers called autoantibodies in people with post-COVID condition, ME/CFS, and healthy controls. They found that people with ME/CFS had higher levels of antibodies against certain nerve receptors (β2 adrenergic), and these antibodies were associated with autonomic nervous system problems and memory changes. However, this is a single cross-sectional study, and autoimmunity remains one of several proposed mechanisms—it is not yet clear whether these antibodies are a cause or a consequence of ME/CFS.

BiomarkersAutonomic Nervous SystemImmune SystemCognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearLongitudinal

Can Depression Polygenic Risk Score Predict Postinfective Fatigue Syndrome (PIFS) in the Dubbo Infection Outcomes Study (DIOS)?

Ruseva, Albena G, Valencia, Braulio M, Gordon, Scott D et al.·Twin research and human genetics : the official journal of the International Society for Twin Studies·2026

Researchers studied whether genetic risk for depression or chronic fatigue could predict who would develop a fatigue syndrome after infection. In a group of 464 people followed after confirmed infection, they observed that neither depression genetics nor chronic fatigue genetics were associated with developing this condition overall—though a preliminary finding suggested depression genetics might affect risk differently in women versus men. These early results suggest genetic liability to depression or chronic fatigue alone may not be the main driver of postinfective fatigue syndrome.

BiomarkersDiagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Plasma Extracellular Vesicle Surface Marker Profiling Reveals Immune Cell-Associated Mitochondrial Membrane Potential Alterations in Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Ikeda, Gentaro, Koike-Ieki, Mariko, Inoue, Hiroyuki et al.·Open forum infectious diseases·2026

Researchers analyzed tiny cell particles called extracellular vesicles in blood samples from people with Long COVID, ME/CFS, and healthy controls. They observed that both Long COVID and ME/CFS groups had elevated levels of certain immune cell-derived particles and alterations in mitochondrial (energy-producing) markers within B cells and other immune cells, though the findings were not identical between groups. These preliminary results suggest there may be shared immune and metabolic changes in these conditions, but the meaning of these changes for patient health remains unclear and needs further study.

BiomarkersEnergy MetabolismImmune SystemLong COVID Overlap

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Phosphoproteomic analysis reveals differential associations between liver-spleen disharmony and qi-blood deficiency syndromes in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Zhang, Jiabao, Tian, Ying, Sun, Guanghan et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2026

Researchers compared blood protein markers in 30 people—10 with ME/CFS showing Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) 'Liver-Spleen Disharmony' patterns, 10 with 'Qi-Blood Deficiency' patterns, and 10 healthy controls—using advanced protein analysis. They observed different patterns of phosphorylated proteins (chemical modifications on proteins) between the two ME/CFS groups and healthy controls, suggesting that TCM pattern categories may have distinct molecular signatures. However, this is an early exploratory study with a small sample size, and these findings have not yet been replicated.

BiomarkersDiagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

High Frequency of HHV-7 Reactivation in Neurological and Neuropsychiatric Long COVID: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Ducret, Diane, Mijatovic, Tatjana·Viruses·2026

A retrospective study observed that patients with neurological or neuropsychiatric symptoms after COVID-19 had a substantially higher frequency of HHV-7 (a type of herpesvirus) detected in testing compared to pre-COVID reference data. The study involved 30 long COVID patients, of whom 77% tested positive for HHV-7, compared to 29% in historical controls. The authors note that these are early findings in a small patient group and call for prospective studies to investigate whether HHV-7 plays a role in long COVID neurological symptoms.

NeuroinflammationBiomarkersLong COVID Overlap

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

FreeSurfer-based amygdala subfield volumetry in long COVID and ME/CFS: clinical and immunological correlations.

Kimura, Yukio, Sato, Wakiro, Shigemoto, Yoko et al.·Frontiers in neurology·2026

Researchers used high-resolution brain imaging to examine a small part of the brain called the amygdala in people with long COVID, ME/CFS, and healthy controls. They observed some differences in the size of specific amygdala regions between groups and found associations between these brain measurements and certain immune markers, but these findings were preliminary and did not remain significant after statistical correction for multiple comparisons. The study is exploratory and does not yet establish why these brain differences occur or whether they are clinically meaningful.

NeuroinflammationBiomarkersLong COVID Overlap

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Facility-Measured Sleep Electroencephalographic Microstructures in Long COVID.

Sun, Haoqi, Dang, Rammy, Li, Peng et al.·Sleep·2026

Researchers used overnight brain-wave recordings (EEG) to examine sleep patterns in people with long COVID and ME/CFS, comparing them to healthy controls. They found that both groups showed altered patterns in specific brain-wave features during sleep—such as changes in slow waves and sleep spindles (brief bursts of brain activity)—that may be associated with the unrefreshing sleep and fatigue these patients report. However, this is one study in a specific research setting, and it remains unclear whether these brain-wave changes are a cause of the symptoms or simply occur alongside them.

BiomarkersSleepLong COVID Overlap

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Microstructural alterations in brain tissue of ME/CFS and long COVID using diffusion tensor imaging and diffusion kurtosis imaging.

Singh, Tanoj Bahadur, Marshall-Gradisnik, Sonya, Barnden, Leighton et al.·Frontiers in medicine·2026

Researchers used specialized brain imaging scans (DTI and DKI) to observe differences in brain tissue structure between people with ME/CFS, people with long COVID, and healthy controls. They found that ME/CFS and long COVID showed microstructural changes in different brain regions, though the study is cross-sectional and cannot explain why these changes occur or what role they play in symptoms. These are preliminary findings that require replication in larger groups.

BiomarkersCognitive ImpairmentLong COVID Overlap

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Exploring differences in protein cargo of extracellular vesicles from ME/CFS patient plasma compared to healthy controls.

Rydland, Anne, Yran, Elena Støvring, Nyman, Tuula A et al.·Biochemistry and biophysics reports·2026

Researchers compared tiny particles called extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the blood of 49 ME/CFS patients and 50 healthy controls. They found that ME/CFS patients had higher concentrations of these particles, and 11 proteins inside them were observed at different levels in ME/CFS compared to controls—though these differences did not remain statistically significant after accounting for multiple comparisons. The study is exploratory and the authors note that further investigation is needed to understand whether these EV changes are relevant to ME/CFS.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Exploratory clinical and immunological changes following Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab administration in immunodeficient patients with SARS-CoV-2-associated ME/CFS and persistent circulating spike protein.

Seidel, Maximilian, Anft, Moritz, Wiemers, Lea et al.·Immunology letters·2026

Researchers gave a monoclonal antibody treatment (Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab) to nine immunodeficient patients with long COVID and ME/CFS-like symptoms who had detectable coronavirus spike protein in their blood. After 30 days, one immune marker (β1-adrenergic receptor autoantibody) showed a modest decrease, but spike protein levels and symptom outcomes did not change significantly as a group. These are very preliminary findings from a small study without a control group, and the authors emphasise that efficacy remains uncertain.

BiomarkersInterventionsAutonomic Nervous SystemImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Persistent fatigue in long-COVID is not associated with peripheral inflammatory or cellular stress biomarkers: A cross-sectional controlled study.

Omdal, Roald, Lenning, Ole Bernt, Jonsson, Grete et al.·Brain, behavior, & immunity - health·2026

A study of 48 people with long-COVID and 48 recovered controls found that fatigue was much more severe in the long-COVID group, but common blood markers of inflammation and cellular stress did not differ between the groups. This suggests that the fatigue in long-COVID may not be driven by the types of inflammation typically measured in blood tests, though the researchers note their findings are preliminary and limited to the biomarkers they tested.

NeuroinflammationBiomarkersImmune SystemLong COVID Overlap

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

HERV activation segregates ME/CFS from fibromyalgia while defining a novel nosologic entity.

Giménez-Orenga, Karen, Martín-Martínez, Eva, Nathanson, Lubov et al.·eLife·2025

This study looked at special genetic materials called human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) in the blood cells of women with ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, both conditions, or neither. The researchers found that the pattern of which HERVs were active could perfectly distinguish between these four groups—suggesting this could become a reliable blood test to diagnose these conditions. The study also found that ME/CFS patients had specific changes in immune cells that matched how severe their symptoms were.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCase-Control

Development and validation of blood-based diagnostic biomarkers for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) using EpiSwitch® 3-dimensional genomic regulatory immuno-genetic profiling.

Hunter, Ewan, Alshaker, Heba, Bundock, Oliver et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2025

Researchers developed a new blood test called EpiSwitch®CFS that may help diagnose ME/CFS by detecting specific patterns in how DNA is organized in blood cells. When tested on stored blood samples from 47 ME/CFS patients and 61 healthy people, the test correctly identified 92% of ME/CFS patients and correctly ruled out 98% of healthy controls. This could potentially help doctors diagnose ME/CFS more reliably, since there is currently no standard blood test for the condition.

NeuroinflammationBiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearLongitudinal

AI-driven multi-omics modeling of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Xiong, Ruoyun, Aiken, Elizabeth, Caldwell, Ryan et al.·Nature medicine·2025

Researchers used artificial intelligence to analyze blood, gut bacteria, immune cells, and symptoms from 249 ME/CFS patients tracked over 4 years. The AI model discovered that ME/CFS involves abnormal patterns in gut bacteria products, blood fats, and immune cells that attack infections—particularly special T cells that become overactive. These findings suggest ME/CFS isn't caused by a single problem but by multiple connected systems going wrong together.

BiomarkersGut MicrobiomeEnergy MetabolismImmune System

← Previous Next 20 studies →

Or browse by topic

PEM Immune Neuro Metabolic Biomarkers Severe ME Long COVID Cognitive

Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

Circulating extracellular vesicles-microRNAs as potential biomarkers for the identification of ME/CFS: differentiating fatigue-related conditions.

Metabolomic Classification of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome via Explainable Ensemble Learning and Pareto-Guided Feature Selection.

Raman Spectroscopy Combined with Machine Learning Reveals Myalgic Encephalomyelitis-Associated Biomolecular Signatures at Rest and After Standardized Stress.

3D Virtual Reality Performance Metrics as a Future Fatigue Biomarker in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Subclinical Hypercoagulable Viscoelastic Characteristics Associated with Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV2 Physical Symptoms in COVID-19 ALI/ARDS Survivors.

Disrupted glymphatic function and its relationship with sleep and cognitive impairment in ME/CFS assessed via DTI-ALPS.

Involvement of autoantibodies against G protein-coupled receptors in post-COVID condition and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Can Depression Polygenic Risk Score Predict Postinfective Fatigue Syndrome (PIFS) in the Dubbo Infection Outcomes Study (DIOS)?

Plasma Extracellular Vesicle Surface Marker Profiling Reveals Immune Cell-Associated Mitochondrial Membrane Potential Alterations in Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Phosphoproteomic analysis reveals differential associations between liver-spleen disharmony and qi-blood deficiency syndromes in chronic fatigue syndrome.

High Frequency of HHV-7 Reactivation in Neurological and Neuropsychiatric Long COVID: A Retrospective Observational Study.

FreeSurfer-based amygdala subfield volumetry in long COVID and ME/CFS: clinical and immunological correlations.

Facility-Measured Sleep Electroencephalographic Microstructures in Long COVID.

Microstructural alterations in brain tissue of ME/CFS and long COVID using diffusion tensor imaging and diffusion kurtosis imaging.

Exploring differences in protein cargo of extracellular vesicles from ME/CFS patient plasma compared to healthy controls.

Exploratory clinical and immunological changes following Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab administration in immunodeficient patients with SARS-CoV-2-associated ME/CFS and persistent circulating spike protein.

Persistent fatigue in long-COVID is not associated with peripheral inflammatory or cellular stress biomarkers: A cross-sectional controlled study.

HERV activation segregates ME/CFS from fibromyalgia while defining a novel nosologic entity.

Development and validation of blood-based diagnostic biomarkers for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) using EpiSwitch® 3-dimensional genomic regulatory immuno-genetic profiling.

AI-driven multi-omics modeling of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Curated Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

PEM-Specific Research