Artsimovich, N G, Chugunov, V S, Kornev, A V et al. · Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova · 1994
ME/CFS is a serious condition that causes extreme tiredness, brain fog, and flu-like symptoms that can last for months or years. The condition affects people of all ages, but is most common in women under 45. Researchers believe the immune system is not working properly in people with ME/CFS, though the exact problem is still unclear.
This early review helped establish immune dysfunction as a central hypothesis in ME/CFS research, influencing decades of subsequent investigation. For patients, it validates that ME/CFS is a recognized medical condition affecting multiple body systems, not a purely psychological disorder. The identification of diverse potential treatments, while incomplete, offers a framework for discussing management options with healthcare providers.
This review does not establish the specific immune mechanisms causing ME/CFS or prove that any of the suggested treatments are effective. It cannot demonstrate causation between immune dysfunction and symptoms, only that they are associated. The review reflects 1994 knowledge and lacks the rigorous methodology of controlled trials, so individual treatment recommendations should not be considered conclusive evidence.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
Spotted an error in this entry? Report it →