Choppa, P C, Vojdani, A, Tagle, C et al. · Molecular and cellular probes · 1998 · DOI
Researchers developed a test to detect three types of bacteria called mycoplasmas in blood samples from ME/CFS patients and healthy people. They found these bacteria were much more common in ME/CFS patients (52% had some mycoplasma species) compared to healthy controls (15%), suggesting a possible link between these infections and ME/CFS.
This study provides evidence of a potential infectious agent association in ME/CFS that could help explain the biological basis of the illness. The finding that mycoplasmas are substantially more prevalent in ME/CFS patients than controls suggests these bacteria may play a role in disease pathogenesis or persistence, which could open new diagnostic and therapeutic avenues.
This study does not prove that mycoplasmas cause ME/CFS, only that they are detected more frequently in patients with the condition. The cross-sectional design means we cannot determine whether the infections preceded ME/CFS onset or resulted from it, nor can we establish whether treating these infections would improve symptoms. Detection of bacterial DNA does not necessarily indicate active infection or pathogenic contribution.
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 →
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