Hamilos, D L, Nutter, D, Gershtenson, J et al. · Biological psychiatry · 1998 · DOI
Many people with ME/CFS report feeling like they have a low body temperature or mild fever, but this study found that their actual core body temperature is normal. Researchers continuously measured body temperature every 5 minutes for 24 hours in people with ME/CFS and compared them to healthy people, those with allergies, and those with depression. All groups had similar normal temperatures and similar daily temperature patterns.
This study addresses a common symptom reported by ME/CFS patients and provides objective data that core body temperature dysfunction is not a primary physiological abnormality in the condition. Understanding which symptoms have measurable physiological correlates and which do not helps guide future research toward actual disease mechanisms and informs clinical interpretation of patient-reported symptoms.
This study does not prove that temperature-related symptoms are psychological or imaginary; subjective temperature sensations may reflect peripheral circulation changes, altered temperature perception, or other mechanisms not captured by core temperature measurement. A single 24-hour measurement period may not detect longer-term temperature abnormalities or temperature dysregulation during specific activities. The study also does not address whether temperature abnormalities exist in ME/CFS subpopulations or during post-exertional malaise.
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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