Murdoch, J C · Family practice · 1988 · DOI
This review examines myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), a relapsing illness that primarily affects young women and causes severe muscle pain and exhaustion. The authors looked at research from the United Kingdom, United States, and New Zealand over 40 years to understand what might cause this condition. They discuss how difficult it is to treat patients when doctors don't know what's causing the illness, and suggest renaming it 'myalgic exhaustion syndrome.'
This early review helped establish ME/CFS as a legitimate medical syndrome worthy of serious investigation and highlighted the consistent clinical features across different geographic populations. By documenting the pattern of illness in young women and acknowledging the management challenges caused by unknown causes, it advocated for greater recognition and research investment in this poorly understood condition.
This review does not identify the underlying cause of ME/CFS, as it explicitly states that 'no certain aetiology is present.' It also does not provide evidence about treatment effectiveness, prognosis, or the biological mechanisms responsible for the syndrome. The nomenclature suggestion does not constitute scientific evidence for any particular disease mechanism.
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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