CFSMEATLAS — The Atlas of ME/CFS

135 studies

Showing 101–120 of 135 studies

E1 ReplicatedPEM ✓Moderate confidenceObservationalReviewed

Cerebral blood flow is reduced in ME/CFS during head-up tilt testing even in the absence of hypotension or tachycardia

C. M. C. van Campen, F. C. Visser, P. C. Rowe·Journal of Internal Medicine·2020·n=429

In the largest study of its kind, 429 ME/CFS patients underwent head-up tilt testing with simultaneous cerebral blood flow monitoring. Nearly all ME/CFS patients showed significantly reduced cerebral blood flow when upright, even when blood pressure and heart rate were normal. The reduction correlated with symptom severity.

Autonomic Nervous System Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModeratePEM ✓PreliminaryObservationalMachine draft

Unravelling myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): Gender-specific changes in the microRNA expression profiling in ME/CFS.

Cheema, Amanpreet K, Sarria, Leonor, Bekheit, Mina et al.·Journal of cellular and molecular medicine·2020

This study looked at tiny molecules called microRNAs in the blood of people with ME/CFS to understand how their immune system responds to exercise. The researchers discovered that men and women with ME/CFS show different patterns in these molecules, and they also found that nutritional status affects these patterns. These findings could help explain why some people experience worsening symptoms after exercise (post-exertional malaise) and suggest that treatment approaches may need to differ between men and women.

Post-Exertional Malaise Immune Dysregulation

E3 PreliminaryPEM ✗PreliminaryMechanisticMachine draft

Early Growth Response Gene Upregulation in Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-Associated Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Kerr, Jonathan·Biomolecules·2020

This study looked at specific genes called EGR genes that turn on in response to stress and infection. Researchers found that these genes were abnormally active in blood samples from some ME/CFS patients, and this activity matched up with signs of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation. This suggests that in some people with ME/CFS, a dormant virus may be waking up and triggering an ongoing immune response.

Immune Dysregulation

E3 PreliminaryPEM ?Weak / uncertainObservationalReviewed

Research, recommendations and lived/personal experience with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Mooney, Amy·Work (Reading, Mass.)·2020

This editorial piece brings together research findings, expert recommendations, and personal stories from people living with ME/CFS to provide a comprehensive look at the condition. The article emphasizes the importance of listening to patients' experiences alongside scientific evidence when developing treatment approaches and policies. By combining these three perspectives—research, recommendations, and lived experience—the piece highlights what we currently know and what still needs to be understood about ME/CFS.

E3 PreliminaryPEM ✓Moderate confidenceMethods-PaperReviewed

Documenting disability in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Podell, Richard, Dimmock, Mary E, Comerford, Barbara B·Work (Reading, Mass.)·2020

This article helps doctors and lawyers understand how to properly document ME/CFS for disability benefits. The authors reviewed successful disability cases and identified the best ways to prove that ME/CFS prevents someone from working, including showing how post-exertional malaise (getting much worse after activity) impacts daily life. The goal is to help more ME/CFS patients access the disability benefits they need and deserve.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModeratePEM ✓Moderate confidenceCase-ControlMachine draft

Post-exertional symptoms distinguish Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome subjects from healthy controls.

Mateo, Lariel J, Chu, Lily, Stevens, Staci et al.·Work (Reading, Mass.)·2020

This study looked at how ME/CFS patients and healthy people felt after doing a hard exercise test. ME/CFS patients experienced many more symptoms afterward—an average of 14 different types—compared to healthy people who reported only 4. Importantly, ME/CFS patients continued having symptoms for up to a week after exercise, while healthy controls had none. The most common symptoms were fatigue, brain fog, and sleep problems.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusPEM ?PreliminarySystematic-ReviewReviewed

A systematic review of mitochondrial abnormalities in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome/systemic exertion intolerance disease.

Holden, Sean, Maksoud, Rebekah, Eaton-Fitch, Natalie et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2020

This review looked at 19 studies examining whether the power-generating structures in our cells (called mitochondria) work differently in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. While many studies found some differences in how these cellular power plants function, the results were inconsistent across different research groups, making it hard to draw clear conclusions about whether mitochondrial problems actually cause ME/CFS.

Biomarkers

E0 ConsensusPEM ✓Moderate confidenceReview-NarrativeReviewed

[Myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome].

Brinth, Louise, Nielsen, Henrik, Varming, Kim et al.·Ugeskrift for laeger·2019

ME/CFS is a serious condition that causes extreme tiredness affecting both mind and body, along with pain, sleep problems, difficulty thinking clearly, and a symptom called post-exertional malaise where activity makes symptoms worse. Research has found changes in patients' cells, hormones, immune systems, and how their bodies process energy, which could lead to better ways to diagnose and treat this condition.

Metabolic Dysfunction Biomarkers Post-Exertional Malaise Immune Dysregulation

E0 ConsensusPEM ?PreliminarySystematic-ReviewReviewed

A systematic review of cytokines in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis/systemic exertion intolerance disease (CFS/ME/SEID).

Corbitt, Matthew, Eaton-Fitch, Natalie, Staines, Donald et al.·BMC neurology·2019

Researchers reviewed 15 studies that measured immune signaling molecules called cytokines in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. Although many studies have looked at cytokines in ME/CFS, the results were too mixed and inconsistent to show that cytokines could be used as a reliable test for the condition or to confirm a clear role in causing the disease.

Biomarkers Immune Dysregulation

E3 PreliminaryPEM ✓Moderate confidenceEditorialMachine draft

Medically Documenting Disability in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Cases.

Comerford, Barbara B, Podell, Richard·Frontiers in pediatrics·2019

This guideline addresses how doctors can properly document ME/CFS symptoms to support disability claims, especially for children and teens. Many ME/CFS patients see doctors unfamiliar with the condition, which can lead to misdiagnosis and rejected disability applications. The guideline emphasizes that ME/CFS is a real physical illness affecting multiple body systems, not a psychological condition.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryPEM ?PreliminaryReview-NarrativeReviewed

Understanding neuromuscular disorders in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Jammes, Yves, Retornaz, Frédérique·F1000Research·2019

This study examined how muscles work differently in people with ME/CFS. Researchers found that both the brain's ability to signal muscles and the muscles' ability to respond are impaired in ME/CFS patients. The muscles also appear to have trouble managing harmful molecules called free radicals, especially after exercise, and they may not be producing enough protective proteins that normally shield cells from damage.

E0 ConsensusPEM ✗PreliminaryReview-NarrativeReviewed

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: From pathophysiological insights to novel therapeutic opportunities.

Morris, Gerwyn, Puri, Basant K, Walker, Adam J et al.·Pharmacological research·2019

This review examines what goes wrong in the bodies of ME/CFS patients and looks at treatments that might help. Researchers found that ME/CFS involves several biological problems, including inflammation, increased cellular stress, gut problems, and energy production issues. The review highlights five promising supplements—coenzyme Q10, melatonin, curcumin, molecular hydrogen, and N-acetylcysteine—that target these problems, though much more testing is needed.

E0 ConsensusPEM ✓Moderate confidenceReview-NarrativeReviewed

Pathological Mechanisms Underlying Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Missailidis, Daniel, Annesley, Sarah J, Fisher, Paul R·Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)·2019

ME/CFS is a complex condition affecting multiple body systems, and researchers are working to understand what causes it. This review shows that evidence points to problems in the immune system, nervous system, muscle function, metabolism, and gut health in ME/CFS patients. Because patients experience different symptoms and may develop the condition in different ways, finding reliable diagnostic tests remains a key challenge that researchers are actively pursuing.

Post-Exertional Malaise Immune Dysregulation

E2 ModeratePEM ✓PreliminaryMechanisticReviewed

A nanoelectronics-blood-based diagnostic biomarker for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)

Rahim Esfandyarpour, Aref Kashi, Maya Nemat-Gorgani et al.·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)·2019·n=40

Stanford researchers developed a nanoelectronics device that detects immune cell changes using a tiny electrical sensor. When salt stress was applied to blood samples, ME/CFS patient samples showed a distinctly different electrical response compared to healthy controls. This 'nano-needle' assay could potentially serve as an objective diagnostic test.

Biomarkers Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryPEM ✓PreliminaryReview-NarrativeMachine draft

Infection Elicited Autoimmunity and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: An Explanatory Model.

Blomberg, Jonas, Gottfries, Carl-Gerhard, Elfaitouri, Amal et al.·Frontiers in immunology·2018

This study proposes that ME/CFS may develop when a person's immune system mistakenly attacks their own body after an infection, particularly affecting energy production in muscles and the brain. The researchers suggest that some people may have a genetic tendency to develop these harmful immune responses, especially when their gut bacteria are out of balance. When exposed to a triggering infection, the immune system can begin attacking proteins involved in energy metabolism and nerve function, leading to the exhaustion and post-exertion symptoms that characterize ME/CFS.

Post-Exertional Malaise Immune Dysregulation

E0 ConsensusPEM ?PreliminaryReview-NarrativeReviewed

Chronic viral infections in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Rasa, Santa, Nora-Krukle, Zaiga, Henning, Nina et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2018

This review examined all existing research on whether viruses might cause ME/CFS. Scientists found that while many studies have looked at different viruses, the research has been poorly designed and inconsistent, making it hard to draw firm conclusions. The authors suggest that future studies need better planning and more rigorous methods to properly answer whether viruses play a role in ME/CFS.

E3 PreliminaryPEM ?PreliminaryReview-NarrativeReviewed

A Molecular Neurobiological Approach to Understanding the Aetiology of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease) with Treatment Implications.

Monro, Jean A, Puri, Basant K·Molecular neurobiology·2018

This paper argues that ME/CFS is caused by biological problems in the brain and body rather than primarily psychological factors. The authors reviewed evidence showing that ME/CFS involves issues with immune chemicals, infections, brain barrier function, and how cells use energy. They suggest that treatments targeting these biological problems—such as supplements, antivirals, and immune therapies—should be studied instead of or alongside psychological approaches.

E2 ModeratePEM ✓Moderate confidenceMethods-PaperMachine draft

A Brief Questionnaire to Assess Post-Exertional Malaise.

Cotler, Joseph, Holtzman, Carly, Dudun, Catherine et al.·Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)·2018

This study focused on creating a better way to identify post-exertional malaise (PEM)—the worsening of symptoms that happens after physical or mental activity in ME/CFS patients. Researchers tested whether five additional questions from an existing questionnaire could help doctors confirm PEM in the second step of diagnosis. The test was successful: it correctly identified patients with ME/CFS 82% of the time and rarely misidentified other conditions like multiple sclerosis as ME/CFS.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModeratePEM ✓Moderate confidenceCross-SectionalReviewed

Deconstructing post-exertional malaise in myalgic encephalomyelitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome: A patient-centered, cross-sectional survey.

Chu, Lily, Valencia, Ian J, Garvert, Donn W et al.·PloS one·2018

This study asked 150 ME/CFS patients to describe what happens when they experience post-exertional malaise (PEM)—the characteristic crash that follows physical activity, mental effort, or emotional stress. Researchers found that 90% of patients experienced PEM from all three types of triggers, with fatigue being the most common symptom, but also cognitive problems, sleep issues, headaches, and muscle pain. Most patients' PEM lasted at least 24 hours, though the timing and severity varied from person to person.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E1 ReplicatedPEM ✓Moderate confidenceObservationalReviewed

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing and post-exertional malaise in ME/CFS: A retrospective analysis

Staci R. Stevens, Christopher R. Snell, Jared N. Stevens et al.·Journal of Translational Medicine·2018·n=51

ME/CFS patients underwent two consecutive days of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). On the second day, patients showed significantly reduced VO2 max and anaerobic threshold compared to the first day — and compared to healthy and disease controls who recovered normally. This objective impairment matches the subjective PEM experience.

Post-Exertional Malaise Diagnostics

← Previous Next 15 studies →

Explore by topic

PEM Immune Neuro Metabolic Biomarkers Severe ME Long COVID Cognitive

Evidence Atlas

Evidence Atlas

The research, structured.

Cerebral blood flow is reduced in ME/CFS during head-up tilt testing even in the absence of hypotension or tachycardia

Unravelling myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): Gender-specific changes in the microRNA expression profiling in ME/CFS.

Early Growth Response Gene Upregulation in Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-Associated Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Research, recommendations and lived/personal experience with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Documenting disability in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Post-exertional symptoms distinguish Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome subjects from healthy controls.

A systematic review of mitochondrial abnormalities in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome/systemic exertion intolerance disease.

[Myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome].

A systematic review of cytokines in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis/systemic exertion intolerance disease (CFS/ME/SEID).

Medically Documenting Disability in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Cases.

Understanding neuromuscular disorders in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: From pathophysiological insights to novel therapeutic opportunities.

Pathological Mechanisms Underlying Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

A nanoelectronics-blood-based diagnostic biomarker for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)

Infection Elicited Autoimmunity and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: An Explanatory Model.

Chronic viral infections in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

A Molecular Neurobiological Approach to Understanding the Aetiology of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease) with Treatment Implications.

A Brief Questionnaire to Assess Post-Exertional Malaise.

Deconstructing post-exertional malaise in myalgic encephalomyelitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome: A patient-centered, cross-sectional survey.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing and post-exertional malaise in ME/CFS: A retrospective analysis

Research Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

PEM-Specific Research