CFSMEATLAS — The Atlas of ME/CFS

135 studies

Showing 61–80 of 135 studies

E0 ConsensusPEM ✓PreliminarySystematic-ReviewMachine draft

Posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and comparison of pathogenesis.

Bai, Natalie A, Richardson, Christie S·Chronic diseases and translational medicine·2023

This review examined 18 studies comparing two similar chronic illnesses: posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS), which affects about 10% of Lyme disease patients even after antibiotic treatment, and ME/CFS. Both conditions cause severe fatigue, cognitive problems, pain, and sleep issues that last for months or years. The researchers found that patients with PTLDS experience many of the same symptoms as ME/CFS patients, suggesting these different illnesses may develop through similar biological pathways in the body.

Post-Exertional MalaiseSevere ME

E2 ModeratePEM ✗Moderate confidenceObservationalReviewed

Deficient butyrate-producing capacity in the gut microbiome is associated with bacterial network disturbances and fatigue symptoms in ME/CFS.

Guo, Cheng, Che, Xiaoyu, Briese, Thomas et al.·Cell host & microbe·2023

Researchers studied gut bacteria in people with ME/CFS and found that they have fewer healthy bacteria that produce a substance called butyrate, which normally helps protect the gut and reduce inflammation. The bacteria that are missing—Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Eubacterium rectale—are known to be beneficial in healthy people. Importantly, people with more of these bacteria had less severe fatigue, suggesting a connection between gut bacteria health and ME/CFS symptoms.

Severe ME

E2 ModeratePEM ✗PreliminaryCross-SectionalMachine draft

Characterizing Sjögren-Associated Fatigue: A Distinct Phenotype from ME/CFS.

Kim, Laura, Kedor, Claudia, Buttgereit, Frank et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2023

This study compared fatigue in people with Sjögren's syndrome (an autoimmune disease affecting moisture-producing glands) to fatigue in ME/CFS patients. While both groups experience severe tiredness, the researchers found important differences: Sjögren's patients recovered their muscle strength within an hour of activity, whereas ME/CFS patients typically experience worsening symptoms hours after exertion. Only a small portion of Sjögren's patients met ME/CFS diagnostic criteria, suggesting these are distinct conditions despite some symptom overlap.

Post-Exertional MalaiseSevere ME

E3 PreliminaryPEM ?PreliminaryReview-NarrativeReviewed

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Comorbidities: Linked by Vascular Pathomechanisms and Vasoactive Mediators?

Wirth, Klaus J, Löhn, Matthias·Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)·2023

This study examines why ME/CFS patients often experience other conditions like POTS, mast cell activation, endometriosis, and small fiber neuropathy at the same time. The researchers analyzed how these conditions might share common problems with blood vessel function and chemical messengers in the body. They found strong evidence that excessive inflammatory chemicals and problems with a specific receptor in the body (β2AdR) may be the connecting link between all these conditions.

E2 ModeratePEM ✓Moderate confidenceCross-SectionalMachine draft

Evaluating case diagnostic criteria for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): toward an empirical case definition.

Conroy, Karl E, Islam, Mohammed F, Jason, Leonard A·Disability and rehabilitation·2023

This study looked at how doctors diagnose ME/CFS by analyzing symptoms reported by over 2,300 patients from around the world. Researchers used statistical methods to identify which symptoms tend to occur together, then compared their findings to three existing diagnostic guidelines. They found that the symptoms cluster into seven main groups, with post-exertional malaise (worsening after activity), cognitive problems, and sleep issues being particularly important.

Sleep DysfunctionPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryPEM ?Weak / uncertainReview-NarrativeReviewed

[Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: an overview of current evidence].

Ludwig, Birgit, Olbert, Elisabeth, Trimmel, Karin et al.·Der Nervenarzt·2023

This review examines what we currently know about ME/CFS, including how it is diagnosed and what treatments have been studied. The authors note that after many years of research, we still don't have clear answers about what causes ME/CFS or proven treatments that work for everyone. They suggest that the high rates of depression and anxiety seen in ME/CFS patients should make us consider whether psychological factors play a role in the condition.

E2 ModeratePEM ✓Moderate confidenceCross-SectionalReviewed

Post-exertional malaise among people with long COVID compared to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Vernon, Suzanne D, Hartle, Megan, Sullivan, Karen et al.·Work (Reading, Mass.)·2023

This study looked at whether people with Long COVID experience post-exertional malaise (PEM)—a hallmark symptom of ME/CFS where symptoms get worse after physical or mental activity. Researchers surveyed 80 Long COVID patients and compared their experiences to 151 ME/CFS patients. Nearly all Long COVID patients reported having PEM, but the way they experienced it differed significantly from ME/CFS patients in terms of what triggered it, which symptoms appeared, and how to recover.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusPEM ?Higher confidenceReview-NarrativeReviewed

Diagnosis and Management of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Grach, Stephanie L, Seltzer, Jaime, Chon, Tony Y et al.·Mayo Clinic proceedings·2023

This review explains how doctors can diagnose and manage ME/CFS, a serious illness that causes extreme tiredness and other symptoms, often starting after an infection. The authors note that ME/CFS shares many similarities with long COVID, the condition some people experience after having COVID-19. They provide practical guidance to help healthcare providers recognize and treat this condition.

Long COVID OverlapPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModeratePEM ✓Moderate confidenceCross-SectionalReviewed

Clinical Characteristics of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Diagnosed in Patients with Long COVID.

Tokumasu, Kazuki, Honda, Hiroyuki, Sunada, Naruhiko et al.·Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)·2022

This study examined patients with long COVID who developed ME/CFS, a serious condition causing extreme fatigue and worsening after activity. Researchers found that about 17% of long COVID patients met standardized medical criteria for ME/CFS, with fatigue and post-exertional malaise being the most common symptoms. Interestingly, men and women were affected equally in this group, which differs from typical ME/CFS patterns.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusPEM ?Moderate confidenceReview-NarrativeMachine draft

Fatigue in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and systemic sclerosis (SSc): similarities with Myalgic encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). A critical review of the literature.

van Eeden, Charmaine, Osman, Mohammed S, Cohen Tervaert, Jan Willem·Expert review of clinical immunology·2022

This review examined severe, long-lasting fatigue in patients with certain autoimmune diseases and compared it to ME/CFS. The researchers found that fatigue in these autoimmune diseases shares similarities with ME/CFS, including common immune and metabolic problems. Importantly, this fatigue often persists even after the main disease is brought under control, suggesting it may need different treatment approaches than the underlying condition.

Immune DysregulationSevere ME

E3 PreliminaryPEM ✓Weak / uncertainEditorialMachine draft

[Facts and myths about chronic fatigue syndrome].

Fink, Per, Skjernov, Mathias, Petersen, Line Kirkeby et al.·Ugeskrift for laeger·2022

This article discusses updates to ME/CFS treatment guidelines and challenges some common beliefs about the condition. The authors argue that new guidelines recommend against intense exercise programs for severely ill patients and suggest energy management instead, but they question whether the evidence supporting these changes was properly evaluated. They raise concerns about how the new guidelines were developed and what type of evidence was considered.

Post-Exertional MalaiseSevere ME

E0 ConsensusPEM ✓Moderate confidenceMeta-AnalysisReviewed

Pain-Related Post-Exertional Malaise in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review and Three-Level Meta-Analysis.

Barhorst, Ellen E, Boruch, Alexander E, Cook, Dane B et al.·Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.)·2022

This review examined whether people with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia experience increased pain after exercise. Researchers combined data from 15 studies and found that yes, patients do have more pain after physical activity than healthy people do—especially when pain was measured 8-72 hours later. This confirms that pain is a real and significant part of post-exertional malaise (the worsening of symptoms after activity).

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryPEM ✓PreliminaryReview-NarrativeReviewed

Review of the Midbrain Ascending Arousal Network Nuclei and Implications for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), Gulf War Illness (GWI) and Postexertional Malaise (PEM).

Baraniuk, James N·Brain sciences·2022

This review examines a brain region called the midbrain and how it might contribute to post-exertional malaise (PEM)—the worsening of symptoms after activity that happens in ME/CFS. When ME/CFS patients did exercise in a study, their midbrain showed increased activity during mental tasks, while Gulf War Illness patients showed the opposite pattern. The authors suggest that problems in this brain region could explain why ME/CFS patients have trouble with energy, sleep, mood, pain, and temperature control, especially after exertion.

Cognitive ImpairmentPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModeratePEM ✓Moderate confidenceCross-SectionalMachine draft

ME/CFS and Post-Exertional Malaise among Patients with Long COVID.

Jason, Leonard A, Dorri, Joseph A·Neurology international·2022

Researchers studied 465 people with long-term COVID symptoms to see how many also had ME/CFS (a serious condition causing extreme fatigue and worsening after activity). They found that about 6 in 10 people with long COVID met the medical criteria for ME/CFS. Interestingly, some people thought they had ME/CFS when they didn't, while others had ME/CFS without realizing it—showing that self-diagnosis alone isn't reliable.

Long COVID OverlapPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryPEM ?Weak / uncertainEditorialReviewed

Editorial: The Brain Under Fatigue.

Niu, Haijing, Ming, Dong, Papadelis, Christos et al.·Frontiers in neuroscience·2022

This editorial discusses how fatigue affects the brain and brain function. It serves as an introduction to recent research exploring the connections between fatigue and brain activity, highlighting why scientists are interested in understanding how exhaustion impacts our ability to think and function.

E2 ModeratePEM ✗PreliminaryObservationalReviewed

Genetic association study in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) identifies several potential risk loci.

Hajdarevic, Riad, Lande, Asgeir, Mehlsen, Jesper et al.·Brain, behavior, and immunity·2022

Researchers studied the genes of nearly 3,000 ME/CFS patients from Norway, Denmark, and the UK to find genetic factors that might increase the risk of developing the disease. While they found some interesting patterns in a gene called TPPP that appeared in multiple study groups, none of the findings were strong enough to definitively prove they cause ME/CFS. This study is the largest genetic search for ME/CFS risk factors conducted so far, but more research with even larger groups of patients will be needed to find reliable genetic clues.

E2 ModeratePEM ✓Moderate confidenceCross-SectionalReviewed

Activity measurement in pediatric chronic fatigue syndrome.

Loiacono, Bernardo, Sunnquist, Madison, Nicholson, Laura et al.·Chronic illness·2022

This study compared how active children with ME/CFS are compared to healthy children. Researchers used activity tracking devices and asked children to report their own activity levels. Children with ME/CFS were less active overall and had unusual sleep-wake patterns, with more activity at night and delayed activity during the day. The good news is that children with ME/CFS could accurately report their own activity levels.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModeratePEM ?Moderate confidenceCross-SectionalReviewed

Orthostatic intolerance and neurocognitive impairment in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Gaglio, Caroline L, Islam, Mohammed F, Cotler, Joseph et al.·Epidemiologic methods·2022

This study looked at how often people with ME/CFS experience two symptoms that doctors use to diagnose the condition: difficulty thinking clearly (brain fog, memory problems) and dizziness when standing up. The researchers found that nearly all participants reported thinking and memory problems, while only a small number had standing-up dizziness without also having cognitive problems. This suggests these two symptoms overlap heavily in ME/CFS patients.

E0 ConsensusPEM ?PreliminaryReview-NarrativeMachine draft

Could the kynurenine pathway be the key missing piece of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) complex puzzle?

Kavyani, Bahar, Lidbury, Brett A, Schloeffel, Richard et al.·Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS·2022

This review explores whether problems with how your body processes an amino acid called tryptophan might explain ME/CFS symptoms. The kynurenine pathway is a biochemical process that helps your cells make energy and affects immune function and brain inflammation. The authors suggest that abnormalities in this pathway could be a missing piece in understanding why ME/CFS develops.

BiomarkersNeuroinflammation

E2 ModeratePEM ✓Moderate confidenceCross-SectionalMachine draft

Prevalence of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) in Australian primary care patients: only part of the story?

Orji, Nneka, Campbell, Julie A, Wills, Karen et al.·BMC public health·2022

This study looked at how many people in Australia have ME/CFS by examining medical records from primary care clinics between 2015-2019. Researchers found that roughly 95-104 people per 100,000 have ME/CFS in Australia, but they also discovered that many patients avoid visiting their doctors because of stigma, disbelief in the condition, and lack of available treatments. The researchers concluded that the real number of people with ME/CFS is likely much higher than what their numbers show.

Post-Exertional Malaise

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Evidence Atlas

Evidence Atlas

The research, structured.

Posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and comparison of pathogenesis.

Deficient butyrate-producing capacity in the gut microbiome is associated with bacterial network disturbances and fatigue symptoms in ME/CFS.

Characterizing Sjögren-Associated Fatigue: A Distinct Phenotype from ME/CFS.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Comorbidities: Linked by Vascular Pathomechanisms and Vasoactive Mediators?

Evaluating case diagnostic criteria for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): toward an empirical case definition.

[Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: an overview of current evidence].

Post-exertional malaise among people with long COVID compared to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Diagnosis and Management of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Clinical Characteristics of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Diagnosed in Patients with Long COVID.

Fatigue in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and systemic sclerosis (SSc): similarities with Myalgic encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). A critical review of the literature.

[Facts and myths about chronic fatigue syndrome].

Pain-Related Post-Exertional Malaise in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review and Three-Level Meta-Analysis.

Review of the Midbrain Ascending Arousal Network Nuclei and Implications for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), Gulf War Illness (GWI) and Postexertional Malaise (PEM).

ME/CFS and Post-Exertional Malaise among Patients with Long COVID.

Editorial: The Brain Under Fatigue.

Genetic association study in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) identifies several potential risk loci.

Activity measurement in pediatric chronic fatigue syndrome.

Orthostatic intolerance and neurocognitive impairment in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Could the kynurenine pathway be the key missing piece of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) complex puzzle?

Prevalence of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) in Australian primary care patients: only part of the story?

Research Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

PEM-Specific Research