CFSMEATLAS — The Atlas of ME/CFS

135 studies

Showing 1–20 of 135 studies

E3 PreliminaryPEM ✓Moderate confidenceEditorialMachine draft

Expert perspectives on Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome - Insights from the 3rd International Conference of the Charité Fatigue Center.

Fehrer, Annick, Windzio, Lara, Schoening, Simon et al.·Autoimmunity reviews·2026

Nearly 4,000 ME/CFS researchers and experts gathered at an international conference in May 2025 to share the latest discoveries about this serious illness. They discussed how ME/CFS develops, better ways to diagnose it, and new treatments being tested. The conference highlighted that while COVID-19 has brought more attention and funding to ME/CFS research, the disease is still not well understood and needs much more study.

Metabolic DysfunctionPost-Exertional MalaiseImmune Dysregulation

E0 ConsensusPEM ✗Moderate confidenceSystematic-ReviewReviewed

Burden of Disease in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): A Scoping Review.

Vester, Patricia, Boudouroglou-Walter, Stefanos, Schreyögg, Jonas et al.·Applied health economics and health policy·2026

This study looked at how much ME/CFS costs people and society, and how much it affects quality of life. Researchers found that ME/CFS causes significant health problems, lost work and school time, and costs thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars per patient per year. The biggest costs come from lost income and productivity rather than direct medical care.

E3 PreliminaryPEM ✗Weak / uncertainEditorialReviewed

An Overview of Severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

Vink, Mark, Vink-Niese, Alexandra·Journal of clinical medicine·2026

This article reviews what we know about severe ME/CFS, a serious illness that can leave people completely bedbound and dependent on caregivers. Currently, there is no blood test or scan that can diagnose ME/CFS, though a special two-day exercise test can help document the problem. The authors emphasize that severe ME/CFS is a major medical condition that has received very little research funding, and there are currently no proven treatments available.

Post-Exertional MalaiseSevere ME

E0 ConsensusPEM ✓Moderate confidenceReview-NarrativeMachine draft

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia - overlap, differences, and emerging insights.

Murovska, Modra, Krumina, Angelika, Araja, Diana et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2026

ME/CFS and fibromyalgia are two different but often overlapping illnesses that cause severe fatigue, pain, and other debilitating symptoms. While they share many similarities, ME/CFS has a distinctive feature called post-exertional malaise—where activity makes symptoms dramatically worse for hours or days—while fibromyalgia does not. This review shows that the two conditions have different immune system patterns and may require different treatment approaches.

Cognitive ImpairmentPost-Exertional MalaiseImmune DysregulationSevere ME

E0 ConsensusPEM ?Moderate confidenceReview-NarrativeReviewed

Causes of symptoms and symptom persistence in long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Komaroff, Anthony L, Dantzer, Robert·Cell reports. Medicine·2025

This review examines why long COVID and ME/CFS cause such severe, lasting symptoms. Researchers found that both conditions share similar biological problems, including immune system misbehavior, problems with blood vessel function, and issues with how cells produce energy. The study suggests that symptoms may come from both these biological problems and from ancient survival responses in the brain that were meant to protect us during serious illness.

NeuroinflammationGut MicrobiomeSevere ME

E3 PreliminaryPEM ?PreliminaryReview-NarrativeReviewed

Does Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Represent a Poly-Herpesvirus Post-Virus Infectious Disease?

Ariza, Maria Eugenia, Mena Palomo, Irene, Williams, Marshall V·Viruses·2025

This review examines whether ME/CFS might be caused by multiple herpes viruses working together, rather than a single virus. The researchers point out that many people develop ME/CFS after flu-like illnesses, suggesting viruses play a role, but scientists haven't found just one virus responsible. The study suggests that herpes viruses might cause ME/CFS through a special type of incomplete replication that hasn't been fully studied before.

E3 PreliminaryPEM ✓PreliminaryReview-NarrativeReviewed

Tetrahydrobiopterin in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Friend or Foe?

Rahman, A F M Towheedur, Benko, Anna, Bulbule, Sarojini et al.·Biomolecules·2025

This review article examines a molecule called tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) and its possible role in ME/CFS, particularly in patients who experience orthostatic intolerance (dizziness or fainting when standing up). The researchers found that BH4 metabolism—the way the body processes this molecule—is not working properly in ME/CFS patients with these symptoms. By understanding how BH4 goes wrong, scientists hope to explain why ME/CFS patients have problems with blood flow to the brain.

BiomarkersPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryPEM ✗Moderate confidenceMechanisticReviewed

Oxidative stress is a shared characteristic of ME/CFS and Long COVID.

Shankar, Vishnu, Wilhelmy, Julie, Curtis, Ellis J et al.·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025

Researchers found that both ME/CFS and Long COVID patients have higher levels of oxidative stress—a harmful buildup of unstable molecules—in their immune cells, particularly in a type of white blood cell called memory T cells. The study identified specific problems with how the body clears this oxidative stress and showed that the existing medication metformin might help reduce overgrowth of these immune cells. Importantly, they discovered these problems show different patterns in men and women, suggesting that sex-specific treatment approaches may be needed.

Immune Dysregulation

E3 PreliminaryPEM ✗PreliminaryMethods-PaperReviewed

Profiling Antibody Reactivity to Gut Microbes in ME/CFS Patients.

Seton, Katharine A, Carding, Simon R·Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)·2025

This study looks at how the immune system of ME/CFS patients reacts to bacteria in the gut. Many ME/CFS patients have changes in their gut bacteria and a leaky gut lining that allows bacteria and their toxic products to enter the bloodstream, potentially triggering widespread inflammation. The researchers developed methods to measure specific immune proteins (antibodies) that ME/CFS patients produce in response to these gut bacteria, compared to healthy household members.

Immune DysregulationGut Microbiome

E2 ModeratePEM ✓Moderate confidenceObservationalMachine draft

The Clinical Relevance of Mast Cell Activation in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Rohrhofer, Johanna, Ebner, Lilian, Schweighardt, Johannes et al.·Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)·2025

This study looked at whether mast cells—immune cells that release chemicals causing inflammation—play a role in ME/CFS. Researchers surveyed 687 ME/CFS patients and reviewed records from 383 others, finding that about 25% had signs of problematic mast cell activation. Importantly, patients with mast cell problems who received targeted treatment reported better symptom relief than those without mast cell involvement, suggesting this might be a treatable subtype of ME/CFS.

Post-Exertional MalaiseImmune Dysregulation

E3 PreliminaryPEM ?PreliminaryEditorialReviewed

Post-infective myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and post-COVID as two puzzling faces of the same medal. Recent insights.

Chirumbolo, Salvatore, Franzini, Marianno, Tirelli, Umberto·International immunopharmacology·2025

This editorial examines the similarities between ME/CFS (a long-term illness causing extreme fatigue and other symptoms) and post-COVID syndrome (long-term effects some people experience after COVID-19 infection). The authors suggest these two conditions may share common underlying biological mechanisms, even though they arise from different infections. Understanding these connections could help doctors better recognize and treat both conditions.

E0 ConsensusPEM ?Moderate confidenceReview-NarrativeReviewed

Understanding Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Physical Fatigue Through the Perspective of Immunosenescence.

Luo, Yingzhe, Xu, Huimin, Xiong, Shaoquan et al.·Comprehensive Physiology·2025

This review examines how our immune system's aging process may explain the severe fatigue in ME/CFS. As immune cells age, they cause chronic inflammation that damages the energy-producing parts of our cells (mitochondria), while stress hormones and nerve signals become imbalanced. These problems across different body systems work together to create and maintain the exhaustion that defines ME/CFS.

Severe ME

E0 ConsensusPEM ✓Moderate confidenceReview-NarrativeReviewed

Differential Characteristics and Comparison Between Long-COVID Syndrome and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Ivanovska, Mariya, Homadi, Maysam Salim, Angelova, Gergana et al.·Biomedicines·2025

This review compared Long-COVID (illness after COVID-19) and ME/CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome), which share similar symptoms like extreme tiredness, difficulty thinking clearly, and problems with the nervous system. While both conditions likely involve immune system problems, viral persistence, and blood vessel issues, they appear to have some differences in how they develop. Currently, there is no cure for either condition, though lifestyle management and rehabilitation help some people.

Cognitive ImpairmentPost-Exertional MalaiseImmune Dysregulation

E0 ConsensusPEM ✓PreliminaryReview-NarrativeMachine draft

The search for a blood-based biomarker for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): from biochemistry to electrophysiology.

Clarke, Krista S P, Kingdon, Caroline C, Hughes, Michael Pycraft et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2025

This review looked at recent research on finding a simple blood test that could definitively diagnose ME/CFS, which currently takes years and relies on ruling out other diseases. Scientists have found several promising approaches—including measuring immune cell properties, checking how blood cells respond to stress, and detecting metabolic changes—that show they can tell ME/CFS patients apart from healthy people and others with different illnesses. However, these tests need more testing in larger groups and practical refinement before doctors can use them in everyday care.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryPEM ?PreliminaryMechanisticReviewed

Heat vs. Fatigue: Hyperthermia as a Possible Treatment Option for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Hochecker, Barbara, Matt, Katja, Scherer, Melanie et al.·International journal of molecular sciences·2025

This small pilot study looked at how heat treatment (whole-body hyperthermia) affected immune cells from 9 people with ME/CFS. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients' cells showed signs of being overactive in certain ways compared to healthy people, and that heat treatment seemed to help normalize some of these cellular patterns. While these early results are promising, much larger studies are needed to confirm whether heat therapy could be a useful treatment.

Immune Dysregulation

E2 ModeratePEM ✓Higher confidenceLongitudinalReviewed

Incidence and Prevalence of Post-COVID-19 Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A Report from the Observational RECOVER-Adult Study.

Vernon, Suzanne D, Zheng, Tianyu, Do, Hyungrok et al.·Journal of general internal medicine·2025

This study tracked over 11,000 people who had COVID-19 and about 1,400 who didn't, following them for at least 6 months to see how many developed ME/CFS. Researchers found that people who had COVID-19 were nearly 5 times more likely to develop ME/CFS compared to people who never had COVID-19. About 4.5% of COVID-infected participants developed ME/CFS, compared to only 0.6% of uninfected people.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusPEM ✓Moderate confidenceReview-NarrativeReviewed

Towards an understanding of physical activity-induced post-exertional malaise: Insights into microvascular alterations and immunometabolic interactions in post-COVID condition and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Haunhorst, Simon, Dudziak, Diana, Scheibenbogen, Carmen et al.·Infection·2025

This review examines why people with ME/CFS and long COVID feel much worse after physical activity—a condition called post-exertional malaise. The researchers found that when these patients exercise, their bodies struggle to use oxygen properly and produce energy efficiently, likely due to problems with tiny blood vessels and lingering immune activation. This causes a buildup of harmful substances like lactate and triggers further inflammation and exhaustion.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryPEM ✓PreliminaryMechanisticReviewed

Heightened innate immunity may trigger chronic inflammation, fatigue and post-exertional malaise in ME/CFS.

Che, Xiaoyu, Ranjan, Amit, Guo, Cheng et al.·npj metabolic health and disease·2025

This study examined blood samples and immune responses in ME/CFS patients to understand why they experience extreme fatigue and feeling worse after activity. Researchers found that patients' immune systems overreact to germs, their bodies have trouble producing energy efficiently, and they have several chemical imbalances in their blood. These problems got worse after exercise and matched how sick patients felt.

Metabolic DysfunctionPost-Exertional MalaiseImmune Dysregulation

E2 ModeratePEM ✗Moderate confidenceObservationalReviewed

Replicated blood-based biomarkers for myalgic encephalomyelitis not explicable by inactivity.

Beentjes, Sjoerd Viktor, Miralles Méharon, Artur, Kaczmarczyk, Julia et al.·EMBO molecular medicine·2025

Researchers found multiple blood markers that distinguish ME/CFS patients from healthy people, including signs of inflammation, insulin problems, and liver issues. Importantly, these differences were NOT caused by patients being physically inactive—they are genuine biological changes related to the disease itself. While no single blood test can diagnose ME/CFS yet, these findings suggest that a combination of blood markers could eventually provide objective diagnosis.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryPEM ✗PreliminaryMechanisticReviewed

HLA and pathogens in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and other post-infection conditions.

Georgopoulos, Apostolos P, James, Lisa M, Peterson, Philip K·Scientific reports·2025

This study explores why some people develop ME/CFS after viral infections while others don't. Researchers looked at immune system genes (HLA types) and tested how well they recognize and fight nine common human herpes viruses. They found that people with certain HLA types have weak immune recognition of these viruses, potentially allowing the viruses to persist and cause ME/CFS, while people with other HLA types have strong recognition and protection.

Immune Dysregulation

Next 20 studies →

Evidence Atlas

Evidence Atlas

The research, structured.

Expert perspectives on Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome - Insights from the 3rd International Conference of the Charité Fatigue Center.

Burden of Disease in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): A Scoping Review.

An Overview of Severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia - overlap, differences, and emerging insights.

Causes of symptoms and symptom persistence in long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Does Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Represent a Poly-Herpesvirus Post-Virus Infectious Disease?

Tetrahydrobiopterin in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Friend or Foe?

Oxidative stress is a shared characteristic of ME/CFS and Long COVID.

Profiling Antibody Reactivity to Gut Microbes in ME/CFS Patients.

The Clinical Relevance of Mast Cell Activation in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Post-infective myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and post-COVID as two puzzling faces of the same medal. Recent insights.

Understanding Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Physical Fatigue Through the Perspective of Immunosenescence.

Differential Characteristics and Comparison Between Long-COVID Syndrome and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

The search for a blood-based biomarker for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): from biochemistry to electrophysiology.

Heat vs. Fatigue: Hyperthermia as a Possible Treatment Option for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Incidence and Prevalence of Post-COVID-19 Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A Report from the Observational RECOVER-Adult Study.

Towards an understanding of physical activity-induced post-exertional malaise: Insights into microvascular alterations and immunometabolic interactions in post-COVID condition and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Heightened innate immunity may trigger chronic inflammation, fatigue and post-exertional malaise in ME/CFS.

Replicated blood-based biomarkers for myalgic encephalomyelitis not explicable by inactivity.

HLA and pathogens in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and other post-infection conditions.

Research Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

PEM-Specific Research