Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Rebekah Maksoud, Chandi Magawa, Natalie Eaton-Fitch, Kiran Thapaliya, Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik
Summary: This systematic review aimed to evaluate potential biomarkers that could effectively differentiate ME/CFS patients from healthy controls. A total of 101 studies were included, and potential biomarkers ranged from genetic/epigenetic, immunological, metabolomics/mitochondrial/microbiome, endovascular/circulatory, neurological, ion channel, to physical dysfunction biomarkers. The findings indicated evidence of immune dysfunction in ME/CFS and the use of lymphocytes as a model to investigate the pathomechanism of the illness.
Review
Immunology
Rahel S. Konig, Werner C. Albrich, Christian R. Kahlert, Lina Samira Bahr, Ulrike Lober, Pietro Vernazza, Carmen Scheibenbogen, Sofia K. Forslund
Summary: Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a neglected, debilitating disease with unclear etiology and pathophysiology. The gut microbiome may play a role in CFS and further research is needed to explore potential diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Chi Chen, Hei-Tung Yip, Kam-Hang Leong, Wei-Cheng Yao, Chung-Lieh Hung, Ching-Huang Su, Chien-Feng Kuo, Shin-Yi Tsai
Summary: A population-based cohort study in Taiwan found that patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) commonly have depression and anxiety disorder before the diagnosis. The study also revealed an increased risk of CFS among individuals taking certain types of antidepressants and analgesic drugs.
JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Peter L. Toogood, Daniel J. Clauw, Sameer Phadke, David Hoffman
Summary: ME/CFS is a chronic debilitating disease characterized by severe fatigue, pain, sleep disruption, and cognitive dysfunction. Current treatments focus on symptom management and addressing psychological sequelae, with ongoing efforts towards identifying effective therapies and understanding the mechanistic basis of the disease.
PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Leonard A. Jason, Chelsea Torres
Summary: Previous studies on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) have mainly focused on White subjects, resulting in limited information about ethnic differences. This study examined a sample of 19 Black patients diagnosed with ME/CFS and compared them to White patients with ME/CFS and healthy controls. The findings suggest that there are few differences in symptoms between Black and White patients with ME/CFS. The implications of these findings are discussed.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Milan Haffke, Helma Freitag, Gordon Rudolf, Martina Seifert, Wolfram Doehner, Nadja Scherbakov, Leif Hanitsch, Kirsten Wittke, Sandra Bauer, Frank Konietschke, Friedemann Paul, Judith Bellmann-Strobl, Claudia Kedor, Carmen Scheibenbogen, Franziska Sotzny
Summary: A subset of PCS patients exhibit evidence of endothelial dysfunction with altered endothelial biomarkers. Different associations of the RHI with clinical parameters and varying biomarker profiles may suggest distinct pathomechanisms among patient subgroups.
JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Klaus J. Wirth, Carmen Scheibenbogen
Summary: ME/CFS is hypothesized to be caused by autonomic nervous system dysfunction and vascular dysregulation due to β2AdR dysfunction, resulting in excessive release of vasoconstrictors in skeletal muscles. The bioenergetic disturbance in skeletal muscle contributes to postexertional malaise, exercise intolerance, and disease chronification.
JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Troy Querec, Jin-Mann S. Lin, Yang Chen, Britany Helton, Andreas Kogelnik, Nancy Klimas, Daniel Peterson, Lucinda Bateman, Charles Lapp, Richard Podell, Benjamin Natelson, Elizabeth Unger
Summary: Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a multisystem illness characterized by reduced function and unexplained fatigue. The study found that reduced natural killer (NK) cell count and cytotoxicity, which have been investigated as potential biomarkers for ME/CFS, do not show statistically significant differences between patients with ME/CFS and healthy controls. The results suggest that more studies are needed to explore other immune parameters that may be involved in the pathophysiology of ME/CFS.
JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Laura Kim, Claudia Kedor, Frank Buttgereit, Harald Heidecke, Desiree Schaumburg, Carmen Scheibenbogen
Summary: Fatigue is a common and debilitating symptom in primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS) patients. This study aimed to evaluate fatigue and other symptoms in pSS patients and investigate if there is symptom overlap with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The severity of pSS symptoms and disease activity were assessed, and hand grip strength (HGS) and autoantibody levels were measured. Some pSS patients experienced severe fatigue and exhibited higher levels of pain, depression, and sleep disturbances. Four out of eighteen pSS patients met the criteria for ME/CFS. HGS parameters correlated strongly with fatigue severity but fully recovered after exertion, unlike ME/CFS. Elevated levels of certain autoantibodies were associated with disease activity but not fatigue severity. Only a small subgroup of pSS patients fulfilled the criteria for ME/CFS, and post-exertional malaise was primarily triggered by mental/emotional exertion rather than physical exertion. HGS assessment is an objective measure for overall fatigue severity.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Alexander Peter Royston, Manmita Rai, Amberly Brigden, Sarah Burge, Terry Y. Segal, Esther M. Crawley
Summary: This national study investigated the prevalence and incidence rates of severe ME/CFS in children aged 5-16. It found that while the incidence rate is low, the disabled children with severe ME/CFS often receive little or no education. Rehabilitation and education services should be provided for these young people.
ARCHIVES OF DISEASE IN CHILDHOOD
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Jean M. Nunes, Arneaux Kruger, Amy Proal, Douglas B. Kell, Etheresia Pretorius
Summary: The study found that individuals with ME/CFS exhibit significant changes in coagulability, platelet hyperactivation, and fibrinaloid microclot formation. However, the fibrinaloid microclot load is not as severe as in Long COVID/PASC. Fibrinaloid microclots may contribute to ME/CFS symptoms, such as fatigue, by temporarily blocking microcapillaries and causing ischemia. Additionally, fibrinaloid microclots may damage the endothelium. The discovery of these biomarkers is important for ME/CFS research and suggests potential treatment strategies targeting systemic vascular pathology and endothelial inflammation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rea Tschopp, Rahel S. Konig, Protazy Rejmer, Daniel H. Paris
Summary: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a poorly understood chronic debilitating disease. A survey conducted in Switzerland revealed that the majority of ME/CFS patients were females, single and without children. Many patients reported a progressively worsening condition, with infectious diseases and viral infections being common triggering factors. Patients experienced various symptoms and suffered from co-morbidities.
Review
Psychiatry
Amelia Wright, Peter L. Fisher, Nita Baker, Louise O 'Rourke, Mary Gemma Cherry
Summary: The systematic review found a strong correlation between maladaptive perfectionism and depression in patients with CFS/ME, but more research is needed to understand the relationship between perfectionism and anxiety. Longitudinal, cross-cultural studies are necessary to confirm these associations.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHOSOMATIC RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bahar Kavyani, Brett A. Lidbury, Richard Schloeffel, Paul R. Fisher, Daniel Missailidis, Sarah J. Annesley, Mona Dehhaghi, Benjamin Heng, Gilles J. Guillemin
Summary: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex and debilitating disease with limited progress in diagnosis and treatment. The unclear pathophysiology and lack of prognostic biomarkers hinder further understanding. The tryptophan metabolism and kynurenine pathway have emerged as potential contributing mechanisms, and targeting these pathways may provide innovative approaches for the management of ME/CFS.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
C. (Linda) M. C. van Campen, Frans C. Visser
Summary: This study compared male patients with ME/CFS and ICF in a 2-day CPET protocol and found that ME/CFS patients showed a deterioration in exercise capacity on the second day, while ICF patients showed improved performance.