Blood Test Offers Hope for Faster Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diagnosis

Researchers analyzing data from over 132,000 people in the UK Biobank have identified 511 blood biomarkers that differ between individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)—also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or ME/CFS—and healthy controls. Of these, 116 biomarkers were found in both men and women, marking the strongest replicated evidence yet for potential biological signatures of the disease.

ME/CFS is a complex, debilitating condition characterized by post-exertional malaise, brain fog, and chronic fatigue. Without a clear diagnostic test, ME/CFS is diagnosed by ruling out other illnesses, which can make it take months—or even years—for patients to get answers. This study, led by scientists at the University of Edinburgh, significantly expands on past research by using a much larger sample size and controlling for physical activity levels.

Many of the identified blood markers relate to chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, and liver function.

While no single biomarker is yet ready for clinical use, researchers hope that a future panel of these markers could support faster and more accurate diagnoses.

The study’s limitations include a primarily white, middle-aged, and healthier-than-average population, suggesting a need for broader follow-up studies. Still, the findings could provide critical insights not just for ME/CFS but also for post-viral fatigue syndromes like Long COVID.

Citations

Beentjes, S. V., Kaczmarczyk, J., Cassar, A., Samms, G. L., Hejazi, N. S., Khamseh, A., & Ponting, C. P. (2024). Replicated blood-based biomarkers for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis not explicable by inactivity. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.08.26.24312606

Maksoud, R., Magawa, C., Eaton-Fitch, N., Thapaliya, K., & Marshall-Gradisnik, S. (2023). Biomarkers for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): a systematic review. BMC medicine, 21(1), 189. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-023-02893-9

Huber, K. A., Sunnquist, M., & Jason, L. A. (2018). Latent class analysis of a heterogeneous international sample of patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Fatigue : biomedicine, health & behavior, 6(3), 163–178. https://doi.org/10.1080/21641846.2018.1494530