Pathology

Virus

Encephalomyelitis

Disease

Chronic fatigue syndrome

Chronic fatigue

Psychiatry

Intensive care medicine

Immunology

Viral infection

Multiple sclerosis

Medicine

Journal of Translational Medicine

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex and controversial clinical condition without having established causative factors. Increasing numbers of cases during past decade have created awareness among patients as well as healthcare professionals. Chronic viral infection as a cause of ME/CFS has long been debated. However, lack of large studies involving well-designed patient groups and validated experimental set ups have hindered our knowledge about this disease. Moreover, recent developments regarding molecular mechanism of pathogenesis of various infectious agents cast doubts over validity of several of the past studies. This review aims to compile all the studies done so far to investigate various viral agents that could be associated with ME/CFS. Furthermore, we suggest strategies to better design future studies on the role of viral infections in ME/CFS.

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