exploring the biological basis of chronic fatigue syndrome

Conditions: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Summary: to collect blood and urine samples from patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (cfs), myalgic encephalomyelitis (me), and seid (systemic exertion intolerance syndrome) and controls for genomic, viral and metabolomic testing.

to analyze gene expression (genomic) and viral analysis data from patients diagnosed with me/cfs, the study will collect blood samples (finger stick) and information from up to 500 subjects for analysis. in addition, urine will be collected for all subjects to evaluate the study subject's metabolomics. all participants will complete a single study collection event consisting of at least one mcd (2nd sample is optional) and one urine collection from home: 10% of each group (me/cfs and control) will complete a second study collection event approximately 1 to 2 weeks after the initial study collection. the second collection is to compare data between two collections from the same participants to observe any time-related changes in the results.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: (cohort 1) 1. male and female patients age 18 or older at the time of consent 2. have a permanent address in the united states for the duration of the study 3. have an email address and access to the internet for the duration of the study 4. able to provide unassisted informed consent 5. medical record consent (optional) 6. diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (cfs) or myalgic encephalomyelitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome (me/cfs) or 7. report experiencing one or more of the following symptoms (record all that apply): 1. greatly lowered ability to perform normal daily activities due to profound fatigue that has lasted for at least 6 months 2. worsening of (fatigue) symptoms after physical or mental activity that would not have caused a problem before illness (post-exertional malaise). 3. sleep problems. feel overly tired or unrefreshed even after a full night of sleep 4. problems with thinking and memory (trouble thinking quickly, remembering things, paying attention to details, have "brain fog") or 5. worsening of symptoms while standing or sitting upright - exclusion criteria: * pregnancy inclusion criteria: (cohort 2) 1. male and female patients age 18 or older at the time of consent 2. have a permanent address in the united states for the duration of the study 3. have an email address and access to the internet for the duration of the study 4. able to provide unassisted informed consent 5. medical record consent (optional) exclusion criteria: 1. pregnant 2. diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (cfs) or myalgic encephalomyelitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome (me/cfs) or 3. report experiencing one or more of the following symptoms (record all that apply): 1. greatly lowered ability to perform normal daily activities due to profound fatigue that has lasted for at least 6 months 2. worsening of (fatigue) symptoms after physical or mental activity that would not have caused a problem before illness (post-exertional malaise). 3. sleep problems. feel overly tired or unrefreshed even after a full night of sleep 4. problems with thinking and memory (trouble thinking quickly, remembering things, paying attention to details, have "brain fog") or 5. worsening of symptoms while standing or sitting upright