Until recently, much of the medical community has insisted chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), to be a psychological disorder. A research team from Columbia University in America has recently published findings showing that there are distinct immune system changes happening for people suffering from ME. The team looked at the pattern of certain immune system biomarkers, and found that there are distinct phases of the condition, as levels change depending on how long a person has had the condition.

The team believe their results offer important breakthrough evidence of a disrupted immune system, and will lead to improvements in diagnosing the condition. This in turn paves the way for more targeted treatment options that the authors say must be tailored to the stage of the disease.