Immune Findings Reveal Shocking Similarities Between Long COVID and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Dec 10, 2025 3 hours, 21 minutes ago
Medical News: Major Discovery Links Long COVID to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
In a groundbreaking new study, researchers from the Medical University of Plovdiv in Bulgaria, the National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases in Sofia, and the Medical University of Pleven have uncovered striking immune system similarities between Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Long COVID. Their findings suggest that both illnesses—long known for causing debilitating fatigue, pain, and brain fog—share not only overlapping symptoms but also nearly identical immune and inflammatory signatures.
New research shows Long COVID and ME CFS may share the same immune disorder
This
Medical News report highlights that both ME/CFS and Long COVID patients showed low levels of critical immune cells and high levels of inflammation-driving molecules. This new insight could drastically alter how doctors diagnose, manage, and treat both conditions, especially since Long COVID is now affecting millions globally.
Shared Immune System Abnormalities
The study involved 190 participants: 65 with ME/CFS, 54 with Long COVID, and 70 healthy controls. Advanced blood analyses revealed that individuals in both disease groups had significantly reduced levels of lymphocytes, CD8+ T cells, and natural killer (NK) cells—key players in fighting infections. For instance, NK cell counts in ME/CFS patients averaged 0.205 × 10⁹/L, and 0.180 × 10⁹/L in Long COVID patients, compared to 0.336 × 10⁹/L in healthy individuals.
Cytokine levels—chemical messengers of the immune system—were also abnormally high in both groups. Proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, TNF, IL-4, and IL-10 were elevated, indicating a state of chronic immune activation. Yet, despite exhaustive testing, no significant differences were found between ME/CFS and Long COVID patients, reinforcing the idea that they may share a common biological root.
Mental and Physical Symptoms Tied to Immune Changes
Using clinical rating scales, the researchers also assessed fatigue, anxiety, and depression in all participants. ME/CFS and Long COVID patients scored significantly higher on anxiety (HAM-A), depression (HAM-D), and FibroFatigue scales, with strong correlations between inflammatory cytokines like IL-6 and mental health burden. For instance, higher IL-6 levels were linked with more severe depression symptoms in Long COVID sufferers.
Potential for Shared Treatments and Diagnosis
The implications of this study are significant. If both illnesses are driven by the same immune abnormalities, treatments currently being researched or trialed for ME/CFS—such as therapies targeting cytokines or boosting T-cell and NK-cell function—might benefit Long COVID patients too. Conversely, new findings from the growing Long COVID research field could help those suffering from ME/CFS, which has long been neglected by the medical community.
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A Call for Urgent Action and Further Research
With millions of people worldwide experiencing post-viral illness, this research highlights the urgency of developing diagnostic tools and targeted therapies for both conditions. The study also proposes using specific immune cell ratios, like the CD4/CD8 ratio, as possible biomarkers to monitor disease progression or treatment response.
The researchers note a few limitations, including the age gap between the patient and control groups, and the need for longer-term follow-up studies. Still, the findings strongly support the theory that both ME/CFS and Long COVID arise from a shared pathophysiological process driven by immune dysfunction.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Biomedicines.
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/12/3001
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/long-covid
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