Professor Anthony Komaroff, articles and videos, 2018 onwards
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rvallee
Senior Member (Voting Rights)
Seems to refer to the general malaise, brain fog, weakness and aches that accompany the flu and is caused by the body's response, not the pathogen. It doesn't seem to be a well-defined concept. Sometimes called the sickness response but I'm not sure why he chose that hunker down label.
It would definitely help to clarify that concept. It's something everyone is familiar with and would go a long towards explaining what ME feels like, because malaise doesn't really cut it that much better than fatigue does. No one who's been sick with the flu for a week will say they were "fatigued" or "malaised" for a week. Everyone will say they were sick. That's the only word that fits, but we're somehow not allowed to use it.
I guess it's just not considered that important since it's believed to only exist as a temporary thing, that when it becomes chronic, like with us, it's something else and some people have taken to call it fatigue for arbitrary reasons, mostly having to do with being necessary for their alternative explanation.
Medicine would enormously benefit from a "back to basics" approach to basic vocabulary. Too much slang with too many meanings has creeped in and the meaning of some words has been stripped of all meaning. That so many words have multiple meanings is embarrassingly bad for a field of science.
Mithriel
Senior Member (Voting Rights)
I suspect that we are in a basic survival mode most of the time because our bodies do not have enough ATP because of the broken aerobic respiration system. The Workwell studies show that we rely on anaerobic respiration for our basic needs like using a credit card for everyday food.
We do not have an inappropriately stuck system we have a system that is doing its job properly by helping us survive with very broken bodies.
Dolphin
Senior Member (Voting Rights)
Also there haven’t been 9000 studies finding abnormalities: these sorts of figures tend to refer to the number of PubMed search results which cover all sorts of publications. Not sure how many studies there have been finding abnormalities, maybe 1000-1500?
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Wilhelmina Jenkins
Senior Member (Voting Rights)
I would be surprised if Dr. Komaroff were not right about the number. He has been tracking these publications since the early ’90s at the latest and the number has gone up slowly. His own paper in the ‘90s was a game changer; he was the first to show brain scans that distinguished our brains from depression and other conditions.
This is a complete aside, but when that paper came out, a good friend was at an appointment with one of our “experts” who held up the paper and said, “This paper says that your brain is deteriorating and will stop functioning.” My friend went home, took out a hunting knife, and contemplated suicide. I happened to call and literally screamed “That’s not what it says! Read it”
My friend stuck around until he died many years later of a heart attack. (The same “expert” advised him not to stop smoking.) I haven’t forgiven the “expert” yet.
Dolphin
Senior Member (Voting Rights)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term="Chronic+fatigue+syndrome"
This sample shows an example of how most papers are not individual biological studies with their own results:
I think I recall him using the 4000+ number when they were 4000+ "chronic fatigue syndrome" entries in PubMed.
ME/CFS Science Blog
Senior Member (Voting Rights)
I think Dolphin is right. Pubmed gives hits if keywords are used in abstract information. If you used all synonyms of ME/CFS you probably get a figure of around 6000 to 9000 hits. Not all scienitific papers ard indexed on Pubmed but most of them are.
Many of those hits will have little to do with ME/CFS, they just mention it somewhere. And of those about ME/CFS only a minority will report on biomedical abnormalities (there are letters, editorials, treatment trials systematic reviews, all the questionnaire studies etc.). So it doesn't seem likely that there are 9000 studies showing biological abnormalities in ME/CFS. What he probably means is there have been a lot of papers on ME/CFS (around 9000) and many of these have reported biological abnormalities or something like that.
Wilhelmina Jenkins
Senior Member (Voting Rights)
Possible. Someone should ask.
Simon M
Senior Member (Voting Rights)
Merged
Poem based on Anthony Komaroff ME/CFS article is a finalist in US poetry contest
No, really:
@Veronica Ashenhurst is a poet with severe ME. Her poem “Redefining Her” was chosen as a finalist in Health Affairs’ poetry contest. It’s a “found poem,” meaning that text from another source is used to create poetic meaning. Specifically, in writing the poem, Veronica restricted herself to only using words from Anthony L. Komaroff’s article Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: When Suffering is Multiplied. She selected specific words from Komaroff’s article and rearranged them to create the poem.
This might seem an unlikely route to poetry but, as you can see, it works:
…One cloud-high day, she cleared
for takeoff on a runway. Next, her hard,
sudden fall. Illness, a large exhausted lack.
“There is nothing wrong with you,” said doctors,
in decades multiplied like judgments …
View the shortlisted poems here (scroll down a bit to read or listen to the full version of Redefining Her).
here is a direct link to Veronic reading her own poem.
There is a separate thread with Veronica's other published poems.
Poem based on Anthony Komaroff ME/CFS article is a finalist in US poetry contest
No, really:
@Veronica Ashenhurst is a poet with severe ME. Her poem “Redefining Her” was chosen as a finalist in Health Affairs’ poetry contest. It’s a “found poem,” meaning that text from another source is used to create poetic meaning. Specifically, in writing the poem, Veronica restricted herself to only using words from Anthony L. Komaroff’s article Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: When Suffering is Multiplied. She selected specific words from Komaroff’s article and rearranged them to create the poem.
This might seem an unlikely route to poetry but, as you can see, it works:
…One cloud-high day, she cleared
for takeoff on a runway. Next, her hard,
sudden fall. Illness, a large exhausted lack.
“There is nothing wrong with you,” said doctors,
in decades multiplied like judgments …
View the shortlisted poems here (scroll down a bit to read or listen to the full version of Redefining Her).
here is a direct link to Veronic reading her own poem.
There is a separate thread with Veronica's other published poems.
Last edited by a moderator:
It is very challenging to write a "found' poem because the poet must not change verb tense, nor make a singular noun plural, nor add in a single word of her own. It's about creating your own meaning using another text, and all the vocabulary found therein. It is also about creating a dialogue with the original text. Maybe someone should send this to Komaroff??
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Dolphin
Senior Member (Voting Rights)
Merged
EP32: ME/CFS and Long COVID: Are They Connected?Hope and Help For Fatigue & Chronic Illness
Read "ME/CFS and Long COVID share similar symptoms and biological abnormalities: road map to the literature" – co-authored by Dr. Anthony L. Komaroff & W. Ian Lipkin.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2023.1187163/full
In this week's episode, Haylie Pomroy is joined by Dr. Anthony Komaroff to explore the complications of ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome) and long COVID, discussing their underlying causes, symptoms, and the latest research.
Dr. Komaroff shares his extensive experience in the field, discussing the evolution of ME/CFS research, the significance of recognizing these conditions, and the common challenges and misconceptions patients face.
Haylie and Dr. Komaroff provide valuable insights, practical advice, and a compassionate perspective on ME/CFS and long COVID diagnosis and management.
Sign up for the COVID-UPP Study:
https://redcap.nova.edu/redcap/surv...*1h830h7*_gcl_au*MTM2NDA0MTQyOS4xNzE1MDA0ODAy
Donate to ME/CFS Research:
https://givecampus.com/b3yrwb
If you are interested in joining a Gulf War Illness (GWI) trial, please complete the Recruitment Registry Form.
https://redcap.nova.edu/redcap/surveys/?s=Y9YF8JJWJRK8HEKL &_gl=1*1fipp18*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3MDc5MTgwMzIuRUFJYUlRb2JDaE1JeWNyUXVfcXFoQU1WU1pCYUJSM3AyQWRBRUFBWUFTQUFFZ0s1NWZEX0J3RQ..*_gcl_au*MTg2NjgwMDQ4Ni4xNzA3MTQwNzgx
Learn more about INIM’s Research Studies:
https://www.nova.edu/nim/research-studies/index.html
Dr. Anthony L. Komaroff is a distinguished Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and a Senior Physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He has held significant leadership roles, including Director of the Division of General Medicine and Primary Care at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Dr. Komaroff is known for his research on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and human herpesvirus infections. He has published over 270 research articles and book chapters and served on numerous advisory committees for major health organizations.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-l-komaroff-64133346/
Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/anthonyl.komaroff
"ME/CFS and Long COVID share similar symptoms and biological abnormalities: road map to the literature" - co-authored by Dr. Anthony L. Komaroff & W. Ian Lipkin
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2023.1187163/full
Solve ME: https://solvecfs.org
Open Medicine Foundation: https://www.omf.ngo
National Institutes of Health (NIH): https://www.nih.gov/mecfs/about-mecfs
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/me-cfs/about/index.html
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#MECFS #ChronicFatigueSyndrome #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #ChronicIllness #ChronicFatigue #ClinicalResearch #MedicalResearch #LongCOVID #PostCOVIDSyndrome #Health #HealthPodcast
EP32: ME/CFS and Long COVID: Are They Connected?Hope and Help For Fatigue & Chronic Illness
- Medicine
Read "ME/CFS and Long COVID share similar symptoms and biological abnormalities: road map to the literature" – co-authored by Dr. Anthony L. Komaroff & W. Ian Lipkin.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2023.1187163/full
In this week's episode, Haylie Pomroy is joined by Dr. Anthony Komaroff to explore the complications of ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome) and long COVID, discussing their underlying causes, symptoms, and the latest research.
Dr. Komaroff shares his extensive experience in the field, discussing the evolution of ME/CFS research, the significance of recognizing these conditions, and the common challenges and misconceptions patients face.
Haylie and Dr. Komaroff provide valuable insights, practical advice, and a compassionate perspective on ME/CFS and long COVID diagnosis and management.
Sign up for the COVID-UPP Study:
https://redcap.nova.edu/redcap/surv...*1h830h7*_gcl_au*MTM2NDA0MTQyOS4xNzE1MDA0ODAy
Donate to ME/CFS Research:
https://givecampus.com/b3yrwb
If you are interested in joining a Gulf War Illness (GWI) trial, please complete the Recruitment Registry Form.
https://redcap.nova.edu/redcap/surveys/?s=Y9YF8JJWJRK8HEKL &_gl=1*1fipp18*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3MDc5MTgwMzIuRUFJYUlRb2JDaE1JeWNyUXVfcXFoQU1WU1pCYUJSM3AyQWRBRUFBWUFTQUFFZ0s1NWZEX0J3RQ..*_gcl_au*MTg2NjgwMDQ4Ni4xNzA3MTQwNzgx
Learn more about INIM’s Research Studies:
https://www.nova.edu/nim/research-studies/index.html
Dr. Anthony L. Komaroff is a distinguished Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and a Senior Physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He has held significant leadership roles, including Director of the Division of General Medicine and Primary Care at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Dr. Komaroff is known for his research on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and human herpesvirus infections. He has published over 270 research articles and book chapters and served on numerous advisory committees for major health organizations.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-l-komaroff-64133346/
Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/anthonyl.komaroff
"ME/CFS and Long COVID share similar symptoms and biological abnormalities: road map to the literature" - co-authored by Dr. Anthony L. Komaroff & W. Ian Lipkin
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2023.1187163/full
Solve ME: https://solvecfs.org
Open Medicine Foundation: https://www.omf.ngo
National Institutes of Health (NIH): https://www.nih.gov/mecfs/about-mecfs
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/me-cfs/about/index.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enjoy our show? Please leave us a 5-star review so we can bring hope and help to others.
Sign up today for our newsletter.
https://nova.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=419072c88a85f355f15ab1257&id=5e03a4de7d
This podcast is brought to you by the Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine. Learn more about us here.
Website: https://www.nova.edu/nim/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InstituteForNeuroImmuneMedicine
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/NSU_INIM/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NSU_INIM
#MECFS #ChronicFatigueSyndrome #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #ChronicIllness #ChronicFatigue #ClinicalResearch #MedicalResearch #LongCOVID #PostCOVIDSyndrome #Health #HealthPodcast
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Dolphin
Senior Member (Voting Rights)
Merged
Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine
13.1K subscribers
1,080 views Feb 10, 2026 Clinical Research
Read "ME/CFS and Long COVID share similar symptoms and biological abnormalities: road map to the literature" – co-authored by Dr. Anthony L. Komaroff & W. Ian Lipkin.https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/... Fatigue is the body’s hard-wired response to a viral infection.In today’s episode, Haylie Pomroy shares insights with Dr. Anthony L. Komaroff to examine the history of ME/CFS research, the causes and triggers of ME/CFS and other post-infectious chronic illnesses, and the abnormalities observed in the brain and autonomic nervous system among patients with ME/CFS and long COVID.Dr. Komaroff also addresses how patients have often been dismissed within the healthcare system, explains the physical and psychological processes involved in these conditions, and discusses how he and other clinicians are now moving to the forefront of diagnosis and treatment.
Key points:
00:01 Introduction
02:06 Growing interest in ME/CFS research
04:42 Why patients are dismissed by clinicians
06:01 Why “Myalgic Encephalomyelitis” is the better term
07:24 The early stages of ME/CFS research
09:37 Abnormalities in the brain and autonomic nervous system
10:36 Educating and reeducating doctors and physicians
13:02 What causes ME/CFS
17:07 What triggers ME/CFS
19:29 A combination of genetic and environmental vulnerability
21:43 Why some viruses doesn’t go away after 14 days22:54 How ME/CFS and long COVID reactivate EBV
24:44 Honoring an illness’s complexity
26:40 Getting into the forefront of diagnostics and treatments.
29:01 Strengthening the body against symptoms
31:29 Exacerbation is an inflammatory response
35:23 Online resources and information
Register for the Integrative Medicine Luncheon featuring Dr. Payam Hakimi.https://nova.zoom.us/meeting/register...Dr. Anthony L. Komaroff is a distinguished Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and a Senior Physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He has held significant leadership roles, including Director of the Division of General Medicine and Primary Care at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Dr. Komaroff is known for his research on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and human herpesvirus infections. He has published over 270 research articles and book chapters and served on numerous advisory committees for major health organizations.LinkedIn:
/ anthony-l-komaroff-64133346 Facebook: 
/ anthonyl.komaroff
The Biology of Post-Infectious Chronic Illness
Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine
13.1K subscribers
1,080 views Feb 10, 2026 Clinical Research
Read "ME/CFS and Long COVID share similar symptoms and biological abnormalities: road map to the literature" – co-authored by Dr. Anthony L. Komaroff & W. Ian Lipkin.https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/... Fatigue is the body’s hard-wired response to a viral infection.In today’s episode, Haylie Pomroy shares insights with Dr. Anthony L. Komaroff to examine the history of ME/CFS research, the causes and triggers of ME/CFS and other post-infectious chronic illnesses, and the abnormalities observed in the brain and autonomic nervous system among patients with ME/CFS and long COVID.Dr. Komaroff also addresses how patients have often been dismissed within the healthcare system, explains the physical and psychological processes involved in these conditions, and discusses how he and other clinicians are now moving to the forefront of diagnosis and treatment.
Key points:
00:01 Introduction
02:06 Growing interest in ME/CFS research
04:42 Why patients are dismissed by clinicians
06:01 Why “Myalgic Encephalomyelitis” is the better term
07:24 The early stages of ME/CFS research
09:37 Abnormalities in the brain and autonomic nervous system
10:36 Educating and reeducating doctors and physicians
13:02 What causes ME/CFS
17:07 What triggers ME/CFS
19:29 A combination of genetic and environmental vulnerability
21:43 Why some viruses doesn’t go away after 14 days22:54 How ME/CFS and long COVID reactivate EBV
24:44 Honoring an illness’s complexity
26:40 Getting into the forefront of diagnostics and treatments.
29:01 Strengthening the body against symptoms
31:29 Exacerbation is an inflammatory response
35:23 Online resources and information
Register for the Integrative Medicine Luncheon featuring Dr. Payam Hakimi.https://nova.zoom.us/meeting/register...Dr. Anthony L. Komaroff is a distinguished Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and a Senior Physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He has held significant leadership roles, including Director of the Division of General Medicine and Primary Care at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Dr. Komaroff is known for his research on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and human herpesvirus infections. He has published over 270 research articles and book chapters and served on numerous advisory committees for major health organizations.LinkedIn:
/ anthony-l-komaroff-64133346 Facebook: / anthonyl.komaroff
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