Observational Study on Immunoadsorption (IA) in Patients With Autoantibody-Positive Post-Infectious ME/CFS

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a severe, often infection-triggered disease characterized by debilitating fatigue and post-exertional malaise lasting over 14 hours, along with pain, cognitive impairment, autonomic dysfunction, and sleep disturbances. Around 10% of patients after mild or moderate COVID-19 develop Post-COVID Syndrome (PCS), and some meet ME/CFS criteria after six months. No causal treatment exists for ME/CFS or PCS; current approaches are symptomatic and rehabilitative. Given the high and increasing number of affected patients, there is an urgent need for evidence-based, standardized therapies.

Immunoadsorption (IA) is an established treatment for several autoimmune diseases. The first study demonstrating successful IA use in PCS-associated ME/CFS was published by our group in 2024. Earlier proof-of-concept studies (2018, 2020) in infection-related ME/CFS also showed symptomatic improvement in most patients.

Hypothesis:

Antibody depletion through IA improves symptoms in the majority of patients with autoantibody-positive ME/CFS and is associated with altered memory B-cell profiles before treatment.

Objective:

To observe and document symptom progression in 50 ME/CFS or PCS patients undergoing IA, and to examine whether changes in memory B-cells before treatment are linked to therapeutic response.

The study is conducted as a non-interventional observational study. IA using the TheraSorb® column (Miltenyi) is performed within its approved clinical application.