Summary
| Direction in ME/CFS | ↕ Inconsistent — reported as both higher and lower across studies, with no consistent direction |
|---|---|
| Category | Inflammatory |
| Also described as | Adipokine |
| Compared against | HC (healthy controls) |
| Associated symptoms | Metabolic inflammation |
| Test type | Blood test (serum / plasma / whole blood) |
| LOINC code | 42702-4 |
| Source | Strawbridge et al. 2019 — doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.06.019 |
| Condition atlas | ME/CFS Biomarker Atlas |
Other conditions where Resistin is reported
- Resistin in Long COVID — ↑ elevated vs HC
See the cross-condition hub: Resistin across conditions.
Trials, interventions and tests
Commercial test availability
Resistin — specialty laboratory test. Limited commercial availability; often research use.
Links are for reference only; availability, specimen requirements and coverage vary by location.
Related Inflammatory markers in ME/CFS
- Leptin ↑
- C-Reactive Protein (CRP) ↕
- Interleukin-10 (IL-10) ↕
- Interleukin-8 (IL-8 / CXCL8) ↕
- Interleukin-6 (IL-6) ↕
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) ↕
- Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) ↑
- Interleukin-1 (IL-1α/β) ↑
Full list: ME/CFS Biomarker Atlas.
Frequently asked questions
Is Resistin high or low in ME/CFS?
Mixed. Some studies report higher and others lower Resistin in ME/CFS compared with healthy controls, so no single direction is established. Source: Strawbridge et al. 2019.
What symptoms is Resistin associated with in ME/CFS?
The cited literature associates this marker with Metabolic inflammation. These are population-level associations and do not mean the marker causes the symptoms.
Which test measures Resistin?
It is measured as a blood test (serum / plasma / whole blood). The standard laboratory code is LOINC 42702-4. Commercial laboratories such as ARUP Laboratories list an orderable assay.
Is one abnormal Resistin result diagnostic of ME/CFS?
No. No single biomarker is diagnostic of ME/CFS. Resistin findings come from group comparisons, overlap considerably between patients and controls, and vary with study design, timing and comparison group. A result should be interpreted by a clinician alongside symptoms, history and other tests.
Is Resistin specific to ME/CFS?
No. The same marker is also reported in Long COVID in this atlas, so it reflects shared biology (for example inflammation or vascular stress) rather than a condition-specific signature.
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-29 · Page generated from me-cfs.json · Browse: ME/CFS atlas · Biomarker Index · All marker pages
Disclaimer: This page is an educational synthesis of published, peer-reviewed research and is not medical advice. Biomarker findings vary across studies with case definitions, comparison groups, timing and assay methods. Direction of change reflects the predominant finding in the cited source and does not establish a diagnostic threshold. Discuss any test result with a qualified clinician.