Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40345685›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2025

Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) validity, prevalence, tools and interventions: systematic review protocol.

Susanne Hempel, Diana Zhang, Karen A Robinson, Sachi Yagyu, Jeremy Miles, Aneesa Motala, Danica Tolentino, Omid Akbari, Margie Danz, Jill Johnston

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Susanne HempelSouthern California Evidence Review Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA susanne.hempel@med.usc.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1597-5110
Diana ZhangSouthern California Evidence Review Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Karen A RobinsonDivision of Health Sciences Informatics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Sachi YagyuSouthern California Evidence Review Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Jeremy MilesSouthern California Evidence Review Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Aneesa MotalaSouthern California Evidence Review Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Danica TolentinoSouthern California Evidence Review Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Omid AkbariMolecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Margie DanzSouthern California Evidence Review Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Jill JohnstonKeck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Funding

Induction of cells and pathways that promote respiratory tolerance in allergic asthmaR01HL144790 · NHLBI · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · PI AKBARI, OMID · 2019 to 2022
$2.6M
Transcriptional and metabolomic regulation of IL-10 in pulmonary ILC2sR01AI169687 · NIAID · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · PI OMID AKBARI · 2022 to 2026
$2.1M
Study the role of ICOS on murine and human ILC2sR01AI181866 · NIAID · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · PI OMID AKBARI · 2025 to 2026
$1.2M
NHLBI NIH HHS R01 HL144790NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI169687NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI181866
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionMultiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) describes reported adverse reactions to exposure to common chemical agents (solvents, odourants, air pollutants, material or substances) in low doses tolerated by most people. Symptoms involve more than one organ system and responses are triggered by multiple, chemically unrelated substances. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The systematic review will aim to answer six questions: Which definitions of MCS have been validated? What is the diagnostic performance of tools for identifying MCS? What is the prevalence and incidence of MCS? What is the empirical evidence that MCS is a distinct disorder? What is the empirical evidence for underlying biological mechanisms for MCS? What are the effectiveness and safety of treatment and management strategies for MCS?We will conduct a comprehensive search in 22 multidisciplinary databases for primary and secondary research, research registries and clinical practice guideline repositories. We will reference-mine reviews and included studies, and confer with experts. Screening will be conducted in duplicate against prespecified eligibility criteria. Data abstraction will be pilot tested using detailed data abstraction forms to ensure accuracy and minimise ambiguity. Critical appraisal will be specific to the key question. We will synthesise data in comprehensive tables and figures. Where possible, meta-analysis will use random effects models to determine effect sizes. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was determined to be exempt from review (UP-22-00516). The results will be disseminated through a journal manuscript, and the data will be publicly accessible through an online data repository. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD420250645577.

Indexed as

Multiple Chemical SensitivityHumansPrevalenceReproducibility of ResultsResearch DesignSystematic Reviews as Topicdisabled personsgeneral medicine (see internal medicine)systematic review

Identifiers

PMID40345685
PMCPMC12067775

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.