Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome in patients of orthostatic intolerance symptoms: an ambispective study, Chouksey et al, 2021

[Andy]

A Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is infrequently diagnosed in routine practice because of the variable range of symptoms that could be seen in cardiac rhythm disorders, vertigo, chronic fatigue syndrome and anxiety panic disorder. POTS is a chronic debilitating condition that affects day to day efficient working of an individual.

We have planned a study to look for POTS in patients who are having orthostatic intolerance symptoms and underwent a head-up tilt table test (HUTT).

Aim To study the prevalence of POTS in patients of orthostatic intolerance (OI) symptoms and to analyze symptomatology, its association with neurocardiogenic syncope (NCS), and its outcome.

Methods We reviewed the medical records of 246 patients presented with symptoms of OI seen at our centre from January 2010 till March 2019. Out of them, 40 patients included, those qualifying the criteria for POTS on HUTT.

Results The mean age of the cohort was 25.90 ± 10.33 years with a range of 15 to 55 years, and males comprised 52.5% (21/40) of total patients. The most frequent presenting orthostatic symptoms of POTS patients are loss of consciousness (77.5%), lightheadedness (75%), and palpitation (67.5%). A total of 18 patients (45%) had coexisting neurocardiogenic syncope.

Conclusion POTS is a prevalent condition and have a significant impact on the quality of life, and the majority of patients may not present with OI symptoms during HUTT. We have to keep this possibility in young patients of transient loss of consciousness because it may coexist with NCS.

Open access, http://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/Neuroscience.2021004

Edited to add line breaks for easier reading.

 

[ahimsa]

A total of 18 patients (45%) had coexisting neurocardiogenic syncope.

Yep, that's me. According to my cardiologist, I have both POTS and NCS.

I mention this only because I have seen some folks say that you can only have one or the other.

NCS is sometimes called, NMH, Neurally Mediated Hypotension, to emphasize the drop in blood pressure more than the faint (syncope).

From what I have read, many patients (at least patients who have both ME/CFS and POTS/NCS) don't actually faint very often in real life settings. But they may faint during a tilt table test.