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Goldstein DS. Post-COVID dysautonomias: what we know and (mainly) what we don't know. Nat Rev Neurol 2024; 20:99-113. [PMID: 38212633 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-023-00917-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Following on from the COVID-19 pandemic is another worldwide public health challenge that is referred to variously as long COVID, post-COVID syndrome or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC). PASC comes in many forms and affects all body organs. This heterogeneous presentation suggests involvement of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which has numerous roles in the maintenance of homeostasis and coordination of responses to various stressors. Thus far, studies of ANS dysregulation in people with PASC have been largely observational and descriptive, based on symptom inventories or objective but indirect measures of cardiovascular function, and have paid little attention to the adrenomedullary, hormonal and enteric nervous components of the ANS. Such investigations do not consider the syndromic nature of autonomic dysfunction. This Review provides an update on the literature relating to ANS abnormalities in people with post-COVID syndrome and presents a theoretical perspective on how the ANS might participate in common features of PASC.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Goldstein
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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Novak P, Systrom DM, Marciano SP, Knief A, Felsenstein D, Giannetti MP, Hamilton MJ, Nicoloro-SantaBarbara J, Saco TV, Castells M, Farhad K, Pilgrim DM, Mullally WJ. Mismatch between subjective and objective dysautonomia. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2513. [PMID: 38291116 PMCID: PMC10828385 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52368-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Autonomic symptom questionnaires are frequently used to assess dysautonomia. It is unknown whether subjective dysautonomia obtained from autonomic questionnaires correlates with objective dysautonomia measured by quantitative autonomic testing. The objective of our study was to determine correlations between subjective and objective measures of dysautonomia. This was a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted at Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital Autonomic Laboratory between 2017 and 2023 evaluating the patients who completed autonomic testing. Analyses included validated autonomic questionnaires [Survey of Autonomic Symptoms (SAS), Composite Autonomic Symptom Score 31 (Compass-31)] and standardized autonomic tests (Valsalva maneuver, deep breathing, sudomotor, and tilt test). The autonomic testing results were graded by a Quantitative scale for grading of cardiovascular reflexes, sudomotor tests and skin biopsies (QASAT), and Composite Autonomic Severity Score (CASS). Autonomic testing, QASAT, CASS, and SAS were obtained in 2627 patients, and Compass-31 in 564 patients. The correlation was strong between subjective instruments (SAS vs. Compass-31, r = 0.74, p < 0.001) and between objective instruments (QASAT vs. CASS, r = 0.81, p < 0.001). There were no correlations between SAS and QASAT nor between Compass-31 and CASS. There continued to be no correlations between subjective and objective instruments for selected diagnoses (post-acute sequelae of COVID-19, n = 61; postural tachycardia syndrome, 211; peripheral autonomic neuropathy, 463; myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, 95; preload failure, 120; post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, 163; hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, 213; neurogenic orthostatic hypotension, 86; diabetes type II, 71, mast cell activation syndrome, 172; hereditary alpha tryptasemia, 45). The lack of correlation between subjective and objective instruments highlights the limitations of the commonly used questionnaires with some patients overestimating and some underestimating true autonomic deficit. The diagnosis-independent subjective-objective mismatch further signifies the unmet need for reliable screening surveys. Patients who overestimate the symptom burden may represent a population with idiosyncratic autonomic-like symptomatology, which needs further study. At this time, the use of autonomic questionnaires as a replacement of autonomic testing cannot be recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Novak
- Autonomic Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - David M Systrom
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sadie P Marciano
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alexandra Knief
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Donna Felsenstein
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Infectious Disease and Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Matthew P Giannetti
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Mastocytosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Matthew J Hamilton
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Mastocytosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Tara V Saco
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Mastocytosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mariana Castells
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Mastocytosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Khosro Farhad
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David M Pilgrim
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - William J Mullally
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Network autonomic analysis of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 and postural tachycardia syndrome. Neurol Sci 2022; 43:6627-6638. [PMID: 36169757 PMCID: PMC9517969 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-022-06423-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Background The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a complex network where sympathetic and parasympathetic domains interact inside and outside of the network. Correlation-based network analysis (NA) is a novel approach enabling the quantification of these interactions. The aim of this study is to assess the applicability of NA to assess relationships between autonomic, sensory, respiratory, cerebrovascular, and inflammatory markers on post-acute sequela of COVID-19 (PASC) and postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Methods In this retrospective study, datasets from PASC (n = 15), POTS (n = 15), and matched controls (n = 11) were analyzed. Networks were constructed from surveys (autonomic and sensory), autonomic tests (deep breathing, Valsalva maneuver, tilt, and sudomotor test) results using heart rate, blood pressure, cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFv), capnography, skin biopsies for assessment of small fiber neuropathy (SFN), and various inflammatory markers. Networks were characterized by clusters and centrality metrics. Results Standard analysis showed widespread abnormalities including reduced orthostatic CBFv in 100%/88% (PASC/POTS), SFN 77%/88%, mild-to-moderate dysautonomia 100%/100%, hypocapnia 87%/100%, and elevated inflammatory markers. NA showed different signatures for both disorders with centrality metrics of vascular and inflammatory variables playing prominent roles in differentiating PASC from POTS. Conclusions NA is suitable for a relationship analysis between autonomic and nonautonomic components. Our preliminary analyses indicate that NA can expand the value of autonomic testing and provide new insight into the functioning of the ANS and related systems in complex disease processes such as PASC and POTS. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10072-022-06423-y.
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