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Narasimhan B, Calambur A, Moras E, Wu L, Aronow W. Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome in COVID-19: A Contemporary Review of Mechanisms, Clinical Course and Management. Vasc Health Risk Manag 2023; 19:303-316. [PMID: 37204997 PMCID: PMC10187582 DOI: 10.2147/vhrm.s380270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The long-term implications of COVID-19 have garnered increasing interest in recent months, with Long-COVID impacting over 65 million individuals worldwide. Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) has emerged as an important component of the Long-COVID umbrella, estimated to affect between 2 and 14% of survivors. POTS remains very challenging to diagnose and manage - this review aims to provide a brief overview of POTS as a whole and goes on to summarize the available literature pertaining to POTS in the setting of COVID-19. We provide a review of available clinical reports, outline proposed pathophysiological mechanisms and end with a brief note on management considerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bharat Narasimhan
- Department of Cardiology, Debakey Cardiovascular Institute, Houston Methodist, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Errol Moras
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine; Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lingling Wu
- Department of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenvile, NC, USA
| | - Wilbert Aronow
- Department of Cardiology, Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, NY, USA
- Correspondence: Wilbert Aronow, Department of Cardiology, Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, 100 Woods Road, Macy Pavilion, Room 141, Valhalla, NY, 10595, USA, Email
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Narasimhan B, Aggarwal D, Satish P, Kantharia B, Aronow WS. Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome: pathophysiology, management, and experimental therapies. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2022; 31:1017-1025. [PMID: 36094001 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2022.2121697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bharat Narasimhan
- Department of Cardiology, Houston Methodist Debakey Cardiovascular Center, Houston, Tx, USA
| | - Devika Aggarwal
- Department of Internal Medicine, Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI, USA
| | - Priyanka Satish
- Department of Cardiology, Houston Methodist Debakey Cardiovascular Center, Houston, Tx, USA
| | - Bharat Kantharia
- Cardiovascular and Heart Rhythm Consultants, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Wilbert S. Aronow
- Department of Cardiology, Westchester Medical center/New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA
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Stewart JM, Pianosi PT. Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome: A respiratory disorder? Curr Res Physiol 2021; 4:1-6. [PMID: 34746821 PMCID: PMC8562237 DOI: 10.1016/j.crphys.2021.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a disorder epitomized by the story of the blind men and the elephant. Patients may see primary care internists or pediatricians due to fatigue, be referred to neurologists for “spells”, to cardiologists for evaluation of pre-syncope or chest pain, to gastroenterologists for nausea or dyspepsia, and even pulmonologists for dyspnea. Adoption of a more systematic approach to their evaluation and better characterization of patients has led to greater understanding of comorbidities, hypotheses prompting mechanistic investigations, and pharmacologic trials. Recent work has implicated disordered sympathetic nervous system activation in response to central (thoracic) hypovolemia. It is this pathway that leads one zero in on a putative focal point from which many of the clinical manifestations can be explained – specifically the carotid body. Despite heterogeneity in etiopathogenesis of a POTS phenotype, we propose that aberrant activation and response of the carotid body represents one potential common pathway in evolution. To understand this postulate, one must jettison isolationist or reductionist ideas of chemoreceptor and baroreceptor functions of the carotid body or sinus, respectively, and consider their interaction and interdependence both locally and centrally where some of its efferents merge. Doing so enables one to connect the dots and appreciate origins of diverse manifestations of POTS, including dyspnea for which the concept of neuro-mechanical uncoupling is wanting, thereby expanding our construct of this symptom. This perspective expounds our premise that POTS has a prominent respiratory component. Dyspnea affects ~⅓ patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). POTS is characterized by thoracic hypovolemia and compromised cephalad perfusion when upright. Carotid body and adjacent carotid sinus mediate chemo- and baro- reflexes, respectively. These are not independent and stimulation of either activates sympathetic discharge. We speculate that carotid body mediates hyperventilation and dyspnea in POTS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian M Stewart
- Department of Pediatrics, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA.,Department of Physiology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA
| | - Paolo T Pianosi
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine, University of Minnesota, VCRC, 401 E River Parkway Rm 413, Minneapolis, UK
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Vas A, Rich E, Wang W, Patterson M, Parsons T. Daily Functionality in Adults with POTS: Predictive Factors. Occup Ther Health Care 2021; 36:237-252. [PMID: 34647852 DOI: 10.1080/07380577.2021.1978032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Symptoms associated with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) hinder overall functionality. This study examined factors that impacted daily life and contributed to overall daily functionality in adults with POTS (n = 958, ages 18-60). Descriptive and multiple linear regression analyses indicated that participants with fewer challenges in ADLs, IADLs, work, school, leisure, and socializing had overall better functionality. Furthermore, 'younger age with exercise tolerance', 'having a job', and 'no falls in the last year' were predictors of better functionality. A comprehensive approach to addressing physical, environmental, and psychological factors could help improve overall functionality and enhance quality of life in individuals with POTS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asha Vas
- School of Occupational Therapy, Texas Woman's University, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Emily Rich
- School of Occupational Therapy, Texas Woman's University, Dallas, TX, USA.,Tucson Medical Center, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Wanyi Wang
- School of Occupational Therapy, Texas Woman's University, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Meaghan Patterson
- School of Occupational Therapy, Texas Woman's University, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Thomas Parsons
- College of Information, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
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Chen G, Du J, Jin H, Huang Y. Postural Tachycardia Syndrome in Children and Adolescents: Pathophysiology and Clinical Management. Front Pediatr 2020; 8:474. [PMID: 32974246 PMCID: PMC7468430 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2020.00474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS), characterized by chronic (≥6 months) orthostatic intolerance symptoms with a sustained and excessive heart rate increase while standing without postural hypotension, is common in children and adolescents. Despite the unclear pathogenesis of POTS, the present opinion is that POTS is a heterogeneous and multifactorial disorder that includes altered central blood volume, abnormal autonomic reflexes, "hyperadrenergic" status, damaged skeletal muscle pump activity, abnormal local vascular tension and vasoactive factor release, mast cell activation, iron insufficiency, and autoimmune dysfunction. A number of pediatric POTS patients are affected by more than one of these pathophysiological mechanisms. Therefore, individualized treatment strategies are initiated in the management of POTS, including basal non-pharmacological approaches (e.g., health education, the avoidance of triggers, exercise, or supplementation with water and salt) and special pharmacological therapies (e.g., oral rehydration salts, midodrine hydrochloride, and metoprolol). As such, the recent progress in the pathogenesis, management strategies, and therapeutic response predictors of pediatric POTS are reviewed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guozhen Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- Department of Pediatrics, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China
- Research Unit of Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment of Pediatric Syncope and Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Junbao Du
- Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science, The Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Hongfang Jin
- Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- Research Unit of Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment of Pediatric Syncope and Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yaqian Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
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Pharmacotherapy for postural tachycardia syndrome. Auton Neurosci 2018; 215:28-36. [DOI: 10.1016/j.autneu.2018.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Revised: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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