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Moak JP, Ramwell CB, Gordish-Dressman H, Sule SD, Bettini E. Small fiber neuropathy in children, adolescents, and young adults with chronic orthostatic intolerance and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome: A retrospective study. Auton Neurosci 2024; 253:103163. [PMID: 38537312 DOI: 10.1016/j.autneu.2024.103163] [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: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine in children, adolescent and young adult (CAYA) patients presenting with Orthostatic Intolerance (OI) or Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) associated with the additional symptoms of neuropathic discomfort (pain, paresthesia and/or allodynia): 1) the incidence of small fiber neuropathy, and 2) assess if there was serologic evidence for an underlying inflammatory or autoimmune state. METHODS A cohort of 109 CAYA patients with the above symptoms underwent epidermal skin biopsy for nerve fiber density. Blood biomarkers for inflammation were tested (CRP, ESR, ANA, complement (C3), thyroid function testing with antibodies (thyroid peroxidase antibody and thyroglobulin antibody), and cytokine panel 13). Patients completed a Quality of Health questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using Wilcoxon rank sum tests. RESULTS In CAYA patients with OI or POTS and neuropathic symptoms, skin biopsy for small fiber neuropathy was abnormal in 53 %. The sample population was predominantly female and Caucasian with moderately decreased perceived quality of health. OI /POTS patients with small fiber neuropathy had a 3-fold probability of having a positive ANA or anti-thyroid antibody, suggesting an underlying autoimmune or inflammatory process. CONCLUSION Our data suggest a link between OI and POTS and small fiber neuropathy. Small fiber neuropathy was found by skin biopsy in over half of the patients tested. OI and Postural orthostatic tachycardia patients with small fiber neuropathy expressed multiple markers suggesting an underlying autoimmune or inflammatory process. Future research will be done to evaluate the symptomatic implication of SFN and whether immune or pharmacologic manipulation can alter patient symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey P Moak
- Division of Cardiology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States of America.
| | - Carolyn B Ramwell
- Division of Cardiology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Heather Gordish-Dressman
- Division of Biostatistics and Study Methodology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Sangeeta D Sule
- Division of Rheumatology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth Bettini
- Division of Cardiology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States of America
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Boris JR, Moak JP. Pediatric Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome: Where We Stand. Pediatrics 2022; 150:188336. [PMID: 35773520 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2021-054945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), first described in 1992, remains an enigmatic, yet severely and variably debilitating, disorder. The pathophysiology of this syndrome is still not understood, and there remains no biomarker indicating the presence of POTS. Although research interest has increased in recent years, there are relatively fewer clinical and research studies addressing POTS in children and adolescents compared with adults. Yet, adolescence is when a large number of cases of POTS begin, even among adult patients who are subsequently studied. This article summarizes reported research in POTS, specifically in pediatric patients, including discussion of aspects of diagnostic criteria, risk factors and outcomes, neurohormonal and hemodynamic abnormalities, clinical assessment, and treatment. The goals of this review are increased recognition and acknowledgment of POTS among pediatric and adolescent providers, as well as to provide an understanding of reported abnormalities of homeostasis, such that symptomatic patients will be able to be recognized and appropriately managed, enabling them to return to their activities of daily living.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jeffrey P Moak
- George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC
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Zhou W, Zikos TA, Clarke JO, Nguyen LA, Triadafilopoulos G, Neshatian L. Regional Gastrointestinal Transit and Contractility Patterns Vary in Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). Dig Dis Sci 2021; 66:4406-4413. [PMID: 33428036 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-020-06808-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is an autonomic disorder that affects multiple organs, including the gastrointestinal system. These patients often have multiple GI complaints with a severe impact on their quality of life. GI dysmotility patterns in POTS remains poorly understood and difficult to manage. AIMS The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic yield of wireless motility capsule in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms and POTS, with use of a symptomatic control group without POTS as a reference. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the charts of patients who had both autonomic testing and wireless motility capsule between 2016 and 2020. The two groups were divided into those with POTS and those without POTS (controls) as diagnosed through autonomic testing. We compared the regional transit times and motility patterns between the two groups using the data collected from wireless motility capsule. RESULTS A total of 25% of POTS patients had delayed small bowel transit compared to 0% of non-POTS patients (p = 0.047). POTS patients exhibited hypo-contractility patterns within the small bowel, including decreased contractions/min (2.95 vs. 4.22, p = 0.011) and decreased motility index (101.36 vs. 182.11, p = 0.021). In multivariable linear regression analysis, migraine predicted faster small bowel transit (p = 0.007) and presence of POTS predicted slower small bowel transit (p = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS Motility abnormalities among POTS patients seem to affect mostly the small bowel and exhibit a general hypo-contractility pattern. Wireless motility capsule can be a helpful tool in patients with POTS and GI symptoms as it can potentially help guide treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy Zhou
- Department of Medicine, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, USA
| | - Thomas A Zikos
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 430 Broadway St, Pav C 3rd Floor, GI Suite, Redwood City, CA, 94063, USA
| | - John O Clarke
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 430 Broadway St, Pav C 3rd Floor, GI Suite, Redwood City, CA, 94063, USA
| | - Linda A Nguyen
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 430 Broadway St, Pav C 3rd Floor, GI Suite, Redwood City, CA, 94063, USA
| | - George Triadafilopoulos
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 430 Broadway St, Pav C 3rd Floor, GI Suite, Redwood City, CA, 94063, USA
| | - Leila Neshatian
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 430 Broadway St, Pav C 3rd Floor, GI Suite, Redwood City, CA, 94063, USA.
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Vernino S, Bourne KM, Stiles LE, Grubb BP, Fedorowski A, Stewart JM, Arnold AC, Pace LA, Axelsson J, Boris JR, Moak JP, Goodman BP, Chémali KR, Chung TH, Goldstein DS, Diedrich A, Miglis MG, Cortez MM, Miller AJ, Freeman R, Biaggioni I, Rowe PC, Sheldon RS, Shibao CA, Systrom DM, Cook GA, Doherty TA, Abdallah HI, Darbari A, Raj SR. Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS): State of the science and clinical care from a 2019 National Institutes of Health Expert Consensus Meeting - Part 1. Auton Neurosci 2021; 235:102828. [PMID: 34144933 DOI: 10.1016/j.autneu.2021.102828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a chronic and often disabling disorder characterized by orthostatic intolerance with excessive heart rate increase without hypotension during upright posture. Patients often experience a constellation of other typical symptoms including fatigue, exercise intolerance and gastrointestinal distress. A typical patient with POTS is a female of child-bearing age, who often first displays symptoms in adolescence. The onset of POTS may be precipitated by immunological stressors such as a viral infection. A variety of pathophysiologies are involved in the abnormal postural tachycardia response; however, the pathophysiology of the syndrome is incompletely understood and undoubtedly multifaceted. Clinicians and researchers focused on POTS convened at the National Institutes of Health in July 2019 to discuss the current state of understanding of the pathophysiology of POTS and to identify priorities for POTS research. This article, the first of two articles summarizing the information discussed at this meeting, summarizes the current understanding of this disorder and best practices for clinical care. The evaluation of a patient with suspected POTS should seek to establish the diagnosis, identify co-morbid conditions, and exclude conditions that could cause or mimic the syndrome. Once diagnosed, management typically begins with patient education and non-pharmacologic treatment options. Various medications are often used to address specific symptoms, but there are currently no FDA-approved medications for the treatment of POTS, and evidence for many of the medications used to treat POTS is not robust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Vernino
- Department of Neurology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Kate M Bourne
- Department of Cardiac Sciences, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Lauren E Stiles
- Department of Neurology, Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY, USA; Dysautonomia International, East Moriches, NY, USA
| | - Blair P Grubb
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, The University of Toledo Medical Center, USA
| | - Artur Fedorowski
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden; Department of Cardiology, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Julian M Stewart
- Center for Hypotension, Departments of Pediatrics and Physiology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA
| | - Amy C Arnold
- Department of Neural and Behavioral Sciences, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA; Autonomic Dysfunction Center, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Laura A Pace
- Center for Genomic Medicine and Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics and Genomics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Jonas Axelsson
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Jeffrey P Moak
- Department of Pediatrics, George Washington Univeristy School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Brent P Goodman
- Neuromuscular Division, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
| | - Kamal R Chémali
- Department of Neurology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Division of Neurology, Neuromuscular and Autonomic Center, Sentara Healthcare, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Tae H Chung
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David S Goldstein
- Autonomic Medicine Section, Clinical Neurosciences Program, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Andre Diedrich
- Autonomic Dysfunction Center, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Mitchell G Miglis
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Melissa M Cortez
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Amanda J Miller
- Department of Neural and Behavioral Sciences, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Roy Freeman
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Center for Autonomic and Peripheral Nerve Disorders, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Italo Biaggioni
- Autonomic Dysfunction Center, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Peter C Rowe
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Robert S Sheldon
- Department of Cardiac Sciences, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Cyndya A Shibao
- Autonomic Dysfunction Center, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Departments of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - David M Systrom
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Glen A Cook
- Department of Neurology, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Taylor A Doherty
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Anil Darbari
- Pediatric Gastroenterology, Children's National Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Satish R Raj
- Department of Cardiac Sciences, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Autonomic Dysfunction Center, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
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Moak JP, Ramwell C, Fabian R, Hanumanthaiah S, Darbari A, Kane TD. Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome with Orthostatic Intolerance: Intermediate-Term Outcomes following Surgical Intervention. J Pediatr 2021; 231:141-147. [PMID: 33338494 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.12.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To report the intermediate-term outcome following surgical intervention for median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) in adolescents and young adults with orthostatic intolerance (OI) to assess clinical improvement in the gastrointestinal and 5 other functional domains and if relief of arterial obstruction is associated with resolution of clinical symptoms. STUDY DESIGN Thirty-one patients were given 2 dysautonomia-designed questionnaires to assess changes in symptoms following operative intervention in 6 functional domains and underwent postoperative repeat abdominal ultrasound examinations. RESULTS Average follow-up after surgery was 22.4 ± 14.8 months. Self-assessed quality of health on a Likert scale (1-10 with 10 being normal) improved from 4.5 ± 2.1 preoperatively to 5.3 ± 2.4 postoperatively (P = not significant). Gastrointestinal symptoms of abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting improved in 63% (P = .007), 53% (P = .040), and 62% (P = .014) of patients, respectively. Cardiovascular symptoms of dizziness, syncope, chest pain, and palpitations improved in 45% (P = not significant), 50% (P = not significant), 54% (P = .043), and 54% (P = .037) of patients, respectively. Transabdominal ultrasound peak supine expiratory velocity decreased from 348 ± 105 cm/s preoperatively to 251 ± 109 cm/s at 6 months or more after a ligament release procedure. Decrease of the postoperative celiac artery Doppler velocity was not associated with an improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms (P = .075). CONCLUSIONS Adolescent and young adult patients with median arcuate ligament syndrome and OI have a good response to surgical intervention. About two-thirds of patients report significant improvement in symptoms of abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Despite these encouraging data, many patients with MALS and OI continue to have an impaired quality of health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey P Moak
- Division of Cardiology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | - Carolyn Ramwell
- Division of Cardiology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | - Robin Fabian
- Division of Cardiology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | | | - Anil Darbari
- Division of Gastroenterology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | - Timothy D Kane
- Department of Surgery, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC
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