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Koch SA, Jarjour IT, Evankovich KD. Neurocognitive Profiles in Adolescents With Postural Tachycardia Syndrome and Perceived Brain Fog: A Preliminary Report. Pediatr Neurol 2023; 148:128-132. [PMID: 37703657 DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2023.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is associated with complaints of cognitive and emotional difficulties that may contribute to severe functional disability. For high-achieving adolescents, these symptoms can result in decreased participation in school and extracurricular activities. There are very limited data comparing subjective symptom reports to neurocognitive profiles in adolescents presenting with POTS, "brain fog," and cognitive difficulties. METHODS A review of medical records and neuropsychological data was conducted for six adolescents diagnosed with POTS at a pediatric neurology clinic. All patients had frequent symptoms of orthostatic intolerance for more than three months. There was heart rate increase of ≥40 beats per minute (bpm) within 10 minutes of active standing or head-up tilt test in five patients and 36 bpm in one patient, who was diagnosed with probable POTS. All were referred for neuropsychological evaluations due to reported debilitating cognitive problems and an inability to function in a regular academic setting. Patients underwent a six-hour neuropsychological evaluation utilizing standardized measures of cognitive and emotional functioning. Clinically reported symptoms included fatigue, poor concentration, and memory impairment as well as "brain fog." RESULTS Subjective complaints differed from patients' performance on standardized neuropsychological measures. Patients performed in the average to superior range across measures of general intelligence, verbal and working memory, processing speed, and sustained attention. CONCLUSIONS Further research is needed to elucidate the basis for perceived "brain fog" and cognitive impairment in POTS, such as better understanding of patient and parental perceptions of initial medical symptoms and diagnosis as well as symptom amplification due to biopsychosocial processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Koch
- Pediatric Neuropsychology Program, Department of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.
| | - Imad T Jarjour
- Section of Child Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas.
| | - Karen D Evankovich
- Section of Child Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas; Sections of Psychology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas.
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Mayuga KA, Fedorowski A, Ricci F, Gopinathannair R, Dukes JW, Gibbons C, Hanna P, Sorajja D, Chung M, Benditt D, Sheldon R, Ayache MB, AbouAssi H, Shivkumar K, Grubb BP, Hamdan MH, Stavrakis S, Singh T, Goldberger JJ, Muldowney JAS, Belham M, Kem DC, Akin C, Bruce BK, Zahka NE, Fu Q, Van Iterson EH, Raj SR, Fouad-Tarazi F, Goldstein DS, Stewart J, Olshansky B. Sinus Tachycardia: a Multidisciplinary Expert Focused Review. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol 2022; 15:e007960. [PMID: 36074973 PMCID: PMC9523592 DOI: 10.1161/circep.121.007960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Sinus tachycardia (ST) is ubiquitous, but its presence outside of normal physiological triggers in otherwise healthy individuals remains a commonly encountered phenomenon in medical practice. In many cases, ST can be readily explained by a current medical condition that precipitates an increase in the sinus rate, but ST at rest without physiological triggers may also represent a spectrum of normal. In other cases, ST may not have an easily explainable cause but may represent serious underlying pathology and can be associated with intolerable symptoms. The classification of ST, consideration of possible etiologies, as well as the decisions of when and how to intervene can be difficult. ST can be classified as secondary to a specific, usually treatable, medical condition (eg, pulmonary embolism, anemia, infection, or hyperthyroidism) or be related to several incompletely defined conditions (eg, inappropriate ST, postural tachycardia syndrome, mast cell disorder, or post-COVID syndrome). While cardiologists and cardiac electrophysiologists often evaluate patients with symptoms associated with persistent or paroxysmal ST, an optimal approach remains uncertain. Due to the many possible conditions associated with ST, and an overlap in medical specialists who see these patients, the inclusion of experts in different fields is essential for a more comprehensive understanding. This article is unique in that it was composed by international experts in Neurology, Psychology, Autonomic Medicine, Allergy and Immunology, Exercise Physiology, Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine, Endocrinology, Cardiology, and Cardiac Electrophysiology in the hope that it will facilitate a more complete understanding and thereby result in the better care of patients with ST.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth A. Mayuga
- Section of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | - Artur Fedorowski
- Karolinska Institutet & Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Fabrizio Ricci
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, “G.d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti Scalo, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Mina Chung
- Section of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Phoenix, AZ
| | - David Benditt
- University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
| | | | - Mirna B. Ayache
- MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH
| | - Hiba AbouAssi
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Nutrition, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
| | | | | | | | | | - Tamanna Singh
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, OH
| | | | - James A. S. Muldowney
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center &Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville Campus, Department of Veterans Affairs, Nashville, TN
| | - Mark Belham
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS FT, Cambridge, UK
| | - David C. Kem
- University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK
| | - Cem Akin
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | | | - Nicole E. Zahka
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Qi Fu
- Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas & University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Erik H. Van Iterson
- Section of Preventive Cardiology & Rehabilitation, Robert and Suzanne Tomsich Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Miller Family Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute, Cleveland Clinic Cleveland, OH
| | - Satish R Raj
- Department of Cardiac Sciences, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
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La Buissonnière-Ariza V, Schneider SC, McBride NM, Cepeda SL, Hart D, Haney B, Storch EA. Parental accommodation of symptoms in adolescents with chronic pain. J Child Health Care 2021; 25:225-239. [PMID: 32383401 DOI: 10.1177/1367493520923555] [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] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Chronic pain in adolescents can be highly impairing. Parental reactions to their child's pain are important factors influencing pain perception and pain-related impairment in children and adolescents. The present study aimed to examine parental accommodation of pain symptoms using the Inventory of Parent Accommodations of Children's Symptoms (IPACS) to provide empirical support for the utility of this measure in parents of adolescents with chronic pain. We examined the prevalence, nature, and correlates of accommodation behaviors in 66 adolescents with chronic pain and their parents using the IPACS. All parents reported some level of accommodation of their child's pain symptoms. After controlling for pain severity, parental accommodation was associated with functional impairment. In addition, parental accommodation mediated the link between parental catastrophizing reactions to pain and child impairment and between child anxiety and depressive symptoms and child impairment. The IPACS appears to be a useful measure of parental accommodation of pain. Parental accommodation should be included as an intervention target when necessary. It is important to educate families about the negative consequences that can be related to excessive accommodation of pain symptoms and to provide effective resources to manage the impact of chronic pain and replace accommodation with more adaptive pain coping strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sophie C Schneider
- Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Nicole M McBride
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Sandra L Cepeda
- Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Dennis Hart
- Department of Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, Saint Petersburg, FL, USA
| | - Brandon Haney
- Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Eric A Storch
- Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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Junghans-Rutelonis AN, Postier A, Warmuth A, Schwantes S, Weiss KE. Pain Management In Pediatric Patients With Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome: Current Insights. J Pain Res 2019; 12:2969-2980. [PMID: 31802934 PMCID: PMC6827519 DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s194391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Pediatric patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) often present with co-occurring struggles with chronic pain (POTS+pain) that may limit daily activities. POTS is a clinical syndrome characterized by orthostatic symptoms and excessive postural tachycardia without orthostatic hypotension. Active research from the medical and scientific community has led to controversy over POTS diagnosis and treatment, yet patients continue to present with symptoms associated with POTS+pain, making treatment recommendations critical. This topical review examines the literature on diagnosing and treating pediatric POTS+pain and the challenges clinicians face. Most importantly, clinicians must employ an interdisciplinary team approach to determine the ideal combination of pharmacologic (e.g., fludrocortisone), non-pharmacologic (e.g., physical therapy, integrative medicine), and psychological (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy, psychoeducation) treatment approaches that acknowledge the complexity of the child's condition, while simultaneously tailoring these approaches to the child's personal needs. We provide recommendations for treatment for youth with POTS+pain based on the current literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley N Junghans-Rutelonis
- Department of Pain Medicine, Palliative Care, and Integrative Medicine, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Andrea Postier
- Department of Pain Medicine, Palliative Care, and Integrative Medicine, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.,Children's Minnesota Research Institute, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Andrew Warmuth
- Department of Pain Medicine, Palliative Care, and Integrative Medicine, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Scott Schwantes
- Department of Pain Medicine, Palliative Care, and Integrative Medicine, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Karen E Weiss
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine & Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, DC, USA
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Junghans-Rutelonis AN, Craner JR, Ale CM, Harbeck-Weber C, Fischer PR, Weiss KE. Youth with Chronic Pain and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS): Treatment Mediators of Improvement in Functional Disability. J Clin Psychol Med Settings 2019; 25:471-484. [PMID: 29508112 DOI: 10.1007/s10880-018-9558-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Intensive pain rehabilitation programs are effective in increasing functioning for youth with chronic pain (CP). However, the utility of such programs for youth with CP and co-morbid postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is rarely examined. In addition, studies examining mediators of treatment for CP are sparse. This paper compares treatment outcomes for youth with CP (n = 117) and youth with CP + POTS (n = 118). Additionally, depression and pain catastrophizing were tested as potential mediators of treatment effects. Significant treatment improvements were found for functional disability, depression, pain catastrophizing, and perceived pain intensity but with no differences between groups. Improvements in depressed mood, pain catastrophizing (helplessness subscale), and pain severity partially mediated functioning improvement. Pain severity was not a significant mediator in the CP + POTS group. We concluded that depression and pain catastrophizing, especially the helplessness domain, can impact functioning improvement in adolescents with CP and POTS and are particularly important to target in treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley N Junghans-Rutelonis
- Department of Pain Medicine, Palliative Care, and Integrative Medicine, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, 2525 Chicago Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55304, USA.
| | - Julia R Craner
- Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Chelsea M Ale
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | - Philip R Fischer
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Karen E Weiss
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine & Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA, USA
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Mu W, Muriello M, Clemens JL, Wang Y, Smith CH, Tran PT, Rowe PC, Francomano CA, Kline AD, Bodurtha J. Factors affecting quality of life in children and adolescents with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome/hypermobility spectrum disorders. Am J Med Genet A 2019; 179:561-569. [PMID: 30703284 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.61055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) is a hereditary disorder of connective tissue, often presenting with complex symptoms can include chronic pain, fatigue, and dysautonomia. Factors influencing functional disability in the pediatric hEDS population are incompletely studied. This study's aims were to assess factors that affect quality of life in children and adolescents with hEDS. Individuals with hEDS between the ages 12-20 years and matched parents were recruited through retrospective chart review at two genetics clinics. Participants completed a questionnaire that included the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL™), PedsQL Multidimentional Fatigue Scale, Functional Disability Inventory, Pain-Frequency-Severity-Duration Scale, the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, measures of anxiety and depression, and helpful interventions. Survey responses were completed for 47 children and adolescents with hEDS/hypermobility spectrum disorder (81% female, mean age 16 years), some by the affected individual, some by their parent, and some by both. Clinical data derived from chart review were compared statistically to survey responses. All outcomes correlated moderately to strongly with each other. Using multiple regression, general fatigue and pain scores were the best predictors of the PedsQL total score. Additionally, presence of any psychiatric diagnosis was correlated with a lower PedsQL score. Current management guidelines recommend early intervention to prevent disability from deconditioning; these results may help identify target interventions in this vulnerable population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiyi Mu
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Michael Muriello
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Julia L Clemens
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - You Wang
- Department of Public Health Studies, Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Art and Science, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Christy H Smith
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Phuong T Tran
- The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland.,Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Peter C Rowe
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Clair A Francomano
- Harvey Institute for Human Genetics, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Antonie D Kline
- Harvey Institute for Human Genetics, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Joann Bodurtha
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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