The value of autonomic testing in postural tachycardia syndrome.
Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a fairly common condition that may or may not be associated with autonomic neuropathy. In a retrospective analysis, we compared two groups of patients based on clinical and autonomic criteria, those with POTS in isolation (POTS-Alone), and POTS with evidence of autonomic neuropathy (POTS-AN). Of 260 records reviewed, 57 patients met the criteria for POTS; 38 (67%) patients assigned to the POTS-Alone group and 19 (33%) patients assigned to the POTS-AN group. A decreased sweat output on the quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test is the most frequent abnormal finding in the POST-AN group suggesting sympathetic cholinergic neuropathy. Clinically, headache and gastrointestinal symptoms were more frequent among the POTS-AN group. Therefore, POTS may exist in isolation and may differ from those associated with AN.
Al-Shekhlee
Amer
A
Department of Neurology, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Lindenberg
Judah R
JR
Hachwi
Rami N
RN
Chelimsky
Thomas C
TC
D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013546:Sweating; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014636:Valsalva Maneuver