Sympathovagal balance analysis in idiopathic postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.
The idiopathic postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a complex disorder characterized by chronic orthostatic symptoms and an increase in heart rate within 10 minutes of standing on upright posture, without significant orthostatic hypotension. We describe a case of a 36 year-old patient with POTS, diagnosed by head-up tilt testing. Power spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV), performed during the tilt test, revealed the ratio of low and high frequency powers (LF/HF) that increased with the onset of orthostatic intolerance. The increase in LF/HF power ratio may represent sympathetic beta-receptors hyperactivity. Atenolol alleviated his clinical symptoms.
Russo
Vincenzo
V
Second University of Naples, Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy. v.p.russo@libero.it
De Crescenzo
Ilaria
I
Ammendola
Ernesto
E
Santangelo
Lucio
L
Calabrò
Raffaele
R
D000328:Adult; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013577:Syndrome; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D018667:Tilt-Table Test; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*