[Orthostatic headache with tachycardia]

Clinical neurophysiology of postural tachycardia syndrome

Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is one of several disorders of orthostatic intolerance (OI). It is defined by the development of symptoms of cerebral hypoperfusion or sympathetic activation and a sustained heart rate increment of 30 beats/min or more (40 beats/min for teenagers) within 10min of standing or head-up tilt in the absence of orthostatic hypotension; the standing heart rate is often 120 beats/min or higher. POTS is approximately five times more common in women than men. This heterogeneous syndrome is caused by several pathophysiologic mechanisms (limited autonomic neuropathy, hyperadrenergic state, hypovolemia, venous pooling, deconditioning), which are not mutually exclusive. Anxiety and somatic hypervigilance play significant roles in POTS. Common comorbidities include visceral pain and dysmotility, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, migraine, joint hypermobility, mitral valve prolapse, and inappropriate sinus tachycardia. Patients with suspected POTS should undergo comprehensive cardiac and neurologic examinations and autonomic and laboratory tests to determine the most likely pathophysiologic basis of OI. The objectives of POTS management are to (1) increase the time that patients can stand, perform daily activities, and exercise and (2) avoid syncope. Management involves nonpharmacologic (fluid and salt loading, physical countermaneuvers, compression garments, exercise training) and pharmacologic (β-blockers, pyridostigmine, fludrocortisone, midodrine) approaches.

Postural tachycardia syndrome: a heterogeneous and multifactorial disorder

Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is defined by a heart rate increment of 30 beats/min or more within 10 minutes of standing or head-up tilt in the absence of orthostatic hypotension; the standing heart rate is often 120 beats/min or higher. POTS manifests with symptoms of cerebral hypoperfusion and excessive sympathoexcitation. The pathophysiology of POTS is heterogeneous and includes impaired sympathetically mediated vasoconstriction, excessive sympathetic drive, volume dysregulation, and deconditioning. POTS is frequently included in the differential diagnosis of chronic unexplained symptoms, such as inappropriate sinus tachycardia, chronic fatigue, chronic dizziness, or unexplained spells in otherwise healthy young individuals. Many patients with POTS also report symptoms not attributable to orthostatic intolerance, including those of functional gastrointestinal or bladder disorders, chronic headache, fibromyalgia, and sleep disturbances. In many of these cases, cognitive and behavioral factors, somatic hypervigilance associated with anxiety, depression, and behavioral amplification contribute to symptom chronicity. The aims of evaluation in patients with POTS are to exclude cardiac causes of inappropriate tachycardia; elucidate, if possible, the most likely pathophysiologic basis of postural intolerance; assess for the presence of treatable autonomic neuropathies; exclude endocrine causes of a hyperadrenergic state; evaluate for cardiovascular deconditioning; and determine the contribution of emotional and behavioral factors to the patient's symptoms. Management of POTS includes avoidance of precipitating factors, volume expansion, physical countermaneuvers, exercise training, pharmacotherapy (fludrocortisone, midodrine, β-blockers, and/or pyridostigmine), and behavioral-cognitive therapy. A literature search of PubMed for articles published from January 1, 1990, to June 15, 2012, was performed using the following terms (or combination of terms): POTS; postural tachycardia syndrome, orthostatic; orthostatic; syncope; sympathetic; baroreceptors; vestibulosympathetic; hypovolemia; visceral pain; chronic fatigue; deconditioning; headache; Chiari malformation; Ehlers-Danlos; emotion; amygdala; insula; anterior cingulate; periaqueductal gray; fludrocortisone; midodrine; propranolol; β-adrenergic; and pyridostigmine. Studies were limited to those published in English. Other articles were identified from bibliographies of the retrieved articles.