Long-term follow-up of patients with postural tachycardia syndrome
Abstract
Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) refers to the presence of orthostatic intolerance symptoms with a heart rate increment ≥ 30 bpm, usually up to ≥ 120 bpm. Pathophysiology and POTS's clinical presentation are heterogeneous and its prognosis is uncertain. We reviewed the major clinical characteristics of POTS patients and assessed their long-term follow-up. Our series results, one with the longest follow-up, illustrate POTS as a clinical entity with variable, but usually benign outcome, in which most patients can reassume their daily activities without great limitations, after proper diagnosis and treatment are made.
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In a 17-patient study, about one-third were symptom-free at follow-up, half had improved significantly, 12% remained highly symptomatic, and 62% were still taking medication.
“In this 17 patient study, approximately one-third of patients were completely asymptomatic, half reported significant improvement, 12% remained highly symptomatic, and 62% remained on pharmacological therapy on follow-up consistent with favorable disease progression.”
From Postural tachycardia syndrome – Diagnosis, physiology, and prognosis (2018) · cites this paper as Sousa et al., 2012
In a small series, adolescents with severe POTS showed substantial improvement after diagnosis and treatment, with a mean follow-up of 92 months.
“In another small series, adolescents with florid POTS reported substantial improvement after diagnosis and treatment with a mean follow-up time of 92 months (Sousa et al., 2012).”
From Postural tachycardia syndrome – Diagnosis, physiology, and prognosis (2018) · cites this paper as Sousa et al., 2012
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- Authors
- Sousa, A., Lebreiro, A., Freitas, J., & Maciel, M. J.
- Affiliations
- Universidade do Porto (PT)
- Corresponding author
- Sousa, Alexandra
- Venue
- Clinical Autonomic Research
- Published
- 2011-12-22
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 151-153
- ISSN
- 0959-9851 (ISSN-L)
- 1619-1560
- OpenAlex
- W2089256890
- Cited by
- 38
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 4 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 3
- FWCI
- 2.62
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Clinical Autonomic Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Cardiovascular Syncope and Autonomic Disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
- Keywords
- postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, orthostatic intolerance, long-term follow-up, prognosis, autonomic dysfunction, daily activity limitations
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Autonomic Nervous System Diseases, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Retrospective Studies, Orthostatic Intolerance, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, Young Adult
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