ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND@#Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a common childhood disease that seriously affects the patient's physical and mental health. This study aimed to investigate whether pre-treatment baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) values were associated with symptom improvement after metoprolol therapy for children and adolescents with POTS.@*METHODS@#This retrospective study evaluated 51 children and adolescents with POTS who received metoprolol therapy at the Peking University First Hospital between November 2010 and July 2019. All patients had completed a standing test or basic head-up tilt test and cardiac echocardiography before treatment. Treatment response was evaluated 3 months after starting metoprolol therapy. The pre-treatment baseline LVEF and LVFS values were evaluated for correlations with decreases in the symptom score after treatment (ΔSS). Multivariable analysis was performed using factors with a P value of 0.050). However, responders had significantly higher baseline LVEF (71.09% ± 4.44% vs. 67.17% ± 4.88%, t = -2.789, P = 0.008) and LVFS values (40.00 [38.00, 42.00]% vs. 36.79% ± 4.11%, Z = -2.542, P = 0.010) than the non-responders. The baseline LVEF and LVFS were positively correlated with ΔSS (r = 0.378, P = 0.006; r = 0.363, P = 0.009), respectively. Logistic regression analysis revealed that LVEF was independently associated with the response to metoprolol therapy in children and adolescents with POTS (odds ratio: 1.201, 95% confidence interval: 1.039-1.387, P = 0.013).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Pre-treatment baseline LVEF was associated with symptom improvement after metoprolol treatment for children and adolescents with POTS.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Child , Humans , Metoprolol/therapeutic use , Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome/drug therapy , Retrospective Studies , Stroke Volume , Ventricular Function, LeftABSTRACT
Background: Patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) report dizziness, lightheadedness, weakness, blurred vision, and fatigue upon standing. The diagnosis of the syndrome is made when an orthostatic intolerance and tachycardia appear in the standing position. Aim: To report 15 patients with POTS. Material and Methods: Review of Tilt test reports in a period of 15 years. Those reports in which orthostatic postural tachycardia and symptoms compatible with POTS appeared, were selected for analysis. Results: We identified 15 patients (3.1% of all positive Tilt test reports) with compatible signs and symptoms. There was a lag of 8 -10 years between the onset of symptoms and the time of diagnosis. Most patients complained of orthostatic intolerance, dizziness and frequent fainting. Orthostatic tachycardia and symptoms occurred on average after 2.9 and 6.1 minutes, respectively,of staying in the standing position. These patients had a high frequency of family history of syncope orpresyncope (66% frequency) and hyper mobility syndrome (53% prevalence). Only 33% of the patients reported relief of their symptoms after being treated (most of them with fludrocortisone). Most patients that reported little or no relief, did not use medications or were treated for a short period. Conclusions: POTS syndrome is uncommon but disturbs quality of life of those who suffer it. Its association with hyper mobility syndromes must be investigated.