| Prognosis of patients with postural tachycardia syndrome: a follow-up study |
Sa-Yoon Kang 
, Hong Jun Kim
, and Keun Hyuk Ko
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| Department of Neurology, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea |
| Corresponding Author:
Sa-Yoon Kang ,Tel: +82-64-754-8175, Fax: +82-64-717-1630, Email: neurokang@jejunu.ac.kr |
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Received June 26, 2018 Revised: December 20, 2018 Accepted December 25, 2018 |
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| ABSTRACT |
Background: Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) refers to the presence of orthostatic
intolerance symptoms associated with a heart rate increment of greater than 30 beats/min,
usually up to 120 beats/min, on head-up tilt test. Symptoms related to POTS are usually lightheadedness, palpitations and tremor, but syncope can also occur. The pathophysiology of POTS is heterogeneous and its prognosis is uncertain.
Methods: We prospectively evaluated patients who met the criteria for POTS, at baseline and follow-up, using composite autonomic symptom scores and autonomic tests to assess the autonomic function. We compared the clinical and autonomic test results between baseline and follow-up.
Results: Sixty-eight patients met the inclusion criteria for POTS and forty-five patients were ultimately followed up for at least 1 year after baseline. The patients were predominantly young females (84%), with a mean age of 21 years. Most patients showed improved orthostatic symptoms and more than a quarter of patients had no longer met the criteria for POTS at follow-up.
Conclusions: Most patients had a benign outcome in that they could resume their daily activities without great limitations. Our results demonstrated a relatively favorable prognosis in most patients with POTS. |
| Key words:
Autonomic nervous system; Orthostatic intolerance; Postural tachycardia syndrome; Prognosis |
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