Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) – A novel member of the autoimmune family

Abstract

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a heterogeneous disorder of the autonomic nervous system in which a change from the supine position to an upright position causes an abnormally large increase in heart rate or tachycardia (30 bpm within 10 min of standing or head-up tilt). This response is accompanied by a decrease in blood flow to the brain and hence a spectrum of symptoms associated with cerebral hypoperfusion.¹ Many of these POTS-related symptoms are also observed in chronic anxiety and panic disorders, and therefore POTS is frequently under- and misdiagnosed.^2,3

Keywords

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)autoimmunity autoantibodies molecular mimicry human papilloma virus (HPV)

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