Sympathovagal balance analysis in idiopathic postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome

Acta Biomed. 2007 Aug;78(2):133-8.

Abstract

The idiopathic postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a complex disorder characterized by chronic orthostatic symptoms and an increase in heart rate within 10 minutes of standing on upright posture, without significant orthostatic hypotension. We describe a case of a 36 year-old patient with POTS, diagnosed by head-up tilt testing. Power spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV), performed during the tilt test, revealed the ratio of low and high frequency powers (LF/HF) that increased with the onset of orthostatic intolerance. The increase in LF/HF power ratio may represent sympathetic beta-receptors hyperactivity. Atenolol alleviated his clinical symptoms.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Electrocardiography
  • Fourier Analysis
  • Heart Rate / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Posture
  • Sympathetic Nervous System / physiopathology*
  • Syndrome
  • Tachycardia / diagnosis
  • Tachycardia / etiology
  • Tachycardia / physiopathology*
  • Tachycardia / therapy
  • Tilt-Table Test
  • Vagus Nerve / physiopathology*