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The New Microbiologica May 2024More than 800 million individuals have contracted SARSCOV2 infection worldwide. It was estimated that almost 10-20% of these might suffer from Long COVID. It is a... (Review)
Review
More than 800 million individuals have contracted SARSCOV2 infection worldwide. It was estimated that almost 10-20% of these might suffer from Long COVID. It is a multisystemic syndrome, which negatively affects the quality of life with a significant burden of health loss compared to COVID negative individuals. Moreover, the risk of sequelae still remains high at 2 years in both nonhospitalized and hospitalized individuals. This review summarizes studies regarding long COVID and clarifies the definitions, the risk factors and the management of this syndrome. Finally, it delves into the most frequent long-term outcomes, especially postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome" (POTS), myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), brain fog, and their therapeutical possibilities.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome; Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic; Risk Factors; Quality of Life; Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome
PubMed: 38700879
DOI: No ID Found -
Movement Disorders Clinical Practice Jun 2024Blood pressure control in Parkinson's disease (PD) under subthalamic deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) is influenced by several intertwined aspects, including autonomic...
BACKGROUND
Blood pressure control in Parkinson's disease (PD) under subthalamic deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) is influenced by several intertwined aspects, including autonomic failure and levodopa treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of chronic STN-DBS, levodopa, and their combination on cardiovascular autonomic functions in PD.
METHODS
We performed cardiovascular reflex tests (CRTs) before and 6-months after STN-DBS surgery in 20 PD patients (pre-DBS vs. post-DBS). CRTs were executed without and with medication (med-OFF vs. med-ON).
RESULTS
CRT results and occurrence of neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (OH) did not differ between pre- and post-DBS studies in med-OFF condition. After levodopa intake, the BP decrease during HUTT was significantly greater compared to med-OFF, both at pre-DBS and post-DBS evaluation. Levodopa-induced OH was documented in 25% and 5% of patients in pre-DBS/med-ON and post-DBS/med-ON study.
CONCLUSION
Chronic stimulation did not influence cardiovascular responses, while levodopa exerts a relevant hypotensive effect. The proportion of patients presenting levodopa-induced OH decreases after STN-DBS surgery.
Topics: Humans; Parkinson Disease; Deep Brain Stimulation; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Aged; Levodopa; Autonomic Nervous System; Antiparkinson Agents; Blood Pressure; Subthalamic Nucleus; Hypotension, Orthostatic
PubMed: 38698586
DOI: 10.1002/mdc3.14060 -
Primary Care Jun 2024Autonomic disorders can present with hypotension, gastrointestinal, genitourinary symptoms, and heat intolerance. Diabetes is the most common causes of autonomic...
Autonomic disorders can present with hypotension, gastrointestinal, genitourinary symptoms, and heat intolerance. Diabetes is the most common causes of autonomic failure, and management should focus on glucose control to prevent developing autonomic symptoms. The most prevalent cause of dysautonomia, or autonomic dysfunction, is Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). Autonomic testing characterizes causes for nonspecific symptoms but is not necessary in patients with classic presentations. Treatment for autonomic dysfunction and failure focus on discontinuing offending medications, behavioral modification, and pharmacologic therapy to decrease symptom severity. Autonomic failure has no cure; therefore, the focus remains on improving quality of life.
Topics: Humans; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases; Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome; Primary Health Care; Quality of Life
PubMed: 38692780
DOI: 10.1016/j.pop.2024.02.006 -
Autonomic Neuroscience : Basic &... Jun 2024Reported orthostatic hypotension (OH) prevalence in Parkinson's disease (PD) varies widely, with few studies evaluating specifically neurogenic-OH (nOH). The ratio of...
BACKGROUND
Reported orthostatic hypotension (OH) prevalence in Parkinson's disease (PD) varies widely, with few studies evaluating specifically neurogenic-OH (nOH). The ratio of orthostatic heart rate (HR) to systolic blood pressure (SBP) change (Δ) is a valid screening method to stratify nOH/non-nOH but has had minimal epidemiologic application.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of nOH and non-nOH in the PPMI using the ΔHR/ΔSBP ratio and examine associations between nOH and various motor and non-motor measures.
METHODS
Longitudinal orthostatic vitals and motor and non-motor measures were extracted (baseline-month 48). Patients were consensus criteria classified as OH+/-, with ΔHR/ΔSBP sub-classification to nOH (ΔHR/ΔSBP < 0.5) or non-nOH (ratio ≥ 0.5). Prevalence was determined across visits. Independent linear mixed models tested associations between nOH/non-nOH and clinical variables.
RESULTS
Of N = 907 PD with baseline orthostatic vitals, 3.9 % and 1.8 % exhibited nOH and non-nOH, respectively. Prevalence of nOH/non-nOH increased yearly (P = 0.012, chi-square), though with modest magnitude (baseline: 5.6 % [95 % CI: 4.3-7.3 %]; month 48: 8.6 % [6.4-11.5 %]). nOH patients were older than PD with no OH and nOH was associated with greater impairment of motor and independent functioning than non-nOH/OH- groups. Cognitive function and typical OH symptoms were worse in PD + OH, generally.
CONCLUSIONS
nOH prevalence was greater than non-nOH in the PPMI early PD cohort, with modest prevalence increase over time. Our findings are consistent with prior studies of large cohorts that evaluated nOH, specifically. Those with early PD and nOH were likelier to be older and suffer from greater motor and functional impairment, but OH presence was generally associated with more cognitive impairment.
Topics: Humans; Hypotension, Orthostatic; Parkinson Disease; Male; Female; Aged; Prevalence; Middle Aged; Longitudinal Studies; Disease Progression; Blood Pressure; Heart Rate; Cohort Studies
PubMed: 38692034
DOI: 10.1016/j.autneu.2024.103173 -
American Journal of Physiology.... Jun 2024Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) with orthostatic intolerance (OI) is characterized by neurocognitive deficits perhaps related to upright...
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) with orthostatic intolerance (OI) is characterized by neurocognitive deficits perhaps related to upright hypocapnia and loss of cerebral autoregulation (CA). We performed N-back neurocognition testing and calculated the phase synchronization index (PhSI) between arterial pressure (AP) and cerebral blood velocity (CB) as a time-dependent measurement of cerebral autoregulation in 11 control (mean age = 24.1 yr) and 15 patients with ME/CFS (mean age = 21.8 yr). All patients with ME/CFS had postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS). A 10-min 60° head-up tilt (HUT) significantly increased heart rate (109.4 ± 3.9 vs. 77.2 ± 1.6 beats/min, < 0.05) and respiratory rate (20.9 ± 1.7 vs. 14.2 ± 1.2 breaths/min, < 0.05) and decreased end-tidal CO (ETCO; 33.9 ± 1.1 vs. 42.8 ± 1.2 Torr, < 0.05) in ME/CFS versus control. In ME/CFS, HUT significantly decreased CB compared with control (-22.5% vs. -8.7%, < 0.005). To mitigate the orthostatic CB reduction, we administered supplemental CO, phenylephrine, and acetazolamide and performed N-back testing supine and during HUT. Only phenylephrine corrected the orthostatic decrease in neurocognition by reverting % correct = 4 N-back during HUT in ME/CFS similar to control (ME/CFS = 38.5 ± 5.5 vs. ME/CFS + PE= 65.6 ± 5.7 vs. Control 56.9 ± 7.5). HUT in ME/CFS resulted in increased PhSI values indicating decreased CA. Although CO and acetazolamide had no effect on PhSI in ME/CFS, phenylephrine caused a significant reduction in PhSI (ME/CFS = 0.80 ± 0.03 vs. ME/CFS + PE= 0.69 ± 0.04, < 0.05) and improved cerebral autoregulation. Thus, PE improved neurocognitive function in patients with ME/CFS, perhaps related to improved neurovascular coupling, cerebral autoregulation, and maintenance of CB. We evaluated cognitive function before and after CO, acetazolamide, and phenylephrine, which mitigate orthostatic reductions in cerebral blood velocity. Neither CO nor acetazolamide affected N-back testing (% correct answers) during an orthostatic challenge. Only phenylephrine improved upright N-back performance in ME/CFS, as it both blocked hyperventilation and increased CO significantly compared with those untreated. And only phenylephrine resulted in improved PSI values in both ME/CFS and control while upright, suggesting improved cerebral autoregulation.
Topics: Humans; Cerebrovascular Circulation; Phenylephrine; Female; Male; Orthostatic Intolerance; Adult; Young Adult; Blood Flow Velocity; Blood Pressure; Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic; Tilt-Table Test; Cognition; Homeostasis; Case-Control Studies; Heart Rate; Arterial Pressure; Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome
PubMed: 38682242
DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00071.2024 -
Cureus Mar 2024Data on median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) in children are scant. It is postulated that MALS can cause chronic abdominal pain. It is unclear what percentage of...
BACKGROUND
Data on median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) in children are scant. It is postulated that MALS can cause chronic abdominal pain. It is unclear what percentage of children with this condition are symptomatic and what comorbidities are associated with this syndrome.
METHODS
In this retrospective study, data on consecutive patients in a single center diagnosed coincidentally with MALS during routine echocardiogram were reviewed. Symptom burden, comorbidities, and the effect of anthropometric indices on MALS were investigated. Descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests were used to describe the findings and to compare variables with normal distribution.
RESULTS
Between 2013 and 2020, there were 82 children, 55 females (67%), mean age 13.9 ± 3.2 years, with MALS and complete record. Mean velocity across the stenotic area was 2.6 ± 0.4 m/s. Forty-six patients (57%) had abdominal pain. Age, gender, weight, body mass index (BMI), and Doppler velocity had no statistically significant influence on symptom occurrence. Conversely, patients with joint hypermobility and symptoms of orthostatic intolerance were more likely to have abdominal pain from MALS. Of 24 patients with joint hypermobility, 18 patients had abdominal pain (p=0.027). Thirty-eight patients with orthostatic intolerance (OI) with MALS complained of abdominal pain vs 13 patients with OI and no abdominal pain (p=<0.0001).
CONCLUSION
Nearly half of patients with MALS had abdominal pain. Age, gender, weight, and the degree of stenosis had no statistically significant influence on symptom occurrence. OI, specifically postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), and joint hypermobility on exam predicted a higher propensity for abdominal pain in patients with MALS.
PubMed: 38681309
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.57184 -
Biochemical and Biophysical Research... Jun 2024Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is a common condition. Many potential etiologies of OH have been identified, but in clinical practice the underlying cause of OH is often...
Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is a common condition. Many potential etiologies of OH have been identified, but in clinical practice the underlying cause of OH is often unknown. In the present study, we identified a novel and extraordinary etiology of OH. We describe a first case of acquired severe OH with syncope, and the female patient had extremely low levels of catecholamines and serotonin in plasma, urine and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Her clinical and biochemical evidence showed a deficiency of the enzyme aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC), which converts l-DOPA to dopamine, and 5-hydroxytryptophan to serotonin, respectively. The consequence of pharmacologic stimulation of catecholaminergic nerves and radionuclide examination revealed her catecholaminergic nerves denervation. Moreover, we found that the patient's serum showed presence of autoantibodies against AADC, and that isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from the patient showed cytokine-induced toxicity against AADC. These observations suggest that her autoimmunity against AADC is highly likely to cause toxicity to adrenal medulla and catecholaminergic nerves which contain AADC, resulting in hypocatecholaminemia and severe OH. Administration of vitamin B6, an essential cofactor of AADC, enhanced her residual AADC activity and drastically improved her symptoms. Our data thus provide a new insight into pathogenesis and pathophysiology of OH.
Topics: Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Aromatic-L-Amino-Acid Decarboxylases; Autoantibodies; Autoimmunity; Catecholamines; Dopamine; Hypotension, Orthostatic; Serotonin
PubMed: 38677008
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149940 -
Journal of Personalized Medicine Apr 2024Orthostatic intolerance is a broad term that represents a spectrum of dysautonomic disorders, including postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and orthostatic... (Review)
Review
Orthostatic intolerance is a broad term that represents a spectrum of dysautonomic disorders, including postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and orthostatic hypotension (OH), as manifestations of severe autonomic failure. While the etiology of orthostatic intolerance has not yet fully been uncovered, it has been associated with multiple underlying pathological processes, including peripheral neuropathy, altered renin-aldosterone levels, hypovolemia, and autoimmune processes. Studies have implicated adrenergic, cholinergic, and angiotensin II type I autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of orthostatic intolerance. Several case series have demonstrated that immunomodulation therapy resulted in favorable outcomes, improving autonomic symptoms in POTS and OH. In this review, we highlight the contemporary literature detailing the association of autoimmunity with POTS and OH.
PubMed: 38673062
DOI: 10.3390/jpm14040435 -
Clinical Autonomic Research : Official... Apr 2024
Topics: Humans; Hypotension, Orthostatic; Parkinson Disease; Male; Aged; Female; Middle Aged
PubMed: 38664335
DOI: 10.1007/s10286-024-01032-5 -
Clinical Autonomic Research : Official... Apr 2024Neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (nOH) is a frequent nonmotor feature of Parkinson's disease (PD), associated with adverse outcomes. Recently, 24-h ambulatory blood...
PURPOSE
Neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (nOH) is a frequent nonmotor feature of Parkinson's disease (PD), associated with adverse outcomes. Recently, 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) showed good accuracy in diagnosing nOH. This study aims at evaluating the prognostic role of ABPM-hypotensive episodes in predicting PD disability milestones and mortality and comparing it to the well-defined prognostic role of bedside nOH.
METHODS
Patients with PD who underwent ABPM from January 2012 to December 2014 were retrospectively enrolled and assessed for the development of falls, fractures, dementia, bed/wheelchair confinement, hospitalization, and mortality, during an up-to-10-year follow-up. Significant ABPM-hypotensive episodes were identified when greater than or equal to two episodes of systolic BP drop ≥ 15 mmHg (compared with the average 24 h) were recorded during the awakening-to-lunch period.
RESULTS
A total of 99 patients (74% male, age 64.0 ± 10.1 years, and PD duration 6.4 ± 4.0 years) were enrolled. At baseline, 38.4% of patients had ABPM-hypotensive episodes and 46.5% had bedside nOH. On Kaplan-Meier analysis, patients with ABPM-hypotensive episodes showed earlier onset of falls (p = 0.001), fractures (p = 0.004), hospitalizations (p = 0.009), bed/wheelchair confinement (p = 0.032), dementia (p = 0.001), and shorter survival (8.0 versus 9.5 years; p = 0.009). At Cox regression analysis (adjusted for age, disease duration, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and Hoehn and Yahr stage) a significant association was confirmed between ABPM-hypotensive episodes and falls [odds ratio (OR) 3.626; p = 0.001), hospitalizations (OR 2.016; p = 0.038), and dementia (OR 2.926; p = 0.008), while bedside nOH was only associated with falls (OR 2.022; p = 0.039) and dementia (OR 1.908; p = 0.048).
CONCLUSIONS
The presence of at least two ABPM-hypotensive episodes independently predicted the development of falls, dementia, and hospitalization, showing a stronger prognostic value than the simple bedside assessment.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Parkinson Disease; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; Middle Aged; Aged; Retrospective Studies; Hypotension, Orthostatic; Prognosis; Predictive Value of Tests; Follow-Up Studies
PubMed: 38662269
DOI: 10.1007/s10286-024-01030-7