Research Article: Predicting Therapeutic Efficacy of Pharmacological Treatments in Children with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome: A Mini-Review
Abstract:
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is common in children, with an excessive increment in heart rate when moving from the supine to upright position. It has significant negative impacts on the daily life of pediatric patients. The pathogenesis of POTS includes peripheral vascular dysfunction, central hypovolemia, abnormal autonomic function, a high-adrenergic state, impaired skeletal-muscle pump function, the abnormal release of vasoactive factors, and autoimmune abnormalities. Therefore, the empirical use of pharmacological treatments has limited therapeutic efficacy due to the diversity of its mechanisms. A crucial aspect of managing POTS is the selection of appropriate treatment targeting the specific pathogenesis. This review summarizes the commonly used pharmacological interventions, with a focus on their predictive indicators for treatment response. Factors such as heart rate variability, plasma biomarkers, and cardiac-function parameters are discussed as potential predictors of therapeutic efficacy, enabling the implementation of individualized treatment to improve therapeutic effectiveness. This review consolidates the current knowledge on POTS, encompassing its clinical characteristics, epidemiological patterns, underlying pathogenic mechanisms, and predictive indicators for treatment response. Further research is warranted to enhance the understanding of POTS and facilitate the development of more effective therapeutic approaches for this challenging syndrome.
Introduction:
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is one of the common types of orthostatic intolerance (OI) [1]. Clinical symptoms of POTS include chronic OI and a heart rate (HR) increase upon transitioning from a supine to standing position [2]. According to a survey in the USA, almost one-third of children and adolescents under 18 years had symptoms of POTS [3]. Additionally, children with POTS often experience impairment in their physical and physiological health, which consequently has a detrimental impact on…
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