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Archive » 2005 » 1 » | Archive » Medical field » Research papers » Clinical research paper » Archive » Medical field » Fields » Neurology »

The Influence of Anxiolytic Therapy on Quality of Life and Cardiovascular Autonomic Function in Patients with Postural Ortostatic Tachycardia

 
Abstract:

This post is also available in: enEnglish slSlovenščina (Slovenian)

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a disorder of the autonomic nervous system. The pathology is characterised by adrenergic and cardiovagal nerve fibre dysfunction, combined with central abnormality of autonomic regulation. When assuming the upright pos­ture or performing the tilt table testing, patients develop excessive tachycardia and symptoms such as dizziness, syncope, palpitations, anxiety. These are often present even in the absence of any decrease in arterial pressure. Patients with POTS experience limitations in multiple domains of quality of life. A variety of approaches have been used to alleviate symptoms of POTS, including anxiolytic therapy. The aim of the present work was to investigate the effi­cacy of anxiolytic therapy in patients with POTS. The patients were selected from the neurocardiologic laboratory archives on the basis of orthostatic tachycardia and orthostat­ic intolerance development upon tilt testing. They completed a set of questionnaires that included measures of quality of life (SF-36) and autonomic symptom severity (ASP). In order to evaluate autonomic nervous system function, blood pressure and ECG during rest, deep breathing, Valsalva maneuver, cold face test and tilt table testing were monitored. After alpra­zolam therapy for a period of four to five weeks, eleven patients were surveyed and retested. The results show that anxiolytic therapy in patients with POTS does not improve quality of life, nor does it decrease symptoms of orthostatic intolerance or normalise autonomic abnor­malities. The results also indicate that anxiety does not play a major role in the pathophysiology of this disease.

Authors:
Niko Kavčič, Amer Beharić

Keywords:
tachycardia – diagnosis – drug therapy, posture, anti – anxiety agents, tilt – table test

Cite as:
Med Razgl. 2005; 44: 23–32.

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