HEALTH NEWS

Study Title:

Small-fiber neuropathy with cardiac denervation in postural tachycardia syndrome.

Study Abstract

INTRODUCTION:
Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a disorder of orthostatic intolerance characterized by excessive tachycardia of unknown etiology. Our objective in this study was to evaluate the correlation between C-fiber involvement as shown by skin biopsy and adrenergic cardiac metaiodobenzylguanadine (MIBG) uptake in POTS patients.
METHODS:
Skin biopsies of 84 patients with POTS were examined by Protein Gene Product 9.5 (PGP9.5) immunohistochemistry and were compared with MIBG myocardial scintigraphy imaging data.
RESULTS:
Mean intraepidermal nerve fiber (IENF) density was in the lower normal age-adjusted range, 7.2 ± 2.9/mm (normal ≥ 7/mm), and was slightly below the normal range in 45% of POTS patients. MIBG uptake was reduced in 21% of patients. Low IENF density correlated with reduced cardiac MIBG uptake (r = 0.39, P = 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS:
A subset of neuropathic POTS patients may harbor mild small fiber neuropathy with abnormalities of unmyelinated nerve fibers in the skin associated with reduced myocardial postganglionic sympathetic innervation.
© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
KEYWORDS:
autonomic disorder; cardiac denervation; orthostatic intolerance; postural tachycardia syndrome; small fiber neuropathy