POTS Show Up Out of The Blue? You May Need to Check for APS

In a recent paper by Dr.Jill R. Schofield, MD, Professor Graham Hughes, Professor Yehuda Shoenfeld, and Dr. Svetlana Blitshteyn on the clinical association of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and APS, there appears to be evidence that for cases of POTS that seem to appear without a cause may be related to APS and symptoms may be improved by using treatments associated with APS. (read full abstract here)

What is APS? APS is an autoimmune disorder where different antiphospholipid antibodies work against against clotting factors, platelets, or cells that line blood vessel walls and cause blood to become sticky, leading to an increased risk of blood clots in arteries, veins, and placenta (resulting in miscarriage, still birth and low birth weight). And APS isn't that rare, but it is severely underdiagnosed and is estimated to affect approximately 1% of the population in the U.S.

Dr. Schofield says that "because this is a newly described clinical association, we have a lot to learn.  At this time, I believe all POTS patients should be tested for APS; other physicians might disagree.  At the very least, I believe all POTS patients with any of the following should be tested for APS: migraine, memory loss, balance trouble, livedo reticularis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, history of miscarriage, another autoimmune condition, a family history of blood clots or a family history of autoimmune disease. These were the most common findings in the patients in our study.  Also, of note, three of the 15 APS patients included our study also had Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (JHS)."

If APS is detected, Dr. Schofield believes POTS-caused by or related to APS might improve with a trial of anticoagulants such as aspirin, clopidogrel, heparin, warfarin and/or IVIG. This is why she suggests that any patients with a POTS diagnosis with no apparent cause should be tested for APS. And true, using anticoagulants can increase the risk of bleeding, however, the benefits may outweigh the risk if the hyper-coagulative nature of APS can be brought back into balance with these agents and improve or eliminate the POTS symptoms.

As always, to get the very best help with anything POTS, dysautonomia or MVP syndrome-related, make sure you contact Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC in Birmingham, AL. Dr. Paula Moore and Dr. Susan Phillips have over 40 years combined experience with accurate diagnosis and successful autonomic disorder treatment and they are your fastest track to wellness in these areas.

Make an appointment today at their new treatment center at 205-286-3200. All of the staff at Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC look forward to serving you!



Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC
Accurate Diagnosis & Treatment for Better Results
2470 Rocky Ridge Road Vestavia Hills, Alabama 35243
http://www.mvpctr.com
(205) 286-3200

Diagnosed with Barlow’s Syndrome? Always Get a Second Opinion Before Surgery

About 5-10% of the world’s population is estimated to be afflicted with Barlow’s Syndrome or mitral valve prolapse (MVP). First described by John Brereton Barlow in 1966, this condition means that one or more of the valves that allow blood to flow from the upper to lower chambers of the heart don’t open and close completely, resulting a leakage of blood back through the valve and a characteristic ‘clicking’ or murmur sounds (often called a heart murmur).  And while in many cases there is some type of defect in the valve itself that requires surgery or other methods to fix, in many cases a condition with very similar symptoms called dysautonomia can actually be the cause of the dysfunctional valve, which requires a different method of treatment. That’s reason enough to always get a second opinion before having surgery.

 

POTS, known throughout history by different names such as DaCosta's Syndrome, Soldier's Heart, Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome, Neurocirculatory Asthenia, Chronic Orthostatic Intolerance and Orthostatic Tachycardia, can also have symptoms in common with MVP, which is why it garnered a name like MVP syndrome.

The point is to really make sure of what is going on before agreeing to any surgeries by getting a second opinion from an autonomic disorder specialist—simply because dyautonomia is so often mistaken for an actual prolapsed mitral valve issue.  Then seek competent help with POTS treatment, if that is what is determined to be really going on. If it truly is a prolapsed mitral valve, the autonomic specialist will be able to tell you that so that you can seek the correct treatment for that.  Again, the most important thing is get an accurate diagnosis and a second opinion any time mitral valve prolapse is suspected.

 

Your best bet, if are having MVP-like symptoms or have been diagnosed with MVP, is to call one of the best pots clinics in the nation with a brand new treatment center and the latest equipment--Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC in Birmingham, AL.

 

Dr. Paula Moore and Dr. Susan Phillips are widely known as some of the most knowledgeable specialists in the areas of POTS, dysautonomia and related autonomic disorders. Call and make an appointment today—you’ll be glad you did.

Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC
Accurate Diagnosis & Treatment for Better Results
2470 Rocky Ridge Road Vestavia Hills, Alabama 35243
http://www.mvpctr.com
(205) 286-3200