Autonomic dysfunction in fibromyalgia syndrome: postural orthostatic tachycardia. 2008

Roland Staud
Department of Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, PO Box 100221, D2-39, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA. staudr@ufl.edu

Although fibromyalgia (FM) syndrome is defined by chronic widespread pain and tenderness, additional symptoms, including disabling fatigue and dizziness, are often reported by patients with this chronic illness. Although nonrestorative sleep may play an important role for chronic fatigue in FM, other mechanisms, including dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), need to be considered. Many important biological functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, respirations, and bowel function, are tightly regulated by the ANS. However, dysfunction of the ANS is common in FM and often becomes quite apparent after positional changes from supine to upright. Although such positional changes sometimes result in syncope, they are more often associated with palpitations and dizziness. Head-up tilt table testing can be used to evaluate autonomic dysfunction and is frequently helpful for the work-up of FM complaints, including fatigue, dizziness, and palpitations. One of the most common events experienced by FM patients during tilt table testing is postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, which is defined as a heart rate increase of more than 30 beats per minute after more than 3 minutes of standing upright.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D004244 Dizziness An imprecise term which may refer to a sense of spatial disorientation, motion of the environment, or lightheadedness. Lightheadedness,Orthostasis,Dizzyness,Light-Headedness,Light Headedness
D005356 Fibromyalgia A common nonarticular rheumatic syndrome characterized by myalgia and multiple points of focal muscle tenderness to palpation (trigger points). Muscle pain is typically aggravated by inactivity or exposure to cold. This condition is often associated with general symptoms, such as sleep disturbances, fatigue, stiffness, HEADACHES, and occasionally DEPRESSION. There is significant overlap between fibromyalgia and the chronic fatigue syndrome (FATIGUE SYNDROME, CHRONIC). Fibromyalgia may arise as a primary or secondary disease process. It is most frequent in females aged 20 to 50 years. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1494-95) Diffuse Myofascial Pain Syndrome,Fibrositis,Rheumatism, Muscular,Fibromyalgia, Primary,Fibromyalgia, Secondary,Fibromyalgia-Fibromyositis Syndrome,Fibromyositis-Fibromyalgia Syndrome,Myofascial Pain Syndrome, Diffuse,Fibromyalgia Fibromyositis Syndrome,Fibromyalgia-Fibromyositis Syndromes,Fibromyalgias,Fibromyalgias, Primary,Fibromyalgias, Secondary,Fibromyositis Fibromyalgia Syndrome,Fibromyositis-Fibromyalgia Syndromes,Fibrositides,Muscular Rheumatism,Primary Fibromyalgia,Primary Fibromyalgias,Secondary Fibromyalgia,Secondary Fibromyalgias,Syndrome, Fibromyalgia-Fibromyositis,Syndrome, Fibromyositis-Fibromyalgia,Syndromes, Fibromyalgia-Fibromyositis,Syndromes, Fibromyositis-Fibromyalgia
D006339 Heart Rate The number of times the HEART VENTRICLES contract per unit of time, usually per minute. Cardiac Rate,Chronotropism, Cardiac,Heart Rate Control,Heartbeat,Pulse Rate,Cardiac Chronotropy,Cardiac Chronotropism,Cardiac Rates,Chronotropy, Cardiac,Control, Heart Rate,Heart Rates,Heartbeats,Pulse Rates,Rate Control, Heart,Rate, Cardiac,Rate, Heart,Rate, Pulse
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001145 Arrhythmias, Cardiac Any disturbances of the normal rhythmic beating of the heart or MYOCARDIAL CONTRACTION. Cardiac arrhythmias can be classified by the abnormalities in HEART RATE, disorders of electrical impulse generation, or impulse conduction. Arrhythmia,Arrythmia,Cardiac Arrhythmia,Cardiac Arrhythmias,Cardiac Dysrhythmia,Arrhythmia, Cardiac,Dysrhythmia, Cardiac
D001342 Autonomic Nervous System Diseases Diseases of the AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM, including sympathetic, parasympathetic, and enteric nervous systems. Autonomic Disorders,Central Autonomic Nervous System Diseases,Disorders of the Autonomic Nervous System,Dysautonomia,Nervous System Diseases, Autonomic,Nervous System Diseases, Parasympathetic,Nervous System Diseases, Sympathetic,Non-Familial Dysautonomia,Parasympathetic Nervous System Diseases,Peripheral Autonomic Nervous System Diseases,Sympathetic Nervous System Diseases,ANS (Autonomic Nervous System) Diseases,ANS Diseases,Autonomic Central Nervous System Diseases,Autonomic Diseases,Autonomic Nervous System Disorders,Autonomic Peripheral Nervous System Diseases,Segmental Autonomic Dysfunction,ANS Disease,Autonomic Disease,Autonomic Disorder,Autonomic Dysfunction, Segmental,Autonomic Dysfunctions, Segmental,Disorder, Autonomic,Dysautonomia, Non-Familial,Dysautonomias,Non Familial Dysautonomia,Non-Familial Dysautonomias,Segmental Autonomic Dysfunctions
D013575 Syncope A transient loss of consciousness and postural tone caused by diminished blood flow to the brain (i.e., BRAIN ISCHEMIA). Presyncope refers to the sensation of lightheadedness and loss of strength that precedes a syncopal event or accompanies an incomplete syncope. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp367-9) Drop Attack,Fainting,Presyncope,Syncope, Postural,Syncopal Episode,Syncopal Vertigo,Syncope, Cardiogenic,Syncope, Carotid Sinus,Syncope, Convulsive,Syncope, Deglutitional,Syncope, Effort,Syncope, Hyperventilation,Syncope, Micturition,Syncope, Situational,Syncope, Stokes-Adams,Syncope, Tussive,Attack, Drop,Cardiogenic Syncope,Cardiogenic Syncopes,Carotid Sinus Syncope,Carotid Sinus Syncopes,Convulsive Syncope,Convulsive Syncopes,Deglutitional Syncope,Deglutitional Syncopes,Drop Attacks,Effort Syncope,Effort Syncopes,Episode, Syncopal,Hyperventilation Syncope,Hyperventilation Syncopes,Micturition Syncope,Micturition Syncopes,Postural Syncope,Postural Syncopes,Presyncopes,Situational Syncope,Situational Syncopes,Stokes-Adams Syncope,Stokes-Adams Syncopes,Syncopal Episodes,Syncope, Stokes Adams,Syncopes,Syncopes, Cardiogenic,Syncopes, Carotid Sinus,Syncopes, Convulsive,Syncopes, Deglutitional,Syncopes, Effort,Syncopes, Hyperventilation,Syncopes, Micturition,Syncopes, Postural,Syncopes, Situational,Syncopes, Stokes-Adams,Syncopes, Tussive,Tussive Syncope,Tussive Syncopes,Vertigo, Syncopal,Vertigos, Syncopal
D054972 Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome A syndrome of ORTHOSTATIC INTOLERANCE combined with excessive upright TACHYCARDIA, and usually without associated ORTHOSTATIC HYPOTENSION. All variants have in common an excessively reduced venous return to the heart (central HYPOVOLEMIA) while upright. Postural Tachycardia Syndrome,Syndrome, Postural Tachycardia,Tachycardia Syndrome, Postural
D018667 Tilt-Table Test A standard and widely accepted diagnostic test used to identify patients who have a vasodepressive and/or cardioinhibitory response as a cause of syncope. (From Braunwald, Heart Disease, 7th ed) Test, Tilt-Table,Tilt Table Test
Copied contents to your clipboard!