Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Clinical Research Center, Lund University, Box 50332, 20213, Malmö, Sweden.
Department of Cardiology, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
Sci Rep. 2021 Apr 21;11(1):8575. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-87983-5.
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a cardiovascular autonomic disorder with poorly understood etiology and underlying pathophysiology. Since cardiovascular morbidity has been linked to growth hormone (GH), we studied GH levels in patients with POTS. We conducted an age-sex-matched case-control study in patients with POTS (age 31 ± 9 years; n = 42) and healthy controls (32 ± 9 years; n = 46). Plasma GH levels were measured using high-sensitivity chemiluminescence sandwich immunoassay. The burden of orthostatic intolerance symptoms was assessed by the Orthostatic Hypotension Questionnaire (OHQ), consisting of a symptom assessment scale (OHSA) and a daily activity scale (OHDAS). POTS patients had significantly higher composite OHQ score than controls, more symptoms and less activity. Supine heart rate and diastolic blood pressure (BP), but not systolic BP, were significantly higher in POTS. Median plasma GH levels were significantly lower in POTS (0.53 ng/mL) than controls (2.33 ng/mL, p = 0.04). GH levels were inversely related to OHDAS in POTS and supine systolic BP in POTS and controls, but not heart rate neither group. POTS is associated with lower GH levels. Impairment of daily life activities is inversely related with GH in POTS. A higher supine diastolic BP is inversely associated with GH levels in POTS and healthy individuals.
体位性心动过速综合征（POTS）是一种心血管自主神经障碍，其病因和潜在病理生理学尚未完全了解。由于心血管发病率与生长激素（GH）有关，我们研究了 POTS 患者的 GH 水平。我们对 POTS 患者（年龄 31±9 岁；n=42）和健康对照者（年龄 32±9 岁；n=46）进行了年龄、性别匹配的病例对照研究。使用高灵敏度化学发光夹心免疫测定法测量血浆 GH 水平。通过直立性低血压问卷（OHQ）评估直立不耐受症状的负担，OHQ 由症状评估量表（OHSA）和日常活动量表（OHDAS）组成。POTS 患者的综合 OHQ 评分明显高于对照组，症状更多，活动更少。POTS 患者的仰卧位心率和舒张压（BP）升高，但收缩压无明显升高。POTS 患者的中位血浆 GH 水平明显低于对照组（0.53ng/mL 比 2.33ng/mL，p=0.04）。GH 水平与 POTS 患者的 OHDAS 呈负相关，与 POTS 和对照组的仰卧位收缩压呈负相关，但与心率均无相关性。POTS 与较低的 GH 水平相关。日常生活活动的受损与 POTS 中的 GH 呈负相关。较高的仰卧位舒张压与 POTS 和健康个体中的 GH 水平呈负相关。
