Abstract
Objective
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of pathologic response to orthostatic
challenge in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and the difference
of the response in patients in relapse and remission.
Patients and methods
We included 112 RRMS patients; group 1 included 53 patients in a relapse and group
2, 59 patients in remission. The head up tilt table test was used to provoke an orthostatic
reaction.
Results
71 (63%) patients (60.4% and 66% of relapse and remission subjects respectively) had
a pathological response to orthostatic provocation. Syncope was found in 9 (17%) patients
in group 1 compared to 22 (37.3%) in group 2 (p=0.014). Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) was found in 17 (32%) patients
in group 1 compared to 4 (6.8%) in group 2 (p=0.001). There was a significantly negative correlation between the Expanded Disability
Status Scale (EDSS) and POTS (−0.201; p=0.034) and a positive correlation between the EDSS and syncope (0.190; p=0.044).
Conclusion
The prevalence of distinct types of orthostatic autonomic dysfunction in different
phases of RRMS seems to be in direct correlation with the EDSS. Furthermore, certain
autonomic dysfunctions of orthostasis, more specifically syncope and POTS, tend to
be increased in remission and relapse respectively.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 05, 2012
Accepted:
October 11,
2012
Received in revised form:
September 15,
2012
Received:
July 24,
2012
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 Elsevier B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
