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What is the significance of elevated fractionated catecholamines in POTS?

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Do you routinely use serum catecholamines in evaluation of POTS?

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2 Answers
Mednet Member
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Neurology · Harvard Medical School- MGH
Answered on

Dear Dr. @Dr. First Last,

I don't think we understand the pathophysiology of POTS well enough to comprehensively answer this question.

There are a number of technical issues that come into play when drawing serum catecholamines.

First of all, many things can elevate catecholamines temporarily: exercise...

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Mednet Member
Mednet Member
Neurology · Froedtert Hospital
Answered on

I agree with Dr. @Dr. First Last. Let me add 2 things:

  1. I believe it was implied, but let’s be clear that when we are talking about excessive catecholamines, we are talking about the ratio of the standing to the lying norepinephrine values, not absolute values. We can classify that easily into 3 patt...

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