Investigating antibodies in patients with Postural Tachycardia Syndrome
The Pathophysiological Role of Adrenergic Antibodies in Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (Aims #1&2)
This study is testing if people with Postural Tachycardia Syndrome have more specific antibodies in their blood compared to healthy individuals, which could help us understand the condition better.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 125 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 60 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Calgary Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Calgary, Alberta) |
| Trial ID | NCT02673996 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This observational study aims to determine if patients with Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) have a higher percentage of functional antibodies to adrenergic receptors compared to healthy control subjects. The study will involve patients aged 18-60 who have been diagnosed with POTS and will utilize a rat cremaster artery assay to assess the contractile activity of their sera. The findings could provide insights into the autoimmune aspects of POTS and potentially lead to new treatment approaches.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are individuals aged 18-60 who have been diagnosed with Postural Tachycardia Syndrome.
Not a fit: Patients with overt causes for postural tachycardia or significant cardiovascular, pulmonary, hepatic, or hematological diseases may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to a better understanding of POTS and the development of targeted therapies for patients suffering from this condition.
How similar studies have performed: While this approach is novel in the context of POTS, similar studies investigating autoimmune mechanisms in other conditions have shown promising results.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients who have been previously diagnosed with POTS * Control subjects (patients not diagnosed with POTS) * Age between 18 - 60 years * Males and Females (Give that \>80% of POTS patients are female, we will attempt to enroll a similar percentage of female control subjects) * Able and willing to provide consent Exclusion Criteria: * Smokers * Overt cause for postural tachycardia, i.e., acute dehydration * Significant cardiovascular, pulmonary, hepatic, or hematological disease by history or prior testing * Highly trained athletes * Subjects with somatization or severe anxiety symptoms will be excluded * Use of drospirenone (a spironolactone analogue) containing oral contraceptive agent * Hypertension defined as supine resting BP\>145/95 mmHg off medications or needing antihypertensive medication * Other factors which in the investigator's opinion would prevent the participant from completing the protocol, including poor compliance during previous studies or an unpredictable schedule * Unable to give informed consent
Where this trial is running
Calgary, Alberta
- University of Calgary — Calgary, Alberta, Canada (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Satish R Raj, MD, MSCI — University of Calgary
- Study coordinator: Satish R Raj, MD, MSCI
- Email: autonomic.research@ucalgary.ca
- Phone: 403-210-6152
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.