Arterial flow waveforms, vascular tone, and chronic fatigue: a case report

Auton Neurosci. 2015 Jul;190:58-60. doi: 10.1016/j.autneu.2015.03.003. Epub 2015 Mar 24.

Abstract

We present the case of a patient with chronic fatigue secondary to Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) who had distinctive abnormalities in his arterial waveform morphology as assessed by pulse oximetry. Moreover, the patient's arterial waveform changed markedly from being supine to upright, suggesting that arterial flow patterns may be abnormal in our patient. Analysis of the waveform suggested a positional hypovolemia as the cause of his orthostatic intolerance. We review general aspects of arterial flow waveform analysis pertinent to health care providers and discuss the pathophysiology of POTS.

Keywords: Dicrotic notch; Dysautonomia; POTS; Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome; Pulse oximetry; Pulse wave travel time.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Chronic Disease
  • Fatigue / etiology
  • Fatigue / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Hypovolemia / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Oximetry / methods
  • Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome / complications
  • Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome / physiopathology*
  • Posture / physiology
  • Wavelet Analysis