Familial orthostatic tachycardia due to norepinephrine transporter deficiency

Item Type:	Article
Title:	Familial orthostatic tachycardia due to norepinephrine transporter deficiency
Creators Name:	Robertson, D. and Flattem, N. and Tellioglu, T. and Carson, R. and Garland, E. and Shannon, J.R. and Jordan, J. and Jacob, G. and Blakely, R.D. and Biaggioni, I.
Abstract:	Orthostatic intolerance (OI) or postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a syndrome primarily affecting young females, and is characterized by lightheadedness, palpitations, fatigue, altered mentation, and syncope primarily occurring with upright posture and being relieved by lying down. There is typically tachycardia and raised plasma norepinephrine levels on upright posture, but little or no orthostatic hypotension. The pathophysiology of OI is believed to be very heterogeneous. Most studies of the syndrome have focused on abnormalities in norepinephrine release. Here the hypothesis that abnormal norepinephrine transporter (NET) function might contribute to the pathophysiology in some patients with OI was tested. In a proband with significant orthostatic symptoms and tachycardia, disproportionately elevated plasma norepinephrine with standing, impaired systemic, and local clearance of infused tritiated norepinephrine, impaired tyramine responsiveness, and a dissociataion between stimulated plasma norepinephrine and DHPG elevation were found. Studies of NET gene structure in the proband revealed a coding mutation that converts a highly conserved transmembrane domain Ala residue to Pro. Analysis of the protein produced by the mutant cDNA in transfected cells demonstrated greater than 98% reduction in activity relative to normal. NE, DHPG/NE, and heart rate correlated with the mutant allele in this family. Conclusion: These results represent the first identification of a specific genetic defect in OI and the first disease linked to a coding alteration in a Na+/Cl−-dependent neurotransmitter transporter. Identification of this mechanism may facilitate our understanding of genetic causes of OI and lead to the development of more effective therapeutic modalities.
Keywords:	Norepinephrine, Tachycardia, Orthostatic Intolerance (OI), Norepinephrine Transporter (NET), Mitral Valve Prolapse
Source:	Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
ISSN:	0077-8923
Publisher:	New York Academy of Sciences
Volume:	940
Page Range:	527-543
Date:	June 2001
Official Publication:	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2001.tb03703.x
PubMed:	View item in PubMed

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