Characterizing the Role of the Gut Microbiota in POTS. Gut Microbiota in POTS

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a devastating chronic form of orthostatic intolerance associated with excessive heart rate increase without hypotension during upright posture. POTS patients exhibit increased circulating norepinephrine levels with exaggerated sympathetic nervous system response upon standing. Emerging evidence suggests a role for the gut microbiome in cardiovascular disorders. However, the etiology of POTS and whether the gut microbiome plays a role are not fully elucidated. We assessed whether the gut microbiome and fecal short-chain fatty acids were different in POTS patients (N=25) compared to healthy control (N=23) women. Fecal samples were collected and analyzed using shotgun sequencing. Alpha and beta diversity were similar between groups. We observed no differences in bacteria at the phylum levels or Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio. We found no significant differences at the genus level, but observed trends in certain bacteria. Further studies are needed to assess the role of the alterations observed at the genus level.