Treatment of Orthostatic Hypotension in Autonomic Failure

Summary

The autonomic nervous system serves multiple regulatory functions in the body, including the regulation of blood pressure and heart rate, gut motility, sweating and sexual function. There are several diseases characterized by abnormal function of the autonomic nervous system. Medications can also alter autonomic function. Impairment of the autonomic nervous system by diseases or drugs may lead to several symptoms, including blood pressure problems (e.g., high blood pressure lying down and low blood pressure on standing), sweating abnormalities, constipation or diarrhea and sexual dysfunction. Because treatment options for these patients are limited. We propose to study patients autonomic failure and low blood pressure upon standing and determine the cause of their disease by history and examination and their response to autonomic testing which have already been standardized in our laboratory. Based on their possible cause, we will tests different medications that may alleviate their symptoms.

Timeline

Start

2002-03

Primary completion

2017-01

Completion

2017-01

Publications

• Background Shibao C, Okamoto L, Biaggioni I. Pharmacotherapy of autonomic failure. Pharmacol Ther. 2012 Jun;134(3):279-86. doi: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2011.05.009. Epub 2011 Jun 12.
• Background Garland EM, Hooper WB, Robertson D. Pure autonomic failure. Handb Clin Neurol. 2013;117:243-57. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-444-53491-0.00020-1.
• Background Arnold AC, Biaggioni I. Management approaches to hypertension in autonomic failure. Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens. 2012 Sep;21(5):481-5. doi: 10.1097/MNH.0b013e328356c52f.
• Results Jordan J, Shannon JR, Biaggioni I, Norman R, Black BK, Robertson D; New Collective Author. Contrasting actions of pressor agents in severe autonomic failure. Am J Med. 1998 Aug;105(2):116-24. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9343(98)00193-4.
• Results Shibao C, Gamboa A, Diedrich A, Biaggioni I. Management of hypertension in the setting of autonomic failure: a pathophysiological approach. Hypertension. 2005 Apr;45(4):469-76. doi: 10.1161/01.HYP.0000158835.94916.0c. Epub 2005 Feb 28.
• Results Shibao C, Arzubiaga C, Roberts LJ 2nd, Raj S, Black B, Harris P, Biaggioni I. Hyperadrenergic postural tachycardia syndrome in mast cell activation disorders. Hypertension. 2005 Mar;45(3):385-90. doi: 10.1161/01.HYP.0000158259.68614.40. Epub 2005 Feb 14.
• Results Jordan J, Shannon JR, Diedrich A, Black B, Robertson D, Biaggioni I. Water potentiates the pressor effect of ephedra alkaloids. Circulation. 2004 Apr 20;109(15):1823-5. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000126283.99195.37. Epub 2004 Apr 5.
• Results Jacob G, Costa F, Biaggioni I. Spectrum of autonomic cardiovascular neuropathy in diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2003 Jul;26(7):2174-80. doi: 10.2337/diacare.26.7.2174.
• Results Biaggioni I, Robertson RM. Hypertension in orthostatic hypotension and autonomic dysfunction. Cardiol Clin. 2002 May;20(2):291-301, vii. doi: 10.1016/s0733-8651(01)00005-4.
• Results Jordan J, Biaggioni I. Diagnosis and treatment of supine hypertension in autonomic failure patients with orthostatic hypotension. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2002 Mar-Apr;4(2):139-45. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-6175.2001.00516.x.
• Results Shannon JR, Diedrich A, Biaggioni I, Tank J, Robertson RM, Robertson D, Jordan J; New Collective Author. Water drinking as a treatment for orthostatic syndromes. Am J Med. 2002 Apr 1;112(5):355-60. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9343(02)01025-2.
• Results Jordan J, Shannon JR, Black BK, Ali Y, Farley M, Costa F, Diedrich A, Robertson RM, Biaggioni I, Robertson D; New Collective Author. The pressor response to water drinking in humans : a sympathetic reflex? Circulation. 2000 Feb 8;101(5):504-9. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.101.5.504.
• Results Shibao C, Gamboa A, Diedrich A, Dossett C, Choi L, Farley G, Biaggioni I. Acarbose, an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, attenuates postprandial hypotension in autonomic failure. Hypertension. 2007 Jul;50(1):54-61. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.107.091355. Epub 2007 May 21.
• Results Shibao C, Raj SR, Gamboa A, Diedrich A, Choi L, Black BK, Robertson D, Biaggioni I. Norepinephrine transporter blockade with atomoxetine induces hypertension in patients with impaired autonomic function. Hypertension. 2007 Jul;50(1):47-53. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.107.089961. Epub 2007 May 21.
• Results Shibao C, Okamoto LE, Gamboa A, Yu C, Diedrich A, Raj SR, Robertson D, Biaggioni I. Comparative efficacy of yohimbine against pyridostigmine for the treatment of orthostatic hypotension in autonomic failure. Hypertension. 2010 Nov;56(5):847-51. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.110.154898. Epub 2010 Sep 13.
• Results Okamoto LE, Shibao C, Gamboa A, Choi L, Diedrich A, Raj SR, Black BK, Robertson D, Biaggioni I. Synergistic effect of norepinephrine transporter blockade and alpha-2 antagonism on blood pressure in autonomic failure. Hypertension. 2012 Mar;59(3):650-6. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.111.184812. Epub 2012 Feb 6.
• Okamoto LE, Walsh E, Diedrich A, Shibao CA, Gamboa A, Black BK, Paranjape SY, Muldowney JA 3rd, Habermann R, Peltier A, Tarpara K, Biaggioni I. Clinical Correlates of Efficacy of Pyridostigmine in the Treatment of Orthostatic Hypotension. Hypertension. 2025 Mar;82(3):489-497. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.124.24050. Epub 2024 Dec 27.
• Okamoto LE, Diedrich A, Baudenbacher FJ, Harder R, Whitfield JS, Iqbal F, Gamboa A, Shibao CA, Black BK, Raj SR, Robertson D, Biaggioni I. Efficacy of Servo-Controlled Splanchnic Venous Compression in the Treatment of Orthostatic Hypotension: A Randomized Comparison With Midodrine. Hypertension. 2016 Aug;68(2):418-26. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.116.07199. Epub 2016 Jun 6.

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