2022 POTS UNMASKED KEYNOTE SPEAKER DR ANDREW MAXWELL

Dr. Andrew Maxwell's keynote address provides a comprehensive overview of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), emphasizing its diagnostic criteria, symptoms, and the underlying mechanisms. He highlights the distinction between dysautonomia and POTS, noting that POTS is not solely a subset of autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Maxwell discusses various factors contributing to POTS, including hypermobility and connective tissue disorders, infections like COVID-19, and autoimmune conditions like Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). He explains the "pentad super syndrome," encompassing dysautonomia, MCAS, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, gastrointestinal dysmotility, and autoimmune diseases. Maxwell mentions methods for diagnosing POTS, including heart rate standing tests and exercise testing to assess stroke volume and sympathetic overdrive. He emphasizes the complex interaction between these conditions, adding insights into post-COVID-19 syndrome and its similarities with POTS. This discussion broadens the understanding of POTS and its intersection with other syndromes, aiding both patient awareness and clinical management strategies.