Svetlana Blitshteyn: On the Front Line With Long Covid and POTS

Dr. Svetlana Blitshteyn, a neurologist and expert in dysautonomia based at the University of Buffalo, discusses her extensive experience treating Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and its increasing relevance due to Long Covid. She highlights the capacity for POTS to arise post-infection, such as after viruses like influenza or COVID-19. Dr. Blitshteyn stresses the importance of thorough diagnostic practices in identifying autonomic dysfunction, often overlooked without a proper stand test that evaluates blood pressure and heart rate while a patient stands for a period. She outlines treatment options including beta blockers, non-FDA approved medications like ivabradine, and emphasizes the potential of future therapies such as immunotherapy and neuromodulation via vagus nerve stimulation to manage these complex conditions. Additionally, she acknowledges the slow recovery process of Long Covid patients due to the autonomic, inflammatory, and autoimmune dysfunctions overlapping with POTS. Blitshteyn also notes the unfortunate skepticism from some clinicians about the seriousness of Long Covid and POTS, urging a balanced and serious consideration of these conditions' impact on patients' lives.