Phenotyping Mitochondrial and Immune Dysfunction in POTS With Targeted Clinical Intervention. (NCT05409651)
🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)
The mechanisms underlying POTS are not well understood. Though heterogeneous in nature, patients often present with symptoms that include fatigue, orthostatic lightheadedness and tachycardia, "brain fog", shortness of breath, and sleep disruption. The central mediator that links observations in disease entities similar to POTS is energy use and balance driven by mitochondrial health. Mitochondrial dysfunction (i.e. respiration defects, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and structural abnormalities) are hallmarks of currently defined syndromes that resemble POTS symptomatology. Many patients with POTS have underlying immune system dysfunction, which, when treated, may improve the patient's overall health. Though autoimmunity has been demonstrated in POTS, overall immune dysregulation may be broader and include immune cell exhaustion and persistent inflammatory cytokine responses. Immune dysfunction including cellular exhaustion and persistent inflammation has been linked to mitochondrial function. Therefore, we hypothesize that a unifying feature of POTS results from latent or continued mitochondrial/immune dysfunction which then impacts multi-organ energy imbalance and immune homeostasis. Understanding and targeting mitochondria utilizing established, novel, and directed approaches including time-restricted eating (TRE) will help to unravel common etiologies and help us to better diagnose, manage, and treat POTS.
Who can join: To join this study, participants generally need to meet the listed inclusion criteria (7 items) and avoid the listed exclusions (27 items).
Location: Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute — La Jolla, California
📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener
Instant ChecklistCheck every box below. If you can check all of them, you may meet the study's basic screening requirements (final eligibility is confirmed by the site team).
Usually NOT eligible if any of the following apply:
- Exclusion Criteria:
- Taking insulin within the last 6 months.
- Manifest diabetes, defined as HbA1c \> 7.0% given a 0.3% margin of error in lab readings, or diagnosis of diabetes.
- Known inflammatory and/or rheumatologic disease.
- Active tobacco abuse or illicit drug use or history of treatment for alcohol abuse.
- Pregnant or breast-feeding women.
- Shift workers with variable (e.g. nocturnal) hours.
- Caregivers for dependents requiring frequent nocturnal care/sleep interruptions.
- Planned travel to a time zone with greater than a 3-hour difference during study period.
- History of a major adverse cardiovascular event within the past 1 year (acute coronary syndrome (ACS), percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, hospitalization for congestive heart failure, stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA)).
- Uncontrolled arrhythmia (i.e. rate-controlled atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter are not exclusion criteria).
- History of thyroid disease requiring dose titration of thyroid replacement medication(s) within the past 3 months (i.e. hypothyroidism on a stable dose of thyroid replacement therapy is not an exclusion).
🔍 Extracted verbatim from the official NIH eligibility criteria. Always confirm with the study coordinator.
📍 All Participating Trial Locations (1 Sites)
- Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute — La Jolla, California
💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights
- 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
- Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
- Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.