POTS, ME/CFS, and Long COVID as Neuroimmune Disorders

This Brain Inflammation Collaborative webinar focused on the intersection of POTS, ME-CFS, and Long COVID as neuroimmune disorders. Dr. Svetlana Blitshteyn explained that dysautonomia is a broad umbrella term and that POTS is one subtype. She shared her research showing that many POTS patients have positive ANA and comorbid autoimmune disorders, and she argued that these conditions involve neuroinflammation, cerebral hypoperfusion, and mitochondrial dysfunction. She discussed the role of the dorsolateral medulla in the brainstem and mentioned potential treatments like IVIG, subcutaneous immunoglobulin, and GLP-1RAs. Francie Fitzgerald shared her 16-year personal journey with POTS, describing a long diagnostic odyssey and the challenges of navigating a fragmented medical system. She emphasized the need for a middle path between invalidation and over-treatment, grounded in evidence-based care. Deborah Derick’s spoke on the Brain Inflammation Collaborative's Unhide Platform, a free patient-driven platform for symptom tracking and research participation. During the Q&A, Dr. Svetlana Blitshteyn addressed questions about Sjogren's, epilepsy, and the validity of GPCR antibody testing.