Faculty Collaboration Database

Benign Joint Hypermobility Minimally Impacts Autonomic Abnormalities in Pediatric Subjects with Chronic Functional Pain Disorders. J Pediatr 2016 Oct;177:49-52

Date

08/09/2016

Pubmed ID

27496265

DOI

10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.06.091

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84997610363 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   15 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine if children with benign joint hypermobility (BJH) syndrome and chronic functional pain disorders have more autonomic dysfunction.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review study of pediatric patients seen in the pediatric neurogastroenterology and autonomic clinic who underwent autonomic testing and had either a Beighton score of ≥6 and met Brighton criteria for BJH (with BJH) or a score of ≤2 (no BJH).

RESULTS: Twenty-one female subjects (10 without BJH) met inclusion criteria; 64% of BJH had diagnosis confirmed by genetics consultation. We evaluated for postural tachycardia syndrome, syncope, orthostatic intolerance, and orthostatic hypotension. None of these diagnoses, as well as baseline heart rate, peak heart rate in first 10 minutes of head up tilt (P = .35 and P = .61, respectively), and sudomotor index (suggestive of autonomic neuropathy) (P = .58), showed differences between the groups. Age of onset of symptoms was also similar (P = .61) (BJH vs without BJH: median [range]:15.6 years [12.9-17.5] vs 15.4 years [11.1-18.2]). There was no difference between groups in complaints of migraine, chronic nausea, chronic fatigue, lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting >3 times/lifetime, delayed onset of sleep, irritable bowel syndrome, dyspepsia, abdominal migraine, functional abdominal pain, constipation, or fibromyalgia.

CONCLUSIONS: Children with chronic functional pain disorders and BJH have autonomic testing findings and comorbid features compared with a similar cohort of subjects without BJH, suggesting that BJH is not the driver of the autonomic and comorbid disorders.

Author List

Chelimsky G, Kovacic K, Simpson P, Nugent M, Basel D, Banda J, Chelimsky T

Authors

Julie Banda NP APP Outpatient in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Donald Basel MD Chief, Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Katja K. Karrento MD Associate Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Pippa M. Simpson PhD Adjunct Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Autonomic Nervous System
Child
Chronic Pain
Female
Humans
Joint Instability
Retrospective Studies