Immunotherapy with subcutaneous immunoglobulin or plasmapheresis in patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).

Background: Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), one of the most common autonomic disorders, is associated with significant morbidity and functional impairment. Although several possible etiologies have been proposed, autoimmunity has emerged as one of the leading causes with various specific and non-specific antibodies identified in patients with POTS. Treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin has been previously described.

Identification and characterization of Francisella species from natural warm springs in Utah, USA.

Aims: To characterize Francisella isolated from two natural warm springs in Utah and compare them to a strain isolated from a patient with probable exposure to one of the springs in 2001.

Methods And Results: A total of 39 presumptive Francisella isolates were obtained from two springs, Wasatch Hot Spring and Hobo Warm Spring, just north of Salt Lake City, Utah. All isolates were characterized by a combination of biochemical and molecular analyses, including novel PCR/electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) typing assays.