Is Genetic Pots Most Likely Mast Cell?

[puppylove]

I found out recently that a cousin I have never met, who is also a kid, has POTS. And another one of my cousins has been really sick lately with similar symptoms to mine, and they are looking in to POTS. Chronic fatigue and fainting also runs in my family. If my POTS is genetic would that mean it is Mast Cell Disease? Or is most dysautonomia genetic? I could see how someone might pass down mast cells, but can you pass down POTS? Sorry if this doesn't make much sense, it's really late . Thanks!

[Christy_D]

I think that POTS has a genetic predisposition to it. Certain things can happen to trigger POTS. Other family members might be also predisposed but without those triggers, they never have a problem. My son has POTS and MCAS, while other family members have had mild POTS symptoms. My daughter is my fainter, but her symptoms aren't on a daily basis like his.

So, no I don't think genetic dysautonomia is caused necessarily from MCAS. That is my take on it.

[Katybug]

I agree with Christy. POTS and mcas can both be passed genetically but are not the same thing even if genetics is the origin of the syndrome. And, also there are genes that are automatically expressed, such as your hair and eye color, but other genes (ones that often cause syndromes like mcas or POTS) often need a specific trigger in each person for gene expression to occur. It is actually why some smokers get lung cancer from smoking and some don't ...the smoking activates the cancerous gene in those that have the genetic marker predisposing them to that cancer. (Wow...can't believe I remembered that from college!) The women on my mom's side of my family all have autoimmune thyroid and pots, mcas, and eds symptoms of varying degrees. Each of us has a slight variation in our presentation but it clearly has to have a genetic link...it spans three generations and 4 women.

[yogini]

not sure about mast cell, but POTS in and of itself seems to run in families.

[puppylove]

Okay, I understand now. Thanks

[~elizabeth~]

Chronic fatigue and autonomic problems (which includes POTS) are also very common with Ehlers Danlos/Joint hypermobility syndrome, which is probably the most common cause of POTS here in the UK (I barely know of anyone with POTS here who hasn't been diagnosed as having hypermobile joints) and is a genetic condition where you body produces too much of the wrong sort of collagen. I had no idea I might have this condition until my autonomic problems started, although since I've started having a lot of arthritis problems.

Not every family member with EDS necessarily shows the full range of symptoms although conditions like flat feet, varicose veins, hiatus hernia and GERD that suggest weak connective tissue maybe more prevalent than the average, and affect males as well as females in equal proportions. Google Beighton Scale, and see how you score to get an idea if this may be a problem for you, or your relatives. It's important to know, as people with EDS do not respond as well to surgery or other invasive medical procedures as people with normal collagen, so it's as well to know if you have it.

[ramakentesh]

In Low Flow POTS a genetic deficit in ACE 2 activity is suspected.