Soldier’s heart: the forgotten circulatory neurasthenia – a systematic review: Borges et al May 2020

[Sly Saint]

Abstract
Soldier’s Heart (SH) is a former medical diagnosis, rarely mentioned nowadays, presented under several other names. Considering the controversy regarding the removal of Soldier’s Heart diagnosis from DSM-5, this study aimed to conduct a systematic review to evaluate its usage in the clinical practice. Information on diagnosis, military stress, heart rate variability, treatment, and prognosis were collected from 19 studies included after a systematic literature search. Considering the lack of adequate use of Soldier’s Heart diagnosis and the diagnostic overlapping with other conditions, the present systematic review supports the inclusion of Soldier’s Heart under the umbrella of posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSDs). This proposal is also in line with the conception that physical symptoms are relevant features often associated with generalized anxiety disorder and PTSD. Also, it will be described the higher prevalence of cardiological comorbidities in SH and possible cardiological consequences. Pharmacotherapy based on benzodiazepines and beta-blockers, as well as biofeedback and mindfulness techniques are considered to be useful treatment options. Further studies are needed to better define psychopathological domains of this syndrome and possible novel treatment targets.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09540261.2020.1757925?journalCode=iirp20

not on scihub yet

 

[Sly Saint]

For more info and other view

“Soldier's Heart”: A Genetic Basis for Elevated Cardiovascular Disease Risk Associated with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Abstract
“Soldier's Heart,” is an American Civil War term linking post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with increased propensity for cardiovascular disease (CVD). We have hypothesized that there might be a quantifiable genetic basis for this linkage. To test this hypothesis we identified a comprehensive set of candidate risk genes for PTSD, and tested whether any were also independent risk genes for CVD. A functional analysis algorithm was used to identify associated signaling networks. We identified 106 PTSD studies that report one or more polymorphic variants in 87 candidate genes in 83,463 subjects and controls. The top upstream drivers for these PTSD risk genes are predicted to be the glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1) and Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNFA). We find that 37 of the PTSD candidate risk genes are also candidate independent risk genes for CVD. The association between PTSD and CVD is significant by Fisher's Exact Test (P = 3 × 10−54). We also find 15 PTSD risk genes that are independently associated with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM; also significant by Fisher's Exact Test (P = 1.8 × 10−16). Our findings offer quantitative evidence for a genetic link between post-traumatic stress and cardiovascular disease, Computationally, the common mechanism for this linkage between PTSD and CVD is innate immunity and NFκB-mediated inflammation.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5033971/

 

[Webdog]

Probably bears repeating. On the UpToDate website, Gluckman (with Komaroff editor) states that "Soldier's Heart" is just another term used to describe ME/CFS.

Clinical features and diagnosis of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome
Author: Stephen J Gluckman, MD
Section Editor: Anthony L Komaroff, MD
Deputy Editor: Jennifer Mitty, MD, MPH
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/c...ic-encephalomyelitis-chronic-fatigue-syndrome

The condition has long been recognized, and many different terms have been used to describe it (eg, DaCosta's syndrome, effort syndrome, soldier's heart, neurasthenia, myalgic encephalitis/encephalomyelitis, Iceland disease, Akureyri disease, Royal Free disease, and chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome)

 

[InitialConditions]

Might start using this name, see where it gets me.