Da Costa's syndrome

Not to be confused with Erythrokeratodermia variabilis, a disorder also known as Mendes da Costa syndrome.
"Soldier's heart (medicine)" redirects here. For stress disorders in combat veterans, see Post-traumatic stress disorder. For other uses, see Soldier's heart (disambiguation).
Da Costa's syndrome
Other namesSoldier's heart, irritable heart syndrome,[1] neurocirculatory asthenia,[2] cardiac neurosis, chronic asthenia, effort syndrome, functional cardiovascular disease, primary neurasthenia, subacute asthenia
SpecialtyPsychiatry, Cardiology
Symptomsfatigue upon exertion, shortness of breath, palpitations, sweating, chest pain
Differential diagnosischronic fatigue syndrome, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), mitral valve prolapse syndrome

Da Costa's syndrome, also known as soldier's heart among other names, was a syndrome or a set of symptoms similar to those of heart disease. These include fatigue upon exertion, shortness of breath, palpitations, sweating, chest pain, and sometimes orthostatic intolerance. It was originally thought to be a cardiac condition, and treated with a predecessor to modern cardiac drugs. In modern times, it is believed to represent several unrelated disorders, some of which have a known medical basis.

Historically, similar forms of this disorder have been noticed in various wars, like the American Civil War and Crimean war, and among British troops who colonized India. The condition was named after Jacob Mendes Da Costa who investigated and described the disorder in 1871.[3][4]

  1. ^ Vilarinho, Yuri C. (2014). "Irritable heart syndrome in Anglo-American medical thought at the end of the nineteenth century". Historia, Ciencias, Saude--Manguinhos. 21 (4): 1151–1177. doi:10.1590/S0104-59702014000400005. ISSN 1678-4758. PMID 25606722.
  2. ^ Paul, O (October 1987). "Da Costa's syndrome or neurocirculatory asthenia". British Heart Journal. 58 (4): 306–315. doi:10.1136/hrt.58.4.306. ISSN 0007-0769. PMC 1277260. PMID 3314950.
  3. ^ Wooley, C F (1976-05-01). "Where are the diseases of yesteryear? DaCosta's syndrome, soldiers heart, the effort syndrome, neurocirculatory asthenia--and the mitral valve prolapse syndrome". Circulation. 53 (5): 749–751. doi:10.1161/01.CIR.53.5.749. PMID 770030. S2CID 5070867.
  4. ^ Halstead, Megan (2018-01-01). "Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome: An analysis of cross-cultural research, historical research, and patient narratives of the diagnostic experience". Senior Honors Theses & Projects.