Reproducibility of head upright tilt table test results in patients with syncope

Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 1992 Oct;15(10 Pt 1):1477-81. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8159.1992.tb02921.x.

Abstract

Head upright tilt table testing is a promising technique for the evaluation and management of vasovagal (neuroregulatory) syncope. In order to determine the day-to-day reproducibility of results using this technique we performed head upright tilt table testing (with or without graded isoproterenol infusion) in 21 patients (12 males, 9 females, mean age 34 +/- 19.1 years). During the first tilt study a total of 14 patients experienced syncope (six during baseline tilt, mean tilt time 15.8 +/- 7 minutes, eight following tilt with graded isoproterenol infusion, mean tilt time 17.7 +/- 9 minutes) while seven were negative. During the second tilt study (performed 3-7 days following the first study) the results of the first study were duplicated in 19 patients (90%) (six during baseline tilt, mean time 17.5 +/- 8 minutes, eight following graded isoproterenol infusion, mean time 15.9 +/- 7 minutes), however the level of provocation required to provoke syncope differed from that needed in the initial test in five patients (24%). We conclude that the results of head upright tilt table testing with graded isoproterenol infusions can be duplicated in 90% of patients, although some day-to-day variability exists in the degree of provocation necessary to elicit a positive response.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Blood Pressure / physiology
  • Bradycardia / etiology
  • Female
  • Heart Rate / physiology
  • Humans
  • Hypotension, Orthostatic / etiology
  • Isoproterenol
  • Male
  • Monitoring, Physiologic / methods
  • Posture / physiology*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Syncope / epidemiology
  • Syncope / etiology*
  • Time Factors
  • Vagus Nerve / physiopathology*

Substances

  • Isoproterenol