Korean J Intern Med.  2012 Mar;27(1):60-65. 10.3904/kjim.2012.27.1.60.

Positive Result in the Early Passive Phase of the Tilt-table Test: A Predictor of Neurocardiogenic Syncope in Young Men

• Uhm JS
• Youn HJ
• Chung WB
• Choi YS
• Park CS
• Oh YS
• Chung WS
• Park KI
• Kim TS

• KMID: 1776567
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2012.27.1.60

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
This study elucidated the prognostic factors for neurocardiogenic syncope in males in their late teens and early twenties.
METHODS
Tilt-table testing (TTT) was performed on 665 males (age range, 17 to 27 years) following the Italian protocol. The subjects were tilted head-up at a 70degrees angle on a table for 30 minutes during the passive phase. If the passive phase was negative, the subjects were given sublingual nitroglycerin and tilted to the same angle for 20 minutes during the drug-provocation phase. The subjects with positive results were followed without medication. We analyzed factors related to the recurrence rate of syncope.
RESULTS
Of 305 subjects (45.8%) with positive results, 223 (age range, 18 to 26 years) were followed for 12 months. The frequency of previous syncopal episodes > or = 4 (p = 0.001) and a positive result during the passive phase (p = 0.022) were significantly related to a high recurrence rate. A positive result during the early passive phase (< or = 12 minutes) was significantly related to a higher recurrence rate than was that during the late passive phase (> 12 minutes; p = 0.011).
CONCLUSIONS
A positive result during the early passive phase of TTT and frequent previous syncopal episodes were prognostic factors for neurocardiogenic syncope in men in their late teens and early twenties.

Keyword

Syncope, vasovagal; Prognosis; Tilt-table test

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Humans
Logistic Models
Male
Multivariate Analysis
Predictive Value of Tests
Prognosis
Prospective Studies
Recurrence
Republic of Korea
Sex Factors
Syncope, Vasovagal/*diagnosis/physiopathology
*Tilt-Table Test
Time Factors
Young Adult