Head-up Tilt Testing in pediatric age: a retrospective observational study

• Type: Summary of Presentation in an International Conference
• Date: 2012

Authors

Rangel I (Author) Other; Freitas J (Author) Other; Sousa C (Author) Other; Paiva M (Author) Other; Correia AS (Author) Other; Sousa A (Author) Other; Lebreiro A (Author) Other; Maciel MJ (Author) FMUP

Conference proceedings International

Title: European Journal of Preventive Cardiology

Initial page: S124

EuroPRevent 2012

Dublin, 3 a 5 de Maio 2012

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Clinical medicine

Other information

Abstract (EN): Background: Syncope is a common clinical problem in children and adolescents. Head-up tilt testing (HUTT) is a valuable diagnostic tool to investigate unexplained syncope, but limited data is available in pediatric population. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of HUTT in pediatric unexplained syncope patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical records of 100 patients aged less than 18 years, undergoing HUTT from January 1997 through June 2011. Information about their episodes, prodromes, triggers, as well as the HUTT outcomes was evaluated. Results: From the 100 patients enrolled, 66 were female, average age 15 years. In 76 patients, prolonged standing up was the major reported trigger. Dizziness (82%) and blurred vision (63%) were the most experienced prodromal symptoms. Asthenia (63%) and skin pallor (68%) were the major manifestations in the recovering phase. Eighty-two of 100 had a positive test (vasodepressor response in 46, cardioinhibitory in 8, mixed in 28). There was no significant difference between the two outcome groups (positive versus negative HUTT) regarding prodromes, frequency of recent syncope episodes (in the 12 months preceding HUTT), triggers and recovery manifestations (p>0,05 for all the variables). All positive HUTT patients were reassured, counseled about recognizing their prodromes, and to perform counterpulsation and postural maneuvers to abort syncope. Conclusions: The clinical manifestations associated with syncopal episodes reported in pediatric patients are nonspecific and none of them predict neurocardiogenic syncope. HUTT gives potentially useful information about syncope, enabling the etiological diagnosis of the vast majority of pediatric patients (82 % in this population)

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

Notes: Rangel I, Freitas J, Sousa C, Paiva M, Correia AS, Sousa A, Lebreiro A, Maciel MJ. Head-up Tilt Testing in pediatric age: a retrospective observational study. Eur J Prev Cardiol 2012; 19 (Supl I): S124