Cited by 53Cardiovascular Syncope and Autonomic DisordersVestibular and auditory disordersHeart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control

Syncope Without Prodromes in Patients With Normal Heart and Normal Electrocardiogram

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Deharo, Jean-Claude, Guieu, Regis, Mechulan, Alexis, Peyrouse, Eric, Kipson, Nathalie, Ruf, Jean, Gerolami, Victoria, Devoto, Gianluigi +2 more·2013·Journal of the American College of Cardiology

Abstract

Objectives This study sought to investigate the clinical and laboratory findings of patients affected by sudden-onset syncope without prodromes who had a normal heart and normal electrocardiogram.Background The pathophysiology of syncope in these patients is uncertain.Methods We compared the clinical and laboratory findings of 15 patients with sudden-onset syncope without prodromes who had a normal heart and normal electrocardiogram (the study group) with those of 31 patients with established vasovagal syncope (VVS).Results The patients in the study group were older than those with VVS (age 61 ± 12 years vs. 46 ± 17 years) and had a history of fewer episodes of syncope (median of 2 [interquartile range [IQR]: 1 to 2.5] vs. 9 [IQR: 4 to 15] years) that were of more recent onset (median of 1 [IQR: 0 to 1] vs. 10.5 [IQR: 3.3 to 27] years). The study group had lower median baseline adenosine plasmatic levels than the VVS group (0.25 μmol/l [95% confidence interval: 0.10 to 1.51] vs. 0.85 μmol/l [95% confidence interval: 0.32 to 2.80]). On receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis, the adenosine plasmatic level of ≤0.36 best discriminated between groups, displaying 73% sensitivity and 93% specificity. Tilt table testing was more frequently positive in patients with VVS than in the study group (74% vs. 33%). A similarly high positivity rate of adenosine/adenosine triphosphate testing was found in both groups.Conclusions Common clinical features and a low adenosine plasmatic level define a distinct form of syncope, distinguish it from VVS, and suggest a causal role of the adenosine pathway.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.jacc.2013.05.060

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  • ATP testing was positive in most patients with syncope of unknown origin, especially syncope without prodrome and without structural heart disease, but not in controls.

    “ATP testing was positive in most patients with syncope of unknown origin (especially syncope without prodrome and without structural heart disease 4 ) but not in controls”

    From 2018 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of syncope (2018) · cites this paper as [4]

    The Discussion reports a 60% positive adenosine/ATP-test rate in patients with sudden syncope without prodromes and a normal heart. It does not support 'not in controls': it reports a 5% positive rate in people without syncope and says testing was also frequently positive in the study's vasovagal-syncope control group. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The adenosine/adenosine triphosphate (ATP) provocation test has been performed to demonstrate the utility of adenosine sensitivity and paroxysmal cardioinhibitory propensity for the selection of appropriate pacemaker candidates.

    “In parallel, the adenosine/adenosine triphosphate (ATP) provocation test has been performed to demonstrate the utility of adenosine sensitivity and paroxysmal cardioinhibitory propensity for the selection of appropriate pacemaker candidates. 4,227,228”

    From 2018 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of syncope (2018) · cites this paper as [4]

    The Methods (pp. 1075–80) describe adenosine/ATP provocation testing and define a positive result by prolonged atrioventricular block or asystole. But the Discussion says the test could not distinguish the study group from patients with vasovagal syncope; the paper does not demonstrate its utility for selecting pacemaker candidates. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • In patients with low-adenosine syncope, tilt testing is usually negative.

    “Unlike in VVS, tilt testing is usually negative. 4,226”
  • The entity of 'low-adenosine syncope' has been described in patients with otherwise unexplained syncope with sudden onset without prodrome, a normal heart, and normal ECG.

    “Similarly, the entity of ' low-adenosine syncope ' has recently been described in patients who have an otherwise unexplained syncope with sudden onset without prodrome, a normal heart, and normal ECG. 4”
  • Cardiac pacing effectively prevents syncopal recurrences in this syndrome.

    “Cardiac pacing effectively prevents syncopal recurrences.112,139,140”

    From 2015 Heart Rhythm Society Expert Consensus Statement on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Postural Tachycardia Syndrome, Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia, and Vasovagal Syncope (2015) · cites this paper as [139]

    The Methods and Results describe adenosine levels and diagnostic testing, not treatment or recurrence after pacing. The Discussion discusses a possible mechanism and an ongoing study, but does not establish that cardiac pacing prevents syncopal recurrences (searched: pacing, pacemaker, recurrence, and treatment). (LLM, conf=0.76)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [7]7. Linzer M, Yang EH, Estes NA III, Wang P, Vorperian VR, Kapoor WN. Part 2: Unexplained syncope. Ann Intern Med 1997;127:76-86.
  2. [20]20. Burnstock G, Kennedy C. Purinergic receptors in the cardiovascular system. Prog Pharmacol 1986;6:111-32.

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Authors
Deharo, J.-C., Guieu, R., Mechulan, A., Peyrouse, E., Kipson, N., Ruf, J., Gerolami, V., Devoto, G., Marrè, V., & Brignole, M.
Affiliations
  • Hôpital de la Timone (FR)
  • Presidio Ospedaliero (IT)
Corresponding author
Brignole, Michele
Venue
Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2013-09
Volume
62
Issue
12
Pages
1075-1080
ISSN
0735-1097 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2146821111
Cited by
53
References
22
Citations by year
2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 4
FWCI
4.92
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of the American College of Cardiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
American College of Cardiology Foundation
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Cardiovascular Syncope and Autonomic Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Vestibular and auditory disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
Keywords
vasovagal syncope, adenosine triphosphate, adenosine pathway, tilt table test, differential diagnosis of syncope, normal electrocardiogram, normal heart
MeSH terms
Adenosine, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Electrocardiography, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Syncope, Young Adult, Prodromal Symptoms

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