The Korean journal of internal medicine

The Korean Association of Internal Medicine (대한내과학회)
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Positive Result in the Early Passive Phase of the Tilt-table Test: A Predictor of Neurocardiogenic Syncope in Young Men

  • Uhm, Jae-Sun (Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine) ;
  • Youn, Ho-Joong (Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine) ;
  • Chung, Woo-Baek (Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine) ;
  • Choi, Yun-Seok (Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine) ;
  • Park, Chul-Soo (Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine) ;
  • Oh, Yong-Seog (Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine) ;
  • Chung, Wook-Sung (Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine) ;
  • Park, Kyung-Il (Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Tae-Suk (Department of Internal Medicine, Armed Forces Capital Hospital)
  • Published : 2012.03.01
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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 $70^{\circ}$ 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 drugprovocation 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 ${\geq}\;4$ (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 (${\leq}$ 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.

Keywords

References

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