| The Usefulness of the Head-up Tilt Test for Diagnosis of Syncope in Pediatric Patients |
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Hye Jin Yun, Sun Hee Rim, So Young Yun, Jae Kon Ko, Young Hwue Kim, In Sook Park |
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Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center, College of Medicine, University of Ulsan, Seoul, Korea |
| 실신 양상을 보인 소아에서 Head-up Tilt Test의 유용성 |
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윤혜진, 임선희, 윤소영, 고재곤, 김영휘, 박인숙 |
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울산대학교 의과대학 소아과학교실 |
Correspondence:
Jae Kon Ko, Email: jgko@amc.seoul.kr
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| Abstract |
Purpose
: The purpose of this study is to examine the usefulness of the head-up tilt test for
diagnosis of unexplained syncope in children.
Methods
: Head-up tilt test results and clinical features of 41 children with unexplained syncope,
presyncope, dizziness and seizure were studied from January, 1997 through January, 2001 at Asan
Medical Center. Medical records of children were reviewed retrospectively. The children were
evaluated with an 80 degrees head-up tilt test for 15 minutes with or without intravenous infusion
of isoproterenol(0.05-0.1 μg/kg/min).
Results
: 41 children made up the study population, of whom 23(56%) had a positive head-up tilt
test and 21(60%) of 35 patients with a history of syncope or presyncope had a positive head-up
tilt test. Isoproterenol infusion provoked the more positive head-up tilt test. The patients with
positive test results showed three patterns of response to tilting. 16 patients had a predominantly
vasodepressor response; three patients had a cardioinhibitory response; and four patients had a
mixed response. The patients had an average of five studies performed per patient, including chest
radiograph, electrocardiogram, 24 hour Holter monitoring, treadmil test, head computed tomographic
scan or magnetic resonance imaging, and echocardiography. The head-up tilt test was
most effective for evaluation of unexplained syncope in children.
Conclusion
: Head-up tilt testing performed early in the evaluation will increase the probability
of a diagnosis, and will often prevent the need for further extensive, expensive, anxiety-producing
tests in children. More controlled studies and a standardization of degree and duration of tilting
are necessary to validate the head-up tilt test as a useful diagnostic tool in children with unexplained
syncope. |
| Key Words:
Head-up tilt test, Vasovagal syncope |
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