Situational syncope: response to head-up tilt testing and follow-up: comparison with vasovagal syncope

Among sequential patients with neurally-mediated syncope, we studied the response to head-up tilt test (HUTT) in patients with situational syncope (SS) and their follow-up. Our findings were compared to those in patients with vasovagal syncope (VVS). The response to HUTT in patients with SS has not to date been fully investigated. Additionally, the prognosis of SS patients has not been systematically studied. We studied 162 consecutive patients with recurrent SS or VVS, all free of structural heart disease. Before study inclusion, they underwent an HUTT and were followed up for 12 months. Patients with SS were advised to avoid the trigger event. Patients with VVS were treated with propranolol or fluoxetine. For each patient we compared the number of syncopal spells during the last 12 months before study inclusion with that during follow-up. Among the 162 patients, 36 had SS and 126 had VVS. The response to HUTT and the number of syncopes before and during follow-up were similar in both groups. Among patients with SS, 10 (28%) had also experienced occasional episodes of VVS; however, they had a similar response to HUTT and prognosis to the remaining 26 SS patients without VVS attacks. Patients with SS have a similar response to HUTT and similarly benign clinical course to patients with VVS. The coexistence of occasional VVS episodes in patients with SS is not associated with a higher rate of positive HUTT or worse prognosis.