Copeptin: a blood test marker of syncope

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Cardiology
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Copeptin (CPT), a stress hormone, has emerged as a novel marker for acute conditions.
• Its diagnostic utility in syncope, a common cause of collapse, remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate copeptin's role in diagnosing syncope.
• To determine its diagnostic sensitivity and specificity compared to falls.
• To explore correlations between syncope types and copeptin levels.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-one syncope patients and 51 non-syncope fall patients were analyzed, excluding those with acute comorbidities.
• Copeptin levels were measured and compared between syncope and fall groups.
• Diagnostic performance was assessed against European Cardiology Society guidelines.

Main Results:

• Abnormal copeptin levels were found in 44 of 51 syncope patients, versus 4 of 51 fall patients.
• A significant difference in copeptin levels distinguished syncope from falls (p<0.001).
• No correlation was observed between copeptin levels and syncope type, age, or sex.

Conclusions:

• Copeptin is an efficient diagnostic marker for syncope.
• It aids in confirming or excluding syncope, particularly in cases with unreliable patient history or unwitnessed events.
• Elevated copeptin levels strongly suggest syncope over other causes of collapse.