Near-infrared spectroscopy in evaluating psychogenic pseudosyncope-a novel diagnostic approach

Psychogenic pseudosyncope (PPS), a conversion disorder and syncope mimic, accounts for a large proportion of 'unexplained syncope'. PPS is diagnosed by reproduction of patients' symptoms during head-up tilt (HUT). Electroencephalogram (EEG), a time consuming and resource intensive technology, is used during HUT to demonstrate absence of cerebral hypoperfusion during transient loss of consciousness (TLOC). Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a simple, non-invasive technology for continuous monitoring of cerebral perfusion. We present a series of patients for whom PPS diagnosis was supported by NIRS during HUT.

Eight consecutive patients with suspected PPS referred to a syncope unit underwent evaluation. During HUT, continuous beat-to-beat blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and NIRS-derived tissue saturation index (TSI) were measured. BP, HR and TSI at baseline, time of first symptom, presyncope and apparent TLOC were measured. Patients were given feedback and followed for symptom recurrence.

Eight predominantly female patients (6/8, 75%) aged 31 years (16-54) were studied with (5/8, 63%) having comorbid psychiatric diagnoses, and (5/8, 63%) presenting with frequent episodes of prolonged TLOC with eyes closed (6/8, 75%). All patients experienced reproduction of typical events during HUT. Systolic BP (mmHg) increased from baseline (129.7 (interquartile range [IQR] 124.9-133.4)) at TLOC (153.0 (IQR 146.7-159.0)) (P-value = 0.012). HR (bpm) increased from baseline 78 (IQR 68.6-90.0) to 115.7 (IQR 93.5-127.9) (P-value = 0.012). TSI (%) remained stable throughout, 71.4 (IQR 67.5-72.9) at baseline vs. 71.0 (IQR 68.2-73.0) at TLOC (P-value = 0.484).

NIRS provides a non-invasive surrogate of cerebral perfusion during HUT. We propose HUT incorporating NIRS monitoring in the diagnostic algorithm for patients with suspected PPS.