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Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Quantitative Autonomic Testing
Published on: July 19, 2011
The Differences in the Diagnostic Profile in Children with Vasovagal Syncope between the Result of Head-Up Tilt Table
Ewelina Kolarczyk1, Lesław Szydłowski2, Agnieszka Skierska2
1Department of Propaedeutics of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, 40-752 Katowice, Poland.
Abstract:
(1) Background: The features characterizing vasovagal syncope (VVS) are an important factor in the correct evaluation of diagnostic risk stratification in children and adolescents. The aim of the study was to determine the value of identifying the clinical characteristics in children with VVS. (2) Methods: We made a retrospective analysis of the medical records of 109 children with diagnosed VVS. We investigated the specific characteristics of syncope in children with VVS including the positive VVS (+) and negative VVS (-) result of the Head-Up Tilt Table Test (HUTT). (3) Results: We did not observe significant differences in the prodromal symptoms of VVS with HUTT response. In addition to typical prodromal symptoms, no difference in statistically reported palpitations (35/109 or 32.1%) and chest discomfort (27/109 or 27.7%) were recorded. Fear-pain-stress emotions as circumstances of syncope were more often reported by children with a negative HUTT (p = 0.02). Cramps-contractures (p = 0.016) and speech disorders (p = 0.038) were significantly higher in the group with negative HUTT. (4) Conclusions: There is a close relationship in the diagnostic profile between the negative and positive results of head-up tilt table test in children with vasovagal syncope.

