Reduction in Pulse Pressure during Standing Can Distinguish Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension

We investigated whether changes in the pulse pressure (PP) reduction ratio during the head-up tilt test (HUTT) can aid in distinguishing neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (OH) from non-neurogenic OH.

We enrolled consecutive patients with NOH and non-neurogenic OH between January 2015 and October 2018. We compared the Valsalva ratio, the presence or absence of late phase II and IV overshoot, the pressure recovery time, and the PP reduction ratio during HUTT between the two OH groups.

The expiratory-inspiratory (E:I) ratio and Valsalva ratio were significantly decreased in the NOH group (p = 0.026, p < 0.001, respectively). The absence of late phase II and phase IV overshoot was more frequent in the NOH group than in the non-neurogenic OH group (p = 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). The pressure recovery time was significantly prolonged in the NOH group (p < 0.001), which exhibited increases in the PP reduction ratio (1-minimal PP/baseline PP) during the HUTT (p < 0.001). We calculated the cutoff point for the PP reduction ratio during HUTT, which exhibited an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.766 (0.659-0.840, 95% confidence interval). The cutoff value for the PP reduction ratio during HUTT (0.571) exhibited sensitivity of 0.879 and specificity of 0.516.

Increases in the PP reduction ratio during HUTT may be a meaningful NOH laboratory marker.