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Syncope recurrence in children: relation to tilt-test results
M A Salim1, L E Ware, M Barnard
1Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee and LeBonheur Children's Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
Objectives:
To examine the intermediate-term outcome of children with syncope and its relationship to tilt test.
Design:
This was a retrospective study of 45 children. In 20, the tilt test was negative. Follow-up with respect to the recurrence of syncope was obtained via chart review, a mailed questionnaire, or telephone interview.
Results:
Follow-up data were available on 15 children whose tilt test was negative and on all 25 tilt-test positive children. Recurrent syncope was significantly greater in the positive-tilt children (13 of 25) than the negative-tilt children (2 of 15). There was no difference between the syncope-free group and the recurrent syncope group or between the tilt-positive and tilt-negative groups with respect to age at initial syncope, duration of symptoms, age at tilt test, and duration of follow-up. Children with a positive tilt test and those with recurrent syncope had more syncopal episodes before their evaluation than either the group with a negative tilt test or the group with no recurrent syncope, respectively.
Conclusions:
Syncope may recur after either a negative or a positive tilt test. The recurrence rate, however, is higher for the tilt-positive children.