title: Programmed atrial pacing for orthostatic hypotension.
abstract: Programmable atrial inhibited pacemakers were implanted in two patients with orthostatic hypotension due to autonomic failure. They were paced at 95 beats/min during the day and programmed themselves to 55 beats at night. This treatment resulted in virtual disappearance of orthostatic symptoms during a two-year follow-up. Haemodynamic studies showed a mean increase in erect systolic blood pressure from 47 mmHg pre-implantation to 85 mmHg at nine months post-implant during pacing. Cardiac output averaged 3.0 l/min without pacing and 3.8 l/min with pacing at two investigations. Rapid heart rate and high supine blood pressure at night were avoided by programming the pacemaker.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007024:Hypotension, Orthostatic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged