title: [Orthostatic hypotension with syncope--a problem of hypertensive therapy in the aged].
abstract: In 12 of 32 elderly (> 65 years) hypertensives admitted with syncope, a diagnosis of orthostatic hypotension was made after a positive orthostatic tolerance test and extensive diagnostic evaluation with exclusion of other causes of syncope. Blood pressure of these 12 patients (pts.) after admission was 145 +/- 16/83 +/- 6 mmHg; at that time the pts. were treated with 2.6 +/- 1.6 different antihypertensive agents, and 67% of the pts. received a combination therapy. After reevaluation of treatment the pts. could be discharged with 1.3 +/- 0.7 different antihypertensive agents (significant difference, p < 0.02); in 25% of pts. (p < 0.05) combination therapy was still necessary. Before discharge casual blood pressure was 156 +/- 17/85 +/- mmHg (with the patient in the sitting position); average daytime ambulatory blood pressure was 145 +/- 18/80 +/- 5 mmHg. Three months after discharge 91% of pts. remained free of a new syncope. Orthostatic hypotension is a frequent cause of syncope in the hypertensive elderly; thus, their blood pressure should be checked more often in the sitting and standing position and by ambulatory monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Trenkwalder
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lydtin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007024:Hypotension, Orthostatic / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D013575:Syncope / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents
vernacular_title: Orthostatische Hypotonie mit Synkope--ein Problem der Hochdrucktherapie im Alter.