Syncope recurrence in children: relation to tilt-test results.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the intermediate-term outcome of children with syncope and its relationship to tilt test.


METHODS
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.
Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee and LeBonheur Children's Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
M A
MA
Salim
L E
LE
Ware
M
M
Barnard
B S
BS
Alpert
T G
TG
DiSessa
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013575:Syncope / Q000175:diagnosis*; D019462:Syncope, Vasovagal / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018667:Tilt-Table Test