[Postprandial hypotension].
BACKGROUND
A decrease in blood pressure (BP) 30 to 60 minutes after food ingestion is a physiologic and asymptomatic event, and is about 10 to 16 mm Hg in elderly subjects, but only 3 to 4 mm Hg in youths.


METHODS
Sixteen women referred to our hospital with complains of lipothymia were studied. They were compared with a control population of 20 healthy subjects. Clinical, laboratory and electrocardiographic (12 leads and 24 hour "Holter" monitoring) evaluation, and 24 hour BP monitoring were performed. In the BP register, the period between the beginning and until 4 hours after the meal was analysed separately.


RESULTS
The systolic and diastolic BP between the two populations was not significantly different (120.6 +/- 14.6 mm Hg and 76.5 +/- 8.9 mm Hg in the study group and 126.8 +/- 10.9 mm Hg and 77.8 +/- 7.2 mm Hg in the controls). The average of the mean BP was also not significantly different (78.7 +/- 11.7 mm Hg vs. 86.8 +/- 5 mm Hg, patients and controls). During the 4 hours after the meal there was a significant decrease (p < 0.01) in the average of the mean BP of the patients, which did not occur in the controls (65.4 +/- 7.3 mm Hg vs. 88.5 +/- 2.5 mm Hg, patients and controls). This postprandial decrease in BP correlated with the patients' symptomatology.


CONCLUSIONS
Although physiologic in some individuals, the decrease in postprandial BP can be exaggerated and symptomatic. Outpatient BP monitoring can become a useful instrument in the evaluation of syncope/lipothymia.
Alcântara
C
C
Serviço de Medicina I (Fundo do Coração), Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisboa. calcantara@mail.telepac.pt
Moreira
C
C
Braz-Nogueira
J
J
Ravara
L
L
D000328:Adult; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019518:Postprandial Period / Q000502:physiology*
Hipotensão pós-prandial.