Responses to the prolonged head-up tilt followed by sublingual nitrate provocation in asymptomatic older adults.
BACKGROUND
prolonged head-up tilt testing and sublingual nitrate provocation are increasingly used in the diagnosis of neurocardiogenic syncope. However there are few data regarding the results of these tests in asymptomatic older subjects.


OBJECTIVE
to assess the responses to the prolonged head-up tilt test followed by sublingual glyceryl trinitrate provocation in asymptomatic subjects over the age of 60 years.


METHODS
observational study.


METHODS
we recruited 64 asymptomatic subjects over the age of 60 (39 men, 25 women) from two general practice lists in Nottingham and Leicester. Exclusion criteria were: history of syncope, ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, marked aortic stenosis, carotid artery disease and being unable to stand for the duration of the test. All subjects underwent a full clinical examination, a 12-lead electrocardiogram and a 30-40-min head-up tilt test, during which we monitored the heart rate and blood pressure continuously. We ended the test prematurely if the subjects developed syncope or symptoms of presyncope associated with hypotension with or without bradycardia. If they remained asymptomatic at the end of this period, they received 400 microg of sublingual glyceryl trinitrate and monitoring continued for another 15 min.


METHODS
two teaching hospitals in Nottingham and Leicester.


RESULTS
six (9%) of the subjects had a positive response (syncope or presyncope) to the prolonged head-up tilt test prior to glyceryl trinitrate provocation. After provocation, 30 (52%) of the remaining 58 subjects had a positive response.


CONCLUSIONS
the role of sublingual glyceryl trinitrate provocation following prolonged head-up tilt testing in the diagnosis of neurocardiogenic (vasovagal) syncope in older people is questionable, as many asymptomatic older subjects demonstrate syncopal or presyncopal symptoms.
Kumar
N P
NP
Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust, UK.
Youde
J H
JH
Ruse
C
C
Fotherby
M D
MD
Masud
T
T
D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D018579:Patient Selection; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019462:Syncope, Vasovagal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D018667:Tilt-Table Test / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D013997:Time Factors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents
D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D005996:Nitroglycerin