Defining and classifying syncope.
There is no widely adopted definition or classification of syncope and related disorders. This lack of uniformity harms patient care, research, and medical education. In this article, syncope is defined as a form of transient loss of consciousness (TLOC) due to cerebral hypoperfusion. Differences between syncope and other causes of TLOC such as epilepsy, and disorders mimicking TLOC are described. A pathophysiological classification of syncope is proposed.
Thijs
Roland D
RD
Dept. of Neurology & Clinical Neurophysiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands.
Wieling
Wouter
W
Kaufmann
Horacio
H
van Dijk
Gert
G
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000150:complications; D013575:Syncope / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009626:Terminology as Topic