Tilt table testing in patients with suspected epilepsy.
BACKGROUND
Approximately 20-30% of patients with epilepsy are misdiagnosed and syncope often seems to be the mistaken cause. We re-evaluated patients referred to an epilepsy clinic where suspicion of neurally mediated (reflex) syncope were raised using tilt table testing (HUT).


METHODS
HUT laboratory results and medical records of 120 consecutive patients were reviewed retrospectively over a period of 27 months.


RESULTS
HUT was positive in 59 (49%) patients. Seventeen of 38 (45%) patients previously diagnosed with epilepsy and taking antiepileptic drugs were found to be misdiagnosed. Four of 21 patients with epilepsy (19%) had dual diagnoses of reflex syncope and epilepsy.


CONCLUSIONS
HUT is an informative investigation when suspicions of reflex syncope are raised in patients referred to an epilepsy clinic. Reflex syncope is an important and common differential diagnosis of epilepsy.
Edfors
R
R
Medical Department, Bornholm Hospital, Roenne, Denmark. edfors@gmail.com
Erdal
J
J
A-Rogvi-Hansen
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013575:Syncope / Q000175:diagnosis; D018667:Tilt-Table Test / Q000379:methods*
D000927:Anticonvulsants