title: Syncope induced by acute pulmonary embolism in aged patients: a report of four cases.
abstract: Syncope is a common presentation in the neurology clinic and emergency room. However, pulmonary embolism (PE) as a cause of syncope is not common or well recognized. Four aged patients presented to our clinic with episodic syncope, and PE was finally identified as the underlying cause. The significant clinical presentations included transient loss of consciousness and hypoxemia on admission. Syncope with hypoxia should therefore be highlighted as an important clue to the diagnosis of PE in aged patients. A negative D-dimer test will be encountered in patients with a very short history. Repeated D-dimer testing is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Institute of Clinical Medicine of Zhejiang University, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Xiang-Yang
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013575:Syncope / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D