title: Syncope in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy without apparent cardiovascular disease.
abstract: Epilepsy and syncope are clinical conditions with high prevalence rates in the general population, and the differential diagnosis between them is difficult. Objective To assess the frequency of syncope in patients diagnosed with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) without appa-rent heart disease, to investigate the relationship between clinical and electroencephalographic (EEG) changes, and to verify the role of the inclination test (IT). Method An open, prospective study from 2004 to 2006, including 35 consecutive patients from the Epilepsy Program of Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho who were diagnosed with DRE without apparent heart disease. Results The frequency of syncope was 25.7% (n=9), with a significant prevalence in women. Vasovagal syncope (VVS) was the most frequent diagnosis. Conclusion We found a significant association between syncope and the presence of autonomic symptoms (p=0.005). The IT plays an important role in the differential diagnosis of patients with DRE presenting with autonomic symptoms, regardless of EEG results and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurologia, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Rio de JaneiroRJ.
authors.forename: Soniza Vieira
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Alves-Leon
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurologia, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Rio de JaneiroRJ.
authors.forename: Moisés Pereira
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Neurologia Prof. Sérgio Novis, Santa Casa da Misericórdia do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Rio de JaneiroRJ.
authors.forename: Maria Emilia Cosenza
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Andraus
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurologia, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Rio de JaneiroRJ.
authors.forename: Valéria Coelho Santa Rita
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurologia, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Rio de JaneiroRJ.
authors.forename: Isabella D'Andrea
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Meira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurologia, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Rio de JaneiroRJ.
authors.forename: Raquel de Carvalho
authors.initials: Rde C
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurologia, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Rio de JaneiroRJ.
authors.forename: Shaylla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Villas Boas
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurologia, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Rio de JaneiroRJ.
authors.forename: Cláudia Cecília da Silva
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Rêgo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurologia, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Rio de JaneiroRJ.
authors.forename: Jorge Paes Barreto Marcondes de
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Cardiologia, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Rio de JaneiroRJ.
authors.forename: Roberto Coury
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Pedrosa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013575:Syncope / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018667:Tilt-Table Test; D055815:Young Adult