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  • Title: A randomized study of tilt test angle in patients with undiagnosed syncope.
    Author: Sheldon R, Koshman ML.
    Journal: Can J Cardiol; 2001 Oct; 17(10):1051-7. PubMed ID: 11694895.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: A widely used tilt test protocol involves passive head-up tilt followed by tilt with isoproterenol infusion if necessary. Little is known about the effects of passive tilt angle and duration, duration of isoproterenol infusion or hemodynamic diagnostic criteria. OBJECTIVES: To assess whether tilt angle and duration of isoproterenol infusion affected test outcomes in patients with undiagnosed syncope. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two hundred one syncope patients (87 men, age 45+/-20 years, median five faints) were randomly assigned to undergo 60 degrees versus 80 degrees tilt for 45 min, then, if necessary, to receive isoproterenol 30 ng/kg/min for 20 min or less. Positive tests ended in presyncope or syncope. RESULTS: Overall, 49% and 71% of patients fainted at 60 degrees and 80 degrees, respectively (P=0.002). In the drug-free stage, 27% and 50% of patients fainted at 60 degrees and 80 degrees, respectively (P=0.0005). In the 119 patients who received isoproterenol, there was no significant difference in the probability of a positive isoproterenol test at 60 degrees and 80 degrees, respectively (31% compared with 43% of exposed patients, P=0.25). Symptoms developed in adults during drug-free tilt linearly with time at both 60 degrees and 80 degrees at 0.6% and 1.1%/min, respectively, while symptoms during isoproterenol tilt reached an asymptote after about 10 min. Rate-systolic pressure products of 7000 mmHg/min and 9000 mmHg/min best distinguished positive from negative passive and isoproterenol stages, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The positive yield of passive tilt tests is higher at 80 degrees and increases linearly with the duration of tilt. A subsequent 10 min isoproterenol infusion maximizes positive yield. Evidence-based outcome criteria accurately distinguish negative from positive tilt tests.
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