Short pain-provoked head-up tilt test for the confirmation of vasovagal syncope.

We investigated a short pain-provoked head-up tilt (PP-HUT) and the Calgary Syncope Symptom Score in a group of patients with clinically diagnosed vasovagal syncope and group of neurological patients without transient loss of consciousness. We included 127 consecutive patients who were investigated in our laboratory. The group 1 included 56 patients who after appropriate investigations were diagnosed with vasovagal syncope. The group 2 included 70 neurological patients without transient loss of consciousness. The subjects were tilted to 70° for a maximum period of 10 min or until symptoms occurred. If there were no symptoms after initial 10 min, a painful stimulus with the insertion of 0.7 mm needle into the dorsum of hand subcutaneously for 30 s was performed with the patient in the tilted for further 5 min. Calgary Syncope Symptom Score was calculated for all patients. In the group 1, significantly higher number of patients had positive results on PP-HUT (36 vs. 6 patients, respectively; p < 0,001). There was no difference in the presence of orthostatic hypotension (8 vs. 15 patients, respectively; p = 0.36) or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (3 vs. 1 patient, respectively; p = 0.32) between groups. PP-HUT had sensitivity of 65.9 % (95 % CI 0.49-0.79) and specificity of 89.7 % (95 % CI 0.75-0.97). The CSSS had sensitivity of 58.5 % (95 % CI 0.42-0.73) and specificity of 46.1 % (95 % CI 0.30-0.63). PP-HUT has a higher diagnostic rate than the CSSS and provides a rapid alternative to conventional methods.

[Vestibular neuronitis: pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment]. / Vestibularni neuronitis: patofiziologija, dijagnoza i lijecenje.

Vestibular neuritis (VN) is one of the most common causes of peripheral vertigo. Caloric testing has been the traditional gold standard for detecting a peripheral vestibular deficit, but some recently developed bedside tests (head thrust, head heave, head shake and vibration test) were evaluated as a good alternative with similar sensitivity and specificity. These tests have shown both diagnostic value in the short term and prognostic value in the long term, and have availability and ease of use as an advantage. As an addition to clinical examination, vestibular evoked myogenic potentials can differentiate between involvement of superior and inferior branch of the vestibular nerve, but also between peripheral and central lesions. Although glucocorticoids are currently widely used in the treatment of VN, there is a lack of evidence for the validity of their administration. There are a number of high quality clinical trials that suggest vestibular rehabilitation exercises, which are based on the mechanisms of vestibular compensation, in the managment of VN. This review will focus on the latest developments in the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of patients with VN.

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome associated with multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine if there is a difference in the frequency of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) compared to patients with symptoms of orthostatic intolerance and with no evidence of MS or other neurological illness. METHODS: We analyzed data gathered from 293 patients who underwent the head-up tilt table test protocol. Group 1 included prospectively analyzed 112 with MS and group 2 included retrospectively analyzed 181 patients who were evaluated because of symptoms of orthostatic intolerance, and with no evidence of MS or other neurological illness. If POTS was identified the head-up tilt table test was repeated and supine as well as standing serum epinephrine and norepinephrine were determined. RESULTS: POTS was identified in 39 patients: 21 (19%) in the MS group comparing to 18 (10%) in the non MS group (p=0.035). There was no difference between groups in the occurrence of POTS associated syncope (p=0.52). There was no difference between groups in the epinephrine or norepinephrine in supine and standing positions. While both standing epinephrine and norepinephrine levels were significantly higher compared to levels in the supine position in the non MS group, only standing norepinephrine levels were significantly higher in the MS group. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that POTS is associated with MS.