[Value of the tilt test in the management of unexplained syncope]

ABSTRACT

Syncope is a frequent medical problem that causes much difficulty in order to explain its etiology. Recently, tilt table testing became an investigation of choice in patients presenting with unexplained syncope. To present a series of patients presenting an unexplained syncope, investigated with a tilt test and to compare our results to the literature. 257 patients [mean age of 42.7 +/- 15.4 years] presenting an unexplained syncope between 1997 and 2002 were assessed with a usual tilt test, then in case of negative test a sensitization with iso-proterenol intravenously or sublingual trinitrin was realized. 88 patients [34.2%] had spontaneous positive test, 79 patients [30.8%] had positive test after sensitization and 90 patients [35%] had negative test in spite of sensitization. With a diagnostic return of 65% in this series, the tilt test seems to be the non-invasive investigation of choice in unexplained syncope