A clinical manifestation-based prediction of haemodynamic patterns of orthostatic intolerance in children: a multi-centre study.

OBJECTIVE: At present, the haemodynamic diagnosis of orthostatic intolerance is based mainly on the head-up tilt table test, which is sometimes risky for patients. Thus, it is important to find objective and safe methods to differentiate haemodynamic patterns of orthostatic intolerance cases. METHODS: In all, 629 children with orthostatic intolerance, either vasovagal syncope or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, were included in the multi-centre clinical study. We analysed the association between the clinical manifestation and haemodynamic patterns of the patients. RESULTS: Syncope after motion with a prodrome of chest distress or palpitations and the concomitant symptom(s) after a syncopal attack, with debilitation, dizziness or headache, were the most important variables in predicting the diagnosis of vasovagal syncope. The overall diagnostic accuracy was 71.5%. CONCLUSION: Complaint of syncope after motion with prodromal chest distress or palpitation and the concomitant symptom after a syncopal attack, with subsequent debilitation, dizziness or headache, were the most important variables in the diagnosis of vasovagal syncope in children with orthostatic intolerance.

Value of history taking in children and adolescents with cardiac syncope.

AIM: This study was designed to investigate the value of history taking in identifying children with cardiac syncope, and to improve diagnostic efficiency and accuracy in children with cardiac syncope. METHODS AND RESULTS: We compared the characteristics of a group of children and adolescents with cardiac syncope at the Pediatric Syncope Unit of five hospitals in China with those with typical vasovagal syncope. We included a cohort of 275 patients in Pediatric Syncope Unit. A cardiac cause of syncope was established in 31 patients, autonomic-mediated reflex syncope in 214, non-syncopal attacks in 15, and in the remaining 15 the cause of syncope remained unexplained. Cardiac syncope was triggered by exercise, whereas vasovagal syncope by prolonged standing, warm-crowded place, and fear or pain emotion. Syncopal spells occurred at various positions in cardiac syncope. Children who had prodromal symptoms with cardiac syncope were significantly fewer than those with vasovagal syncope. Most children with cardiac syncope had history of abnormal electrocardiogram findings when compared with children suffering from vasovagal syncope. On multivariable analysis, history of abnormal electrocardiogram findings and exercise-triggered syncope were independent predictors of cardiac syncope. CONCLUSION: Children and adolescents with a history of abnormal electrocardiogram findings and exercise-related syncope spells were at high risk for cardiac syncope.