Neuropediatrics 2001; 32(4): 169-175
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-17369
Original Article

Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Reduction of Carotid Artery Blood Flow in Pediatric Patients with Syncope: Evaluation with Head-Up Tilt Test

M. Kojo, M. Wada, K. Akiyoshi, M. Inutsuka, T. Izumi
  • Department of Pediatrics, Oita Medical University School of Medicine, Oita, Japan
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
25 September 2001 (online)

We investigated the effect of postural changes on cerebral circulation by measuring carotid artery blood flow (CABF) in the supine position and during head-up tilt (HUT) test using a Doppler flow meter. Subjects included 10 patients with neurally mediated syncope, 10 patients with orthostatic intolerance, 8 with epilepsy, aged between 8 to 24 years (mean ± SD, 13.9 ± 4.1 years). The test caused pallor and dizziness in 16 patients (symptomatic), while no symptoms were recognized in the other 12 patients (asymptomatic). Significant reductions in the mean CABF (Fm), maximum CABF (Fs) and minimum CABF (Fd), components of the CABF waveform, were noticed during HUT compared to before HUT (supine), and these reductions in symptomatic patients were more severe than those in asymptomatic patients (Fm: - 2.8 ± 2.0 SD vs - 0.7 ± 1.4 SD; Fs: - 2.7 ± 1.5 SD vs - 0.9 ± 1.3 SD; Fd: - 4.5 ± 2.8 SD vs - 2.2 ± 2.1 SD). Reductions in Fm, Fs and Fd in the symptomatic patients during HUT lasted longer than those of the asymptomatic patients, being statistically significant for Fm and Fs (Fm: p < 0.01; Fs: p < 0.05). The criteria during HUT for distinguishing neurally mediated syncope (NMS) from others was Fs: < - 4 SD and Fd: < - 5 SD. Our data suggest that reduction of CABF should be carefully evaluated for the diagnosis of neurally mediated syncope in pediatric patients. Such a reduction might be an essential mechanism of syncopal attacks.

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M. D. Masanobu Kojo

Department of Pediatrics
Oita Medical University School of Medicine

1 - 1 Idaigaoka, Hasama-machi

Oita 879 - 5593

Japan

Email: mkojo@oita-med.ac.jp