Diagnosis and prevention of the vasodepressor type of neurally mediated syncope in Japanese patients

PLoS One. 2021 Jun 25;16(6):e0251450. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251450. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

We investigated circulatory dynamics in patients with vasodepressor type neurally mediated syncope (VT-NMS) by performing high-resolution Holter electrocardiography and a correlation analysis of changes in adenylate cyclase activity, blood pressure, and pulse during the head-up tilt test. Holter electrocardiography was performed for 30 patients. Adenylate cyclase activity was evaluated in lymphocytes from blood samples taken at rest and during the head-up tilt test. There was no change in autonomic nerve fluctuation during electrocardiography in VT-NMS patients, but our results showed a significant difference in blood pressure and adenylate cyclase activity between VT-NMS patients and healthy volunteers; the systolic blood pressure of VT-NMS patients decreased after 5 min, while at 10 min, the adenylate cyclase activity was the highest (0.53%) and the systolic blood pressure was the lowest (111.8 mm Hg). Pulse rates increased after 10 min. VT-NMS patients showed higher blood pressure, pulse rate, and adenylate cyclase activity during the tilt test than did healthy volunteers. In patients with syncope, standing for longer than 10 minutes may increase the risk of VT-NMS. From our results, we consider it likely that high systolic blood pressure and adenylate cyclase activity at rest cause fainting in VT-NMS patients. Our findings may be helpful for identifying individuals with a high risk of developing NMS in the healthy population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Asian People
  • Blood Pressure / physiology*
  • Cardiovascular System / physiopathology*
  • Electrocardiography, Ambulatory / methods
  • Female
  • Heart Rate / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Syncope, Vasovagal / physiopathology*
  • Tilt-Table Test / methods

Grants and funding

This study was funded by KAKENHI (grant number 20K08498) and by The Research and Study Program of the Tokai University Educational System General Research Organization. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.