Head-up tilt test induced asystole and recurrent syncope: a follow-up study
Authors: Amador A , Calvao C , Costa C , Cabrita A , Marques C , Pinho A , Oliveira C , Santos L , Moreira H , Palma P , Rocha M , Amorim S , Freitas J , Macedo F 
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Head-up tilt test (HUTT) is a valuable diagnostic tool in unexplained and recurrent syncope, especially when reflex etiology is suspected. If asystole is the dominant feature of reflex syncope, permanent pacemaker therapy may be effective for reducing syncope recurrence.

Purpose

To investigate syncope recurrence, pacemaker implantation and death of patients with syncope and asystole induced by HUTT and carotid sinus message (CSM).

Methods

Retrospective analysis of consecutive patients referred for HUTT between January 2017 and December 2021 and selection of those with cardioinhibitory response, defined by syncope or pre-syncope and asystolic pause ≥3 seconds. Patients’ follow-up (FUP) was performed via a phone interview and analysis of clinical records, to assess recurrence of syncope, treatments, and death.

Results

A total of 44 patients were included: 30 (68,2%) were men, with a median age of 69 years (interquartile range (IQR) of 24). Asystole was experienced after CSMin 41 patients and during tilt test alone in 3 patients. Median FUP was 26 months (IQR 23). There were 19 (44,2%) patients who implanted pacemaker (PM), all with cardioinhibitory carotid sinus syndrome ( I-CSS), 57,9% men, with median age of 74 years (IQR 19) and median duration of asystole during CSMof 6,3 seconds (IQR 3,8). Of these, 5 (26,3%) implanted a unicameral PM and the remaininga bicameral PM, with AAI-DDD mode programming. Two patients had PM-related complications: infection and dislodgment of ventricular lead, both in the first 15 days after implantation. Median atrial and ventricular pacing percentage at last PM consultation was 7% (IQR 28) and 1% (IQR 4), respectively. There was a positive strong correlation between the percentage of atrial pacing at first and at last appointment (p&lt;0,001, r=0,867) and a positive moderated correlation between the percentage of ventricular pacingat first and at last appointment (p=0,022, r=0,586), suggesting a similar degree of pacing along FUP-time.

Only three patients (6,8%) had syncope recurrence, all men with CI-CSS, median age of 78; one patient had syncope before implantation PM, other relapsed 2-times with a PMimplanted and the third refused PMimplantation despite 5-time recurrence of symptoms. There was no association between the duration of the asystole during HUTT with implantation of PM nor syncope recurrence (p&gt;0.2). Age at HUTT was significantly associated both with CI-CSS and PM implantation (p=0,001 and p=0,045, respectively). Two patients died, both of oncologic causes.

Conclusion

In agreement with the literature, our cohort of patients with cardioinhibitory response during HUTT and CSM experienced an overall good prognosis, with no cardiac deaths; there was very low syncope recurrence, not allowing a comparison between the groups with and without pacemaker. Age at HUTT was significantly associated both with CI-CSS and PMimplantation.