Early Heart Rate Increase Does Not Predict the Result of the Head-Up Tilt Test Potentiated With Nitroglycerin

• Published in: Revista española de cardiologia 2005-05, Vol.58 (5), p.499-503
• Main Authors: García Alberola, Arcadi, Lacunza Ruiz, Javier, Rojo Álvarez, José L., Sánchez Muñoz, Juan J., Martínez Sánchez, Juan, Requena Carrión, Jesús, Barnés, Joaquín, Valdés, Mariano
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; spa
• Subjects: Diagnosis; Diagnóstico; Female; Frecuencia cardíaca; Head-up tilt-table test; Heart Rate; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nitroglicerina; Nitroglycerin; Predictive Value of Tests; Prueba de basculación; Retrospective Studies; Syncope; Síncope; Tilt-Table Test; Time Factors; Vasodilator Agents
• ISSN: 1885-5857; 0300-8932; 1885-5857
• DOI: 10.1016/S1885-5857(06)60729-9

The magnitude of the change in heart rate during the first few minutes of the head-up tilt test has been used to predict the test's result. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the heart rate increase during the head-up tilt test potentiated with nitroglycerin is related to the development of syncope. The study included 158 consecutive patients with syncope, with stable sinus rhythm, and without structural cardiac disease who were undergoing a head-up tilt test with nitroglycerin. The heart rate increment induced by the tilt maneuver and by nitroglycerin administration was calculated, and its relationship to clinical variables and to the test's results was analyzed. The head-up tilt test gave positive results in 117 patients (74%). The heart rate was 68.7 (11.3) bpm in the decubitus position and 85.1 (15.4) bpm during the first 6 min of tilting. There was strong inverse correlation between the heart rate increase induced by tilting and age (r=−0.63; P