A Metabolomic Approach to Unexplained Syncope

• Published in: Biomedicines 2024-11, Vol.12 (11), p.2641
• Main Authors: Longo, Susanna, Cicalini, Ilaria, Pieragostino, Damiana, De Laurenzi, Vincenzo, Legramante, Jacopo M, Menghini, Rossella, Rizza, Stefano, Federici, Massimo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenosine; Blood pressure; Body mass index; cardiometabolic risk factors; Cardiovascular disease; cardiovascular diseases; Diagnosis; Electrocardiography; Emergency medical care; Fainting; Glutamine; Health care expenditures; Hospitals; Hypotension; lysine; Lysophosphatidylcholine; Metabolism; Metabolites; Metabolomics; Syncope; unexplained syncope
• ISSN: 2227-9059; 2227-9059
• DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12112641

This study aims to identify a metabolomic signature that facilitates the classification of syncope and the categorization of the unexplained syncope (US) to aid in its management. We compared a control group (CTRL, = 10) with a transient loss of consciousness (TLC) group divided into the OH group ( = 23) for orthostatic syncope, the NMS group ( = 26) for neuromediated syncope, the CS group ( = 9) for cardiological syncope, and the US group ( = 27) for US defined as syncope without a precise categorization after first- and second-level diagnostic approaches. The CTRL and the TLC groups significantly differed in metabolic profile. A new logistic regression model has been developed to predict how the US will be clustered. Using differences in lysophosphatidylcholine with 22 carbon atom (C22:0-LPC) levels, 96% of the US belongs to the NMS and 4% to the CS subgroup. Differences in glutamine and lysine (GLN/LYS) levels clustered 95% of the US in the NMS and 5% in the CS subgroup. We hypothesize a possible role of C22:0 LPC and GLN/LYS in re-classifying US and differentiating it from cardiological syncope.