Syncope in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy without apparent cardiovascular disease

Epilepsy and syncope are clinical conditions with high prevalence rates in the general population, and the differential diagnosis between them is difficult. Objective To assess the frequency of syncope in patients diagnosed with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) without appa-rent heart disease, to inves...

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Published in:Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria 2013-12, Vol.71 (12), p.925-930
Main Authors: Alves-Leon, Soniza Vieira, Pinto, Moisés Pereira, Andraus, Maria Emilia Cosenza, Pereira, Valéria Coelho Santa Rita, Meira, Isabella D'Andrea, Oliveira, Raquel de Carvalho, Villas Boas, Shaylla, Rêgo, Cláudia Cecília da Silva, Souza, Jorge Paes Barreto Marcondes de, Pedrosa, Roberto Coury
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Diagnosis, Differential
Drug Resistance
Electroencephalography
epilepsia
epilepsia farmaco-resistente
Epilepsy - diagnosis
Epilepsy - drug therapy
Epilepsy - physiopathology
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
NEUROSCIENCES
Prospective Studies
pseudocrises
PSYCHIATRY
Syncope - diagnosis
Syncope - physiopathology
teste de inclinacao
Tilt-Table Test
Young Adult
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Summary:Epilepsy and syncope are clinical conditions with high prevalence rates in the general population, and the differential diagnosis between them is difficult. Objective To assess the frequency of syncope in patients diagnosed with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) without appa-rent heart disease, to investigate the relationship between clinical and electroencephalographic (EEG) changes, and to verify the role of the inclination test (IT). Method An open, prospective study from 2004 to 2006, including 35 consecutive patients from the Epilepsy Program of Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho who were diagnosed with DRE without apparent heart disease. Results The frequency of syncope was 25.7% (n=9), with a significant prevalence in women. Vasovagal syncope (VVS) was the most frequent diagnosis. Conclusion We found a significant association between syncope and the presence of autonomic symptoms (p=0.005). The IT plays an important role in the differential diagnosis of patients with DRE presenting with autonomic symptoms, regardless of EEG results and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities.
ISSN:0004-282X
1678-4227
1678-4227
0004-282X
DOI:10.1590/0004-282X20130179