Pharmacological washout for the correct evaluation of the head-up tilt testing

Int J Cardiol. 2008 Jul 4;127(2):e31-2. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2007.01.028. Epub 2007 Apr 6.

Abstract

Head-up tilt testing is an important tool in the diagnosis of syncope. Several different protocols are in use. We describe the case of a 70-year-old Italian woman admitted to our observation. The patient was in antihypertensive treatment with carvedilol and with a combination of lisinopril and hydrochlorothiazide. A simplified Italian protocol head-up tilt testing was performed. A 4.10 s pause with syncope and a profound hypotension (blood pressure values were 65/50 mm Hg) were observed after 3 min in the provocation phase. Second-degree atrioventricular Block of the 2:1 form, advanced second-degree atrioventricular block and junctional escape rhythm (28 bpm) were observed. A simplified Italian protocol head-up tilt testing was performed after 40 days of withdrawal of carvedilol. A 2 s pause with presyncope and a hypotension (blood pressure values were 80/70 mm Hg) were observed after 2 min in the provocation phase. ECG revealed a bradycardic sinusal rhythm with heart rate of 42 bpm. This case assesses the importance of a pharmacological washout for the correct evaluation of the head-up tilt testing.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antihypertensive Agents / pharmacokinetics*
  • Carbazoles / pharmacokinetics*
  • Carvedilol
  • Diagnostic Errors / prevention & control
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Electrocardiography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydrochlorothiazide / pharmacokinetics
  • Hypertension / drug therapy*
  • Hypotension, Orthostatic / etiology
  • Lisinopril / pharmacokinetics
  • Propanolamines / pharmacokinetics*
  • Syncope / diagnosis*
  • Tilt-Table Test*

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Carbazoles
  • Propanolamines
  • Hydrochlorothiazide
  • Carvedilol
  • Lisinopril