Skin sympathetic nerve activity as a biomarker for syncopal episodes during a tilt table test.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Autonomic imbalance is the proposed mechanism of syncope during a tilt table test (TTT). We have recently demonstrated that skin sympathetic nerve activity (SKNA) can be noninvasively recorded using electrocardiographic electrodes.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that increased SKNA activation precedes tilt-induced syncope.

Methods

We studied 50 patients with a history of neurocardiogenic syncope undergoing a TTT. The recorded signals were band-pass filtered at 500-1000 Hz to analyze nerve activity.

Results

The average SKNA (aSKNA) value at baseline was 1.38 ± 0.38 μV in patients without syncope and 1.42 ± 0.52 μV in patients with syncope (P = .77). On upright tilt, aSKNA was 1.34 ± 0.40 μV in patients who did not have

SUBMITTER: Kumar A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7141961 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature