伊伐布雷定治疗慢性稳定性心绞痛的临床疗效观察

【】目的：观察盐酸伊伐布雷定对慢性稳定性心绞痛(SAP)的疗效及安全性。方法：前瞻性入选门诊就诊(2013年4月-2014年1月)的24例SAP患者,随机、双盲分为盐酸伊伐布雷定组和阿替洛尔组。每组各12例。观察治疗前后两组静息及最大运动量时心率水平、心绞痛发作次数、运动耐量的变化。结果：1.盐酸伊伐布雷定组的静息心率治疗前后分别为75.4±2.5次/分和63.7±3.3次/分(P＜0.05),最大运动量心率由治疗前122.8±4.6次/分降低至105.4±5.1次/分(P＜0.05)；阿替洛尔组治疗前后的静息心率由74.8±3.6次/分降低至64.5±4.1次/分(P＜0.05),最大运动量心率由127.5±5.3次/分降低至114.8±6.4次/分(P＜0.05)。静息心率两组间比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05),而盐酸伊伐布雷定降低最大运动量时心率优于阿替洛尔组(P＜0.05)。2.盐酸伊伐布雷定组治疗前后心绞痛发作次数由3.45±1.24次/周减少至1.87±1.31次/周(P＜0.05),心绞痛持续时间由7.55±3.88min缩短为2.13±4.11min(P＜0.05)；阿替洛尔组治疗前后心绞痛发作次数由 3.61±1.41次/周减少至2.11±1.53次/周(P＜0.05),心绞痛持续时间由8.01±3.24min缩短为2.75±3.37min(P＜0.05)。两组间比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05)。3.运动耐量方面,盐酸伊伐布雷定组从服药前的368.65±122.32s增加至服药12周后的501.39±131.63s(P＜0.05)；阿替洛尔组从服药前的371.35±113.45s增加至服药12周后的467.49±142.54s(P＜0.05),两组间差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05)。结论：伊伐布雷定同阿替洛尔一样可显著降低SAP患者心率、减少心绞痛发作,增加运动耐量,且具有良好的安全性及耐受性。     

心室率控制满意的慢性心房颤动患者的动态心电图表现

目的评价心室率控制满意的持续性心房颤动(房颤)患者的24小时动态心电图(Holter)表现。 方法选择心室率控制满意的122例伴有器质性心脏病的持续性房颤患者。心功能(NYHA)分级Ⅱ～Ⅲ级。回顾性分析其Holter，观察心室率及长RR间期的动态表现，并对部分患者进行随访。 结果Holter检查结果示日平均心室率为78.53±8.12(65～90)次/分。平均最快心率143.79±28.85(90～183)次/分，平均最慢心率51.04±7.52(34～71)次/分。62/122例(50.82%)出现＜50次/分的心动过缓。32/122例(26.23%)出现＜45次/分的心动过缓。95/122例(77.87%)出现＞1.5秒的长RR间期，平均最长RR间期为2.38±0.55(4.64～1.60)秒。14/122例(11.48%)出现＞3.0秒的长RR间期。随访结果表明，长RR间期未见进一步加重。 结论心室率控制满意的房颤患者，休息及睡眠时出现长RR间期及心动过缓是常见现象。     

卡维地洛治疗老年原发性高血压的疗效观察

目的探讨卡维地洛治疗老年原发性高血压的安全性和有效性。方法随机选择132例老年原发性高血压病人,服用卡维地洛(12.5mg/d~25.0mg/d),观察时间为12周,测定临床血压值。结果服药12周后有效率达84.13%(106/126),收缩压治疗前(164.2±20.3)mmHg,治疗后(142.3±16.1)mmHg,舒张压治疗前(105.6±12.3)mmHg,治疗后(91.2±8.6)mmHg,治疗前后比较,P<0.001;心率治疗前为(71.8±6.2)/min,治疗后为(63.8±5.3)/min,治疗前后比较,P<0.001。有6例病人因心动过缓和心悸不适不能耐受而停药,无严重不良反应。结论卡维地洛治疗老年原发性高血压有较好的疗效和安全性,临床耐受性好。     

贝凡洛尔治疗原发性高血压的疗效和安全性评价

目的随机、开放、平行对照的比较评价两种选择性β1受体阻断剂(贝凡洛尔/美托洛尔)治疗原发性高血压的疗效和安全性.方法选择原发性高血压患者136例,随机分为两组服用贝凡洛尔100 mg～200 mg/d或美托洛尔100 mg～150 mg/d,每日分二次治疗共8周,根据需要4周末调整剂量.分别比较两组药前、后第2、4、6、8周末坐位血压和心率的变化.结果口服盐酸贝凡洛尔(100～200 mg/d,分两次)治疗原发性高血压,药后2、4、6、8周平均SeDBP降低值分别为8.9±6.4 mmHg、7.9±7.1 mmHg、10.0±8.2 mmHg、11.00±8.2 mmHg;平均SeSBP降低值分别为8.8±11.4 mmHg、10.6±12.0 mmHg、8.6±14.2 mmHg、10.3±14.8 mmHg.美托洛尔组(100～150 mg/d,分两次).药后2、4、6、8周平均SeDBP降低值分别为8.1±9.2 mmHg、7.7±8.6 mmHg、10.4±7.9 mmHg、10.7±8.4 mmHg;平均SeSBP降低值分别为7.1±13.9 mmHg、7.5±13.3 mmHg、10.9±13.2 mmHg、11.3±13.9 mmHg.服药前后降压值两组内比较均P=0.00,组间比较无统计学差异.贝凡洛尔单药治疗原发性高血压病患者70.97%需要服用200 mg/d.两组治疗后心率均较基线下降,贝凡洛尔组于治疗4周后心率下降幅度有统计学差异,美托洛尔组于治疗2周后心率下降幅度有统计学差异 .两组药后24小时内平均心率变化趋向降低.两药治疗4、8周后心电图窦性心率与QT、RR和PP等相关的指标在临床允许范围有变化.对血脂、血糖的代谢影响与其它β受体阻滞剂相似.贝凡洛尔组不良反应发生率10.29% (7/68例),美托洛尔组不良反应发生率23.53% (16/68例),两组不良反应发生率有显著性差异(P=0.04).美托洛尔组出现窦性心动过缓5例,窦性停搏1例,2例因窦性心动过缓退出研究.贝凡洛尔组无心律失常的发生.两药均未发现对房室传导的影响.结论贝凡洛尔治疗原发性高血压的疗效肯定,耐受性较好.     

静息心率与冠心病的临床探讨

用Holter监测已确诊的冠心病患者 2 5 6例 ,观察静息心率 (RHR)的变化与心肌缺血、心律失常及心率变异性(HRV)的相关性。结果 :冠心病组RHR显著高于正常对照组 (80 .14± 8.6 5次 /分vs 72 .0 6± 6 .82次 /分 ,P <0 .0 1) ;RHR≥ 80次 /分的患者心肌缺血总负荷与RHR 75～ 79次 /分及RHR <75次 /分的患者相比差异有显著意义 (84 8.5± 2 30 .1次 /分vs 385 .7± 14 4 .2次 /分、2 83.3± 96 .2次 /分 ,P <0 .0 1) ;RHR与心肌缺血及心律失常呈正相关 ;冠心病组的HRV显著低于正常对照组 (P <0 .0 1)。结论 :RHR与冠心病心肌缺血总负荷、心律失常及HRV发生、发展及预后有关。     

大血管转位解剖纠治术前术后之心律失常

1975年10月至1985年9月间,115例单纯性或复合性大血管转位患儿在英格兰Harefield医院施行解剖纠治术。其中92例术后至少存活3个月,其24小时动态心电图(Holter)记录供分析如下。室性心律失常按修订的Lown标准分级。睡眠时窦性心动过缓和间有交界处性心律(婴儿心率>70次/分或较大儿童心率>50次/分)以及短暂的( <1.5秒)窦性静止常见于健康儿,故视为正常。 41例(包括14例首期术后)解剖纠治术前平均82(1～365)天记录Holter:34例(83％)完全窦性心律,2     

50名无明显心脏病的男性医学生中24小时连续心电图监护所发现的心律失常

本文报道用佩带式磁带记录心电图连续监护器结合快速分析技术,对50名23～27岁无器质性心脏病或其他明显的全身性疾病的男性医学生进行研究,以了解无明显心脏病的青年男性中的心律失常类型及发病率。结果:24小时平均心率为59.4～86.8次/分(平均73±7次/分)。醒时平均心率为67～95次/分(平均80±7次/分),最高心率107～180次/分,(平均141±17次/分),最慢心率37～65次/分(平均53±6次/分),最长窦性暂仃为1.00～1.68秒(平均1.36士0.16秒)。所有受检者醒时心率至少有某段时间大于100次/分,13名醒时心率至少有某段时间<50次/分。睡眠时平均心率45～70次/分     

血小板活化对老年阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征患者的影响

目的探讨血小板活化在老年人阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征(OSAHS)发生发展中的作用及经鼻持续气道正压通气(nCPAP)对其影响.方法选择经多导睡眠图(PSG)确诊的老年OSAHS患者90例为试验组,据睡眠呼吸暂停低通气指数(AHI)、最低血氧饱和度(SaO2)将OSAHS患者分轻、中、重3组,其中16例重度OSAHS患者接受nCPAP治疗为治疗组,并设健康对照组20例,用酶联免疫双抗体夹心法检测各组血浆α-颗粒膜蛋白(GMP-140)、血小板膜糖蛋白Ⅱb/Ⅲa(GPⅡb/Ⅲa),比较各试验组与对照组,治疗组治疗前、后的各项指标的差异.结果 (1)中、重度老年OSAHS患者组血浆GMP-140[(16.6±2.3)μg/L、(18.9±3.1)μg/L]、GPⅡb/Ⅲa(38 468±952/49673±1037、39 867±1264/50 899±2476)均显著高于对照组[(14.8±2.1)μg/L、37672±769/48469±1672, P ＜0.05],nCPAP治疗后比治疗前明显下降(P ＜0.001);(2)GMP-140、GPⅡb/Ⅲa与AHI呈正相关(r值为0.5273、0.4829/0.4562,均为P ＜0.001),与SaO2min呈负相关(r值为-0.6481、-0.5846/-0.6264,均为P ＜0.001).结论中、重度老年OSAHS患者存在明显血小板活化,并与夜间低氧血症密切相关,其可能在OSAHS患者心脑血管栓塞性并发症高发生率中起重要作用;nCPAP治疗可有效逆转上述改变.     

静息心率与经皮冠状动脉介入术后短期预后的关系研究

目的：探讨经皮冠状动脉介入（PCI）术前的静息心率(HR)与术后30d内预后的关系。方法：选择3720例行PCI术患者,均有明确术前静息HR记录及住院和术后30d的随访临床结果。用五分位数分析静息HR和结果,再用二分法将HR＜70次/min或≥70次/min的结果进行分析。结果：所有患者的平均静息HR为(70.9±14.7)次/min。五个百分位数的平均静息HR分别为：(54.8±5.3)、(63.7±1.6)、(69.9±1.5)、(77.1±2.5)、(93.4±13.1)次/min。出院后30d内临床随访结果提示：5组患者之间,总死亡率、再发心肌梗死、靶病变血运重建、靶血管血运重建、主要不良心血管事件（MACE）和再入院治疗患者比例比较,差异有统计学意义（均P＜0.05）。在HR＜70次/min和≥70次/min的患者中,总死亡率、再发心肌梗死、靶病变血运重建、靶血管血运重建、MACE、再入院治疗患者比例比较,差异有统计学意义（均P＜0.05）。按HR五分位数计算的患者中,随着HR升高,住院期间和出院后30d内MACE发生率明显升高（P＜0.01)。在HR≥70次/min的患者中,住院期间和出院后30d内MACE发生率明显高于HR＜70次/min的患者（P＜0.05)。结论：PCI术前的静息HR在预测患者住院和短期心血管结局的风险方面具有重要作用,较高的静息HR预示着冠心病患者的预后较差。     

西尼地平和氨氯地平对原发性高血压患者交感神经系统活性的影响

目的利用握力试验激活交感神经系统,评价服用西尼地平和氨氯地平8周后交感神经系统活性的变化.方法50例轻中度原发性高血压患者经2周安慰剂期后,随机分入西尼地平组(n=25,西尼地平5 mg,每日1次)和氨氯地平组(n=25,氨氯地平5 mg,每日1次).于安慰剂期末和药物治疗8周末各进行1次握力试验,并记录静息血压和心率.结果西尼地平组和氨氯地平组用药8周后分别与用药前比较静息时收缩压和舒张压均显著降低(P均＜0.01).服药前两组握力试验中血压和心率增加幅度相似,但用药后握力试验中西尼地平组血压增量从(30.7±8.63)/(20.7±3.44)mmHg降至(20.3±10.42)/(14.7±4.58)mmHg(P＜0.01),而氨氯地平组血压增加幅度与用药前无显著性差异.结论服用西尼地平不仅可降低静息时血压,而且可降低负荷状态下的血压增加幅度.氨氯地平仅降低静息血压,对负荷状态下交感神经系统激活无影响.     

Clinical effects of oral theophylline in elderly patients with sick sinus syndrome

Theophylline increases the heart rate in patients with normal sinus rhythm and in patients with sick sinus syndrome. This effect is probably connected to the blockade of adenosine receptors by theophylline. This study evaluated the efficacy of theophylline in 34 elderly patients with symptomatic sinus bradycardia (age 68 +/- 11 years). A resting electrocardiogram, a 24-hour recording and treadmill test were performed both before and after administration of slow-release theophylline (700 mg/day). The drug increased resting heart rate (from 43 +/- 6 to 63 +/- 16 beats/min, p < 0.01), mean 24 hour heart rate (from 49 +/- 7 to 65 +/- 17 beats/min, p < 0.01), and minimal 24 hour heart rate (from 34 +/- 5 to 44 +/- 10 beats/min, p < 0.05 ). Cardiac pauses longer than 2.5 seconds were present in 8 patients during control recordings, and disappeared after theophylline. Twenty-six patients were followed for a period of 20 +/- 5 months. Suppression of symptoms was achieved in 24 of them. Asthenia and easy fatigue were reduced markedly by the drug. During long term therapy, the sinus rate was similar to that observed at the steady-state evaluation. In 6 of the 34 patients theophylline had to be discontinued because of gastric intolerance (in 4 cases at the end of the steady-state evaluation and in 2 during long-term therapy). These data suggest that oral theophylline can represent an effective therapy in some elderly patients with symptomatic sinus bradycardia and can avoid or delay the need of a permanent pacemaker.     

Clinical effects of oral theophylline in sick sinus syndrome

In 17 patients with symptomatic sinus bradycardia (age: 66 +/- 11 years), a resting electrocardiogram, a 24-hour Holter recording, and a treadmill test were performed both before and after administration of slow-release theophylline (700 mg daily). The drug increased resting heart rate (46 +/- 7 versus 62 +/- 18 beats/min, p less than 0.01), mean 24-hour rate (51 +/- 6 versus 64 +/- 16 beats/min, p less than 0.01), and minimal 24-hour heart rate (36 +/- 6 versus 43 +/- 10 beats/min, p less than 0.05). Cardiac pauses greater than 2.5 seconds were present in four patients during control recording, and disappeared after theophylline. The daily number of premature supraventricular and ventricular beats increased slightly after the drug. Exercise heart rate was higher after theophylline than during the control test (p less than 0.01). Thirteen patients were followed for a period of 17 +/- 3 months. Suppression of symptoms was achieved in 12 patients. Asthenia and easy fatigue were reduced markedly by the drug. During long-term therapy, the sinus rate was similar to that observed at the steady-state evaluation. In 3 of the 17 patients theophylline had to be discontinued because of gastric intolerance (in two at the end of the steady-state evaluation and in one during long-term therapy). These data suggest that oral theophylline can represent an effective therapy in some patients with symptomatic sinus bradycardia.     

静脉及口服胺碘酮重叠应用治疗器质性心脏病心房颤动伴快速心室率的临床疗效

观察重叠应用静脉及口服胺碘酮治疗器质性心脏病阵发心房颤动 (简称房颤 )伴快速心室率的临床疗效及安全性。 36例器质性心脏病合并房颤的患者 ,男 2 2例、女 14例 ,年龄 6 5 .3± 11.5 (49～ 80 )岁。房颤发作时心室率142 .5± 2 5 .2 (12 0～ 176 )次 /分 ,先给予静脉负荷量胺碘酮 (15 0～ 30 0mg)后 ,继之以 6 0 0 μg/min静脉点滴维持 48h ,同时口服胺碘酮 6 0 0mg/d治疗。结果 :36例患者用药后 30min、1,2 ,2 4,48h心室率分别为 12 4.1± 11.5 ,113.3±8.6 ,10 5 .1± 8.2 ,92 .7± 8.5 ,88.6± 9.4次 /分 ,较用药前明显下降 (P <0 .0 1)。 30例 (83 .3% )患者转复为窦性心律 ,于 2h ,2～ 2 4h ,2 4～ 48h ,2～ 7d转复率分别为 11.1%、2 7.8%、2 2 .2 %和 2 2 .2 %。未转复组患者左房径大于转复组(P <0 .0 5 ) ,而射血分数明显低于转复组 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,这可能是 6例患者未转复的原因。 2例患者用药后出现长RR间期 ,1例出现窦性心动过缓 ,1例出现双手震颤 ,经减药或停药后恢复。结论 :静脉及口服胺碘酮重叠应用治疗器质性心脏病房颤是有效和安全的。     

Symptomatic bradycardia probably due to tizanidine hydrochloride in a chronic hemodialysis patient

A 71-year-old woman was admitted to the Wakayama Medical University Hospital with dizziness and loss of body balance. She had started hemodialysis at the age of 70. During the 33 days before admission, she received oral tizanidine hydrochloride at 3 mg/day for leg cramps. An admission electrocardiogram (ECG) demonstrated sinus bradycardia of 47 bpm. A 24-h ECG showed a total number of heartbeats of 68,779 and an average heart rate of 48 bpm. The maximum RR interval was 3720 msec. The electrophysiology test demonstrated slight sinus node dysfunction. There was no major organic heart disease. We suspected that tizanidine was the cause of bradycardia and stopped administration of this drug. After discontinuation symptoms gradually disappeared. The serum concentration of the tizanidine showed a higher trough of 1.78 ng/mL. In conclusion, because there was a disappearance of symptoms and a lightening of bradycardia due to the discontinuation of this medication, tizanidine was strongly suspected as the cause of severe bradycardia.     

Amiodarone in paroxysmal supra-ventricular tachycardias associated with sinus bradycardia

The efficacy of amiodarone in the prevention of atrial tachycardia is well recognised. However, there remains some controversy over its use in patients with a basal sinus bradycardia because of the risk of further depression of sinus node function. We studied the effects of acute and chronic amiodarone therapy in 13 patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia and intercritical sinus bradycardias of between 40 and 50/min. All patients underwent electrophysiological investigation under basal conditions and after 5 mg/kg IV amiodarone. Five patients were excluded from chronic oral amiodarone therapy after IV amiodarone for the following reasons : sinus bradycardia of less than 30/min; sinus node recovery times greater than 2 s; 2nd or 3rd degree sino-atrial block. The other 8 patients were administered oral amiodarone on a long term basis. They were followed up clinically with dynamic ECGs every three months over a period of 1 to 3 years. All symptoms regressed in 6 patients. In one patient, the daily attacks of palpitations decreased to one a week. One patient did not improve. No cases of sino-atrial standstill were observed, although the sinus rate remained unchanged. The results of our study show that amiodarone may be administered for long periods in patients with sinus bradycardia and attacks of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia if the dynamic ECG during the waking hours shows a heart rate of no less than 40/min, and if electrophysiological investigations do not show significant depression of sinus node function after acute intravenous administration of the drug.     

Symptomatic bradycardia induced by the combination of oral diltiazem and beta blockers.

Ten patients, who were admitted to the Intensive Coronary Care Unit during a one year period with symptomatic bradycardia while on combination therapy with oral diltiazem and beta-blocker agents, are described. The important features of this adverse reaction to drug combination were that it appeared mainly in a relatively elderly age group and with presenting symptoms of lethargy, dizziness, syncope, chest pain, and (in one patient with poor left ventricular function) pulmonary edema. It was not dose dependent and occurred even in very low doses of each drug. Electrophysiologic abnormalities were localized to the sinus node in all 10 patients and the primary rhythm disorders were junctional escape rhythm, sinus bradycardia, and sinus pause. These rhythm abnormalities resolved within 24 h following withdrawal of the offending drugs. Temporary pacemaker insertion was necessary in four patients. The duration of drug combination used before the acute episode range from within hours to up to 2 years. In conclusion, although combination diltiazem/beta blocker therapy is very effective in ischemic syndrome, caution is advised when this combination is used especially in the elderly or in patients with left ventricular dysfunction or antecedent sinoatrial or atrioventricular conduction abnormality.     

Electrocardiographic changes in elderly patients during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

BACKGROUND: Cardiorespiratory complications may occur during gastrointestinal endoscopy, and elderly people seem to be more vulnerable to these complications during endoscopic procedures involving the manipulation of abdominal viscera. OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias, changes in oxygen saturation, heart rate and blood pressure during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) via Holter monitoring in elderly patients older than 70 years of age. METHODS: Holter monitoring and 12-lead electrocardiograms were performed in 30 elderly patients undergoing ERCP and in 30 control subjects undergoing routine chest, abdomen, bone and upper gastrointestinal small bowel follow-through studies. A computerized nontriggered template system was used to analyze the electrocardiograms qualitatively and quantitatively. Arrhythmias, cardiac axis, conduction defects, pauses, ST segment changes, ectopic beats, oxygen desaturation and changes in blood pressure and rate-pressure product were evaluated. RESULTS: Increased heart rate, ST segment changes resulting from myocardial ischemia, oxygen desaturation and transient atrial and ventricular ectopic beats were frequent during ERCP compared with the control group. In one patient, transient left bundle branch block developed and this was attributed to pre-existing hypertension with cardiomegaly. One patient developed ventricular tachycardia and one other sinus bradycardia, but this was attributed to sick sinus syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Transient myocardial ischemia and various cardiac arrhythmias are frequent in elderly patients undergoing ERCP. Appropriate noninvasive monitoring seems to be justified during this procedure.     

纤维胃镜检查时的心脏反应

我们观察了６０例患者纤维胃镜检查时的动态心电图变化。检查前窦性心动过速１９例，室上性早搏１例，ＳＴ段压低２例。检查过程中窦性心动过速５３例，室上性早搏１５例，室性早搏２例，２种以上早搏者３例，窦性心动过缓１例，ＳＴ段压低８例，Ｒ波电压下降４３例。结果提示：胃镜检查时心律失常是常见的，老年病人中发生率更高；机理可能与胃镜刺激咽部引起的神经反射及胃镜对心脏的机械刺激有关。     

An implantable loop recorder study of highly symptomatic vasovagal patients: the heart rhythm observed during a spontaneous syncope is identical to the recurrent syncope but not correlated with the head-up tilt test or adenosine triphosphate test.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze the heart rhythm during spontaneous vasovagal syncope (VVS) in highly symptomatic patients with implantable loop recorders (ILR) and to correlate this rhythm with the heart rhythm observed during head-up tilt test (HUT). BACKGROUND: Heart rhythm obtained during provocative condition is often used to guide therapy in VVS. To date there is no conclusive evidence that the heart rhythm observed during a positive HUT can predict heart rhythm during VVS or that the heart rhythm observed during a spontaneous syncope will be identical to the recurrent syncope. METHODS: Twenty-five consecutive VVS patients (age 60.2 +/- 17.1 years; 14 women,) presenting with frequent syncopes (6.9 +/- 4.6 episodes/year) and a positive HUT (cardioinhibitory in 8 patients) were implanted with an ILR. Seven of them also had a positive adenosine triphosphate (ATP) test. RESULTS: Follow-up was 17.0 +/- 3.6 months. Thirty VVS were observed in 12 patients. Nine episodes showed bradycardia of <40 beats/min or asystole; progressive sinus bradycardia preceding sinus arrest was the most frequent electrocardiographic finding. Twenty-one syncopes occurred without severe bradycardia. The heart rhythm observed during the first syncope was identical to the recurrence. No correlation was found between slow heart rate at the ILR interrogation and a cardioinhibitory HUT response (p = 1.0) or a positive ATP test (p = 1.0). CONCLUSIONS: In highly symptomatic patients with VVS, the heart rhythm observed during spontaneous syncope does not correlate with the HUT. The heart rhythm during the first spontaneous syncope is identical to the recurrent syncope.     

Intrinsic function of the sinus node in patients with syncope and positive vagal maneuvers

This study was undertaken to establish the nature (intrinsic or extrinsic) of sinus node dysfunction in patients presenting with syncope and abnormal response (sinus pause greater than 3') to vagal manoeuvres (carotid sinus massage and/or eye-ball compression). To this purpose 29 patients (20 males, 9 females, aged 18-79 yrs, mean = 60) underwent an electrophysiologic study. In all we measured before and after autonomic blockade with Propranolol (0.2 mg/kg) and Atropine sulfate (0.04 mg/kg) the following parameters: sinus rate, corrected sinus node recovery time and sino-atrial conduction time. According to the presence or absence of electrocardiographic signs of sinus node dysfunction the patients were divided into three groups: Group A: 11 patients without electrocardiographic signs of sinus node dysfunction; Group B: 13 patients with borderline electrocardiographic signs of sinus node dysfunction (sinus bradycardia between 40 and 60 beats/min); Group C: 5 patients with definite electrocardiographic signs of sinus node dysfunction (sinus bradycardia less than or equal to 39 beats/min and/or sinoatrial block and/or sinus arrest). Fifteen patients (52%) had signs of organic heart disease. The main results obtained were: At least one electrophysiological test (sinus rate, corrected sinus node recovery time or sino-atrial conduction time) was abnormal in 10 patients (34,5%) before autonomic blockade and in 8 patients (27%) after autonomic blockade. Two of these 8 patients belonged to Group A (18%), 1 to Group B (8%) and 5 to Group C (100%). Six of these 8 patients were suffering from an organic heart disease and 2 were not.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)