Unexplained syncope was associated with significant differences in gut microbiota compared to cardiac syncope, but not compared to orthostatic hypotension or neurally mediated syncope.
Observational
Does the gut microbiota and cardiometabolic risk profile differ in unexplained syncope compared to other types of syncope?
Gut microbiota composition differs significantly between unexplained syncope and cardiac syncope, suggesting a potential role of the microbiota-gut-brain axis in syncope pathogenesis.
BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of many syncopal episodes remains unexplained. Intestinal dysbiosis could be involved in the pathophysiological mechanisms of syncope due to its connection with the central nervous system via the microbiota-gut-brain axis. This pilot study aimed to explore the specific cardiometabolic risk factors and gut microbiota in unexplained syncope (US), compared to other types of syncope, to assess their similarity or verify their different origins. METHODS: = 27). We evaluated the anthropometric, clinical, and metabolic characteristics of the four groups; the α- and β-diversity; and the differences in the abundance of the microbial taxa. RESULTS: The US group had a lower incidence of systolic hypertension at the first visit and a lower frequency of patients with nocturnal hypertension than the CS group. Compared to the OH and NMS groups, the US group had a higher incidence of carotid plaques and greater carotid intima-media thickness, respectively. The microbiota differed significantly between the US and CS groups, but not between the US group and the OH or NMS group. CONCLUSIONS: We observed significant differences in the gut microbiota between CS and US. Future studies are necessary to evaluate the involvement of the gut microbiota in the complex pathogenesis of syncope and whether its analysis could support the interpretation of the pathophysiological mechasnisms underlying some episodes classifiable as US.
Longo et al. (Wed,) conducted a observational in Unexplained syncope. Unexplained syncope vs. Other types of syncope (cardiac, orthostatic hypotension, neurally mediated) was evaluated on Gut microbiota composition and cardiometabolic risk factors. Unexplained syncope was associated with significant differences in gut microbiota compared to cardiac syncope, but not compared to orthostatic hypotension or neurally mediated syncope.