The Head up tilt test can diagnose vasovagal reflex in patients with spontaneous dizziness, but should be reserved for strongly suspected cases due to the severe stress it causes.
Tilt testing may identify vasovagal reflex in select dizziness cases; leaves open routine adoption given procedural stress and Level 5 evidence.
IntroductionVasovagal reflex (VVR) is a disease that has received attention in various fields.Recently, researchers have started to clarify its mechanism. Three patients with symptoms probably due to VVR were treated in this department and the Head up tilt test was used to diagnose dizziness due to VVR.PatientsThe three patients included a 21-year-old female (Case 1), a 26-year-old male (Case 2) and a 61-year-old female (Case 3). All three patients had chief complaints of spontaneous dizziness after standing or sitting for 5 to 30 minutes.ResultsThe duration of standing before the onset of positive findings was 9.5 minutes in Case 1 and 11 minutes in Case 2. In Case 3, positive findings were obtained 9.5 minutes after isoproterenol administration.DiscussionAll three patients showed spontaneous dizziness in either the standing or sitting position and the results of the Head up tilt test were positive. Therefore, dizziness seemed to be due to VVR in these patients. The instantaneous decrease in blood volume due to paradoxical activation of the vagus nerve may have induced dizziness, loss of consciousness and faintness. Because of severe patient stress during the Head up tilt test, this examination should be indicated only in those who are strongly suspected of VVR.
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Masaki et al. (1998) studied this question.
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