Tilt Testing Remains a Valuable Asset

Overview

Journal Eur Heart J

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Cardiology & Vascular Diseases

Date 2021 Feb 24

PMID 33624801

Citations 35

Authors

Richard Sutton

Artur Fedorowski

Brian Olshansky

J Gert Van Dijk

Haruhiko Abe

Michele Brignole

Frederik de Lange

Rose Anne Kenny

Phang Boon Lim

Angel Moya

Stuart D Rosen

Vincenzo Russo

Julian M Stewart

Roland D Thijs

David G Benditt

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Head-up tilt test (TT) has been used for >50 years to study heart rate/blood pressure adaptation to positional changes, to model responses to haemorrhage, to assess orthostatic hypotension, and to evaluate haemodynamic and neuroendocrine responses in congestive heart failure, autonomic dysfunction, and hypertension. During these studies, some subjects experienced syncope due to vasovagal reflex. As a result, tilt testing was incorporated into clinical assessment of syncope when the origin was unknown. Subsequently, clinical experience supports the diagnostic value of TT. This is highlighted in evidence-based professional practice guidelines, which provide advice for TT methodology and interpretation, while concurrently identifying its limitations. Thus, TT remains a valuable clinical asset, one that has added importantly to the appreciation of pathophysiology of syncope/collapse and, thereby, has improved care of syncopal patients.

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