Logo image
Back
Syncope in complex regional pain syndrome
Journal article   Open access

Syncope in complex regional pain syndrome

Jason A Smith, Dean G Karalis, Andrea L Rosso, John R Grothusen, Scott E Hessen and Robert J Schwartzman
Clinical cardiology (Mahwah, N.J.), v 34(4), pp 222-225
Apr 2011
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/clc.20879
PMID: 21462216
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
url
https://doi.org/10.1002/clc.20879View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)Maybe Open Access (Publisher Bronze),  Open

Abstract

Adult Autonomic Nervous System - physiopathology Chi-Square Distribution Complex Regional Pain Syndromes - complications Complex Regional Pain Syndromes - diagnosis Complex Regional Pain Syndromes - epidemiology Complex Regional Pain Syndromes - physiopathology Echocardiography Electrocardiography Electrocardiography, Ambulatory Female Hemodynamics Humans Male Middle Aged Pain Measurement Pennsylvania - epidemiology Predictive Value of Tests Prevalence Risk Assessment Risk Factors Syncope - diagnosis Syncope - epidemiology Syncope - etiology Syncope - physiopathology Tilt-Table Test
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a debilitating pain syndrome characterized clinically by severe pain along with signs and symptoms of autonomic dysfunction. Presyncope and syncope are common in these patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cause of these symptoms in these patients. Patients with CRPS are more prone to presyncope and syncope as evidenced by head-up tilt table testing (HUTT). Patients with CRPS underwent a complete cardiac evaluation that included a 12-lead electrocardiogram, 2-dimensional echocardiography, 24-hour Holter monitoring, and HUTT. Seventy-four patients with CRPS were evaluated. Eight CRPS patients (10%) could not complete a HUTT due to pain. Of the 66 CRPS patients who completed a HUTT, 15 (37.9%) reported pretest symptoms of presyncope or syncope. Twenty-eight CRPS patients (42.4%) had a positive HUTT. CRPS patients with lower limb involvement were more likely to have vasovagal syncope or orthostasis on HUTT than those with upper extremity or total body involvement (12 of 18 [67%] vs 16 of 48 [33%]; P = 0.015). Syncope is common in patients with CRPS, especially with lower limb involvement. Autonomic dysregulation of the lower extremities leads to impaired sympathetic vasoconstriction and venous pooling, which can predispose these patients to syncope. Physician awareness of this syndrome will lead to improved recognition and treatment of their symptoms of presyncope or syncope.

Metrics

17 Record Views
6 citations in Web of Science
8 citations in Scopus

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

InCites Highlights

Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:

Web of Science research areas
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Logo image