Syncope pathophysiology

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Karol Gema Hernandez, M.D. [2] Sahar Memar Montazerin, M.D.[3]

Overview

Syncope is an entity in which loss of consciousness due to cerebral hypoperfusion presents. There are several pathways to explain its pathophysiology, depending on if it is either reflex syncope, orthostatic intolerance, or cardiovascular syncope.

Pathophysiology

Syncope is an entity in which loss of consciousness due to cerebral hypoperfusion presents. There are several pathways to explain its pathophysiology, depending on if it is either reflex syncope, orthostatic intolerance, or cardiovascular syncope.[1][2][3]


Venous depletion/pooling
 
Arrhythmia or Structural heart disease
 
 
Vasodepressors/Cardioinhibitors
 
 
Drugs
 
Autonomic nervous failure
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Inadequate venous return
 
Cardiac/Pulmonary cause
 
 
Inappropriate reflex
 
 
Normal ANS
 
Damaged ANS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Low cardiac output
 
 
 
 
Low cardiac output/Low peripheral resistance
 
 
 
 
Low peripheral resistance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cerebral hypoperfusion
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Syncope
 
 
 
 

Abbreviations: ANS: Autonomic nervous system

Reflex (Neurally-mediated) Syncope

Reflex syncope presents when there is a failure of the body's normal compensation of cardiac reflexes in response to a trigger. It can be manifested as 4 categories, whose triggers differ:

The table below provides information on the triggers of different subtypes of syncope:

Syncope

Triggers:

Vasovagal
Situational
Carotid Sinus
Atypical forms
  • Triggers can't be clearly identified.
  • Diagnosis is made upon exclusion or by reproduction of symptoms with tilt test

Orthostatic Intolerance

Orthostatic intolerance is caused by a chronic autonomic nervous system failure (ANF). ANF causes a deficient vasoconstriction and ultimately decreased blood pressure, leading to the manifestation of syncope.[4][5][6]

The table below compares different mechanisms of orthostatic hypotension.

Classification

Pathophysiology

Initial OH
Classic OH
Delayed/Progressive OH
Delayed Reflex syncope
Reflex syncope triggered by standing position
  • Vasovagal reaction caused by a standing position due to a decrease in venous return, with initial normal adaptation reflex.
POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome)
  • Decreased venous flow of uncertain cause.

Cardiovascular Syncope

References

  1. Hainsworth, Roger (2004). "Pathophysiology of syncope". Clinical Autonomic Research. 14 (S1): i18–i24. doi:10.1007/s10286-004-1004-2. ISSN 0959-9851.
  2. Moya, A.; Sutton, R.; Ammirati, F.; Blanc, J.-J.; Brignole, M.; Dahm, J. B.; Deharo, J.-C.; Gajek, J.; Gjesdal, K.; Krahn, A.; Massin, M.; Pepi, M.; Pezawas, T.; Granell, R. R.; Sarasin, F.; Ungar, A.; van Dijk, J. G.; Walma, E. P.; Wieling, W.; Abe, H.; Benditt, D. G.; Decker, W. W.; Grubb, B. P.; Kaufmann, H.; Morillo, C.; Olshansky, B.; Parry, S. W.; Sheldon, R.; Shen, W. K.; Vahanian, A.; Auricchio, A.; Bax, J.; Ceconi, C.; Dean, V.; Filippatos, G.; Funck-Brentano, C.; Hobbs, R.; Kearney, P.; McDonagh, T.; McGregor, K.; Popescu, B. A.; Reiner, Z.; Sechtem, U.; Sirnes, P. A.; Tendera, M.; Vardas, P.; Widimsky, P.; Auricchio, A.; Acarturk, E.; Andreotti, F.; Asteggiano, R.; Bauersfeld, U.; Bellou, A.; Benetos, A.; Brandt, J.; Chung, M. K.; Cortelli, P.; Da Costa, A.; Extramiana, F.; Ferro, J.; Gorenek, B.; Hedman, A.; Hirsch, R.; Kaliska, G.; Kenny, R. A.; Kjeldsen, K. P.; Lampert, R.; Molgard, H.; Paju, R.; Puodziukynas, A.; Raviele, A.; Roman, P.; Scherer, M.; Schondorf, R.; Sicari, R.; Vanbrabant, P.; Wolpert, C.; Zamorano, J. L. (2009). "Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of syncope (version 2009): The Task Force for the Diagnosis and Management of Syncope of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)". European Heart Journal. 30 (21): 2631–2671. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehp298. ISSN 0195-668X.
  3. . doi:10.1016/j.pcad.2012.10.01. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. Robertson, David (2008). "The pathophysiology and diagnosis of orthostatic hypotension". Clinical Autonomic Research. 18 (S1): 2–7. doi:10.1007/s10286-007-1004-0. ISSN 0959-9851.
  5. Medow, Marvin S.; Stewart, Julian M.; Sanyal, Sanjukta; Mumtaz, Arif; Sica, Domenic; Frishman, William H. (2008). "Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Orthostatic Hypotension and Vasovagal Syncope". Cardiology in Review. 16 (1): 4–20. doi:10.1097/CRD.0b013e31815c8032. ISSN 1061-5377.
  6. Goldstein, David S.; Sharabi, Yehonatan (2009). "Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension". Circulation. 119 (1): 139–146. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.108.805887. ISSN 0009-7322.