Presyncope

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Vendhan Ramanujam M.B.B.S [2]

Synonyms and keywords: Faintness; generalized weakness; lightheadedness; near blackout; near fainting; near syncope

Overview

Presyncope is a state consisting of lightheadedness,^[1] muscular weakness, and feeling faint (as opposed to a syncope, which is actually fainting). Pre-syncope is most often cardiovascular in etiology. In many patients, lightheadedness is a symptom of orthostatic hypotension. Orthostatic hypotension occurs when blood pressure drops significantly when the patient stands from a supine or sitting position. If loss of consciousness occurs in this situation, it is termed syncope. Presyncope is frequently reported in patients with forms of Dysautonomia such as the Postural Tachycardia Syndrome. According to McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine © 2002, presyncope is "An episode of near-fainting which may include lightheadedness, dizziness, severe weakness, blurred vision, which may precede a syncopal episode."

Causes

Life-Threatening Causes

Life-threatening causes include conditions which may result in death or permanent disability within 24 hours if left untreated.

Common Causes

Causes by Organ System

Cardiovascular	Acute coronary syndrome, acute myocardial infarction, acute myocarditis, Adams-Stokes syndrome, anomalous origins of coronary arteries, aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection, aortic stenosis, arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, atrial myxoma, atrioventricular block, AV nodal reentrant tachycardia, bifascicular block, bradyarrhythmia, brugada syndrome, cardiac tamponade, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, channelopathy, complete atrioventricular block, dehydration, dilated cardiomyopathy, epsilon wave, hemorrhage, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hypotension, Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome, long QT syndrome, mitral stenosis, orthostatic hypotension, paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia, persistent atrial flutter, preexcitation syndrome, prolonged corrected QT interval, pulmonic stenosis, retroperitoneal hemorrhage, ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, saddle embolus, second degree AV block, short corrected QT interval, short QT syndrome, sick sinus syndrome, significant sinus pause, subclavian steal syndrome, supraventricular tachyarrhythmia, third degree heart block, ventricular arrhythmia, ventricular tachycardia, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
Chemical/Poisoning	Carbon monoxide, cocaine, ethanol
Dental	No underlying causes
Dermatologic	No underlying causes
Drug Side Effect	ACE inhibitor, alpha blockers, amitriptyline, antiarrhythmics, antidepressants, antiemetics, antihypertensive medications, antipsychotic agents, barbiturates, beta blockers, bromocriptine, calcium channel blocker chlorpheniramine, cinnarizine, clonidine, desipramine, digoxin, diphenhydramine, diuretics, dothiepin, erectile dysfunction medications, Flurazepam, ganglionic blocker, hydralazine, hydroxyzine, L-dopa, nitrates, nortriptyline, opiates, phenothiazines, rizatriptan, tricyclic antidepressants, vasodilators
Ear Nose Throat	No underlying causes
Endocrine	No underlying causes
Environmental	No underlying causes
Gastroenterologic	Gastrointestinal bleeding
Genetic	Channelopathy
Hematologic	No underlying causes
Iatrogenic	No underlying causes
Infectious Disease	No underlying causes
Musculoskeletal/Orthopedic	No underlying causes
Neurologic	Carotid sinus hypersensitivity, dysautonomia, Lewy body dementia, multiple system atrophy, parkinson disease, seizure, spinal cord injury, subarachnoid hemorrhage, transient ischemic attack, vagal stimulation, vertebrobasilar insufficiency
Nutritional/Metabolic	No underlying causes
Obstetric/Gynecologic	No underlying causes
Oncologic	Atrial myxoma, carcinoid syndrome
Ophthalmologic	No underlying causes
Overdose/Toxicity	No underlying causes
Psychiatric	Anorexia nervosa, anxiety, emotional stress, hysterical faint, psychogenic pseudosyncope
Pulmonary	Hypoxia
Renal/Electrolyte	Uremia
Rheumatology/Immunology/Allergy	Anaphylaxis, Takayasu's arteritis
Sexual	No underlying causes
Trauma	No underlying causes
Urologic	No underlying causes
Miscellaneous	Breath holding spells, choking game, cough, defecation, deglutition, drop attack, hair combing, heat illness, hyperventilation, hypocapnia, hypoglycemia, implanted cardioverter defibrillator malfunction, laughing, micturition, post-exercise, postprandial hypotension, prolonged bed rest, sneeze, significant blood loss, valsalva maneuver, vomiting, weightlifting

Causes in Alphabetical Order

Clinical test

The tilt table test is an evaluative clinical test to help identify presyncope or syncope.^[6] A tilt angle of 60 and 70 degrees is optimal and maintains a high degree of specificity.^[6] A positive sign with the tilt table test must be taken in context of patient history, with consideration of pertinent clinical findings before coming to a conclusion.

References

↑ Reeves, Alexander G. "Chapter 14: Evaluation of the Dizzy Patient". Disorders of the nervous system: a primer. Dartmouth Medical School. Retrieved 2012-01-06. Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (help)
↑ Khoo, C.; Chakrabarti, S.; Arbour, L.; Krahn, AD. (2013). "Recognizing life-threatening causes of syncope". Cardiol Clin. 31 (1): 51–66. doi:10.1016/j.ccl.2012.10.005. PMID 23217687. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
↑ Kapoor, WN. (2000). "Syncope". N Engl J Med. 343 (25): 1856–62. doi:10.1056/NEJM200012213432507. PMID 11117979. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
↑ Nishida, K.; Hirota, SK.; Tokeshi, J. (2008). "Laugh syncope as a rare sub-type of the situational syncopes: a case report". J Med Case Rep. 2: 197. doi:10.1186/1752-1947-2-197. PMID 18538031.
↑ Benbadis, SR.; Chichkova, R. (2006). "Psychogenic pseudosyncope: an underestimated and provable diagnosis". Epilepsy Behav. 9 (1): 106–10. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2006.02.011. PMID 16697264. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
↑ ^6.0 ^6.1 Natale, A., Akhtar, M., Jazayeri, M., Dhala, A., Blanck, Z., Deshpande, S., et al. (1995). Provocation of Hypotension During Head-Up Tilt Testing in Subjects With No History of Syncope or Presyncop. American Heart Association, (92), 54-58. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.92.1.54; url: http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/92/1/54.full

Template:WH Template:WS

[urlChapter_14:_Evaluation_of_the_Dizzy_Patient-1] Reeves, Alexander G. "Chapter 14: Evaluation of the Dizzy Patient". Disorders of the nervous system: a primer. Dartmouth Medical School. Retrieved 2012-01-06. Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (help)

[Khoo-2013-2] Khoo, C.; Chakrabarti, S.; Arbour, L.; Krahn, AD. (2013). "Recognizing life-threatening causes of syncope". Cardiol Clin. 31 (1): 51–66. doi:10.1016/j.ccl.2012.10.005. PMID 23217687. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

[Kapoor-2000-3] Kapoor, WN. (2000). "Syncope". N Engl J Med. 343 (25): 1856–62. doi:10.1056/NEJM200012213432507. PMID 11117979. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

[Nishida-2008-4] Nishida, K.; Hirota, SK.; Tokeshi, J. (2008). "Laugh syncope as a rare sub-type of the situational syncopes: a case report". J Med Case Rep. 2: 197. doi:10.1186/1752-1947-2-197. PMID 18538031.

[Benbadis-2006-5] Benbadis, SR.; Chichkova, R. (2006). "Psychogenic pseudosyncope: an underestimated and provable diagnosis". Epilepsy Behav. 9 (1): 106–10. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2006.02.011. PMID 16697264. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

[natale-6] 6.0 ^6.1 Natale, A., Akhtar, M., Jazayeri, M., Dhala, A., Blanck, Z., Deshpande, S., et al. (1995). Provocation of Hypotension During Head-Up Tilt Testing in Subjects With No History of Syncope or Presyncop. American Heart Association, (92), 54-58. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.92.1.54; url: http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/92/1/54.full

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