EFFICACY OF PINDOLOL FOR TREATMENT OF VASOVAGAL SYNCOPE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and to lerance of pindolol as initial therapy for vasovagal syncope. Head-up tilt table testing (HUT) was performed on 192 patients for syncope or near-syncope of unknown cause. Forty-four (23%) patients had a positiv e HUT for vasovagal syncope, and 28 (64%) received oral pindolol as in itial therapy. Three patients were lost to follow-up; of the remaining 25 patients (mean age 60 +/- 22 years), 15 were women, 14 had syncope , and 11 had near-syncope. At 14 +/- 6 months' follow-up, 16 (64%) pat ients were without recurrence or side effects from pindolol. Of the 9 patients who stopped taking pindolol, 3 were switched to another regim en for recurrent symptoms, 2 stopped because of side effects, and 4 di d not comply with the regimen. In conclusion, pindolol appears to be s afe and effective as initial treatment for vasovagal syncope.