EFFICACY OF PINDOLOL FOR TREATMENT OF VASOVAGAL SYNCOPE

Citation
Mb. Cohen et al., EFFICACY OF PINDOLOL FOR TREATMENT OF VASOVAGAL SYNCOPE, The American heart journal, 130(4), 1995, pp. 786-790
Citations number
18
Categorie Soggetti
Cardiac & Cardiovascular System
Journal title
ISSN journal
00028703
Volume
130
Issue
4
Year of publication
1995
Pages
786 - 790
Database
ISI
SICI code
0002-8703(1995)130:4<786:EOPFTO>2.0.ZU;2-8
Abstract
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.