guideline new

7
  Syncope Due to Idiopathic Paroxysmal Atrioventricular Block Long-Term Follow-Up of a Distinct Form of Atrioventricular Block Michele Brignole, MD,* Jean-Claude Deharo, MD,† Luc De Roy, MD,‡ Carlo Menozzi, MD,§ Dominique Blommaert, MD,‡ Lara Dabiri, MD,‡ Jean Ruf, MD,  Regis Guieu, MDLavagna and Reggio Emilia, Italy; Marseille, France; and Yvoir, Belgium Objectives  We pres ent dat a on pat ients wi th sync ope due to par oxysma l atrio ventri cular ( AV) blo ck unex plaina ble in te rms of currently known mechanisms. Background  Parox ysmal AV block i s known t o be due to intrinsic AV conduc tion disease or to heigh tened v agal ton e. Methods  We evaluated 18 patients presenting with unexplained syncope who had: 1) normal baseline standard electro- cardiogram (ECG); 2) absence of structural heart disease; and 3) documentation, by means of prolonged ECG monitoring at the time of syncopal relapse, of paroxysmal third-degree AV block with abrupt onset and absence of other rhythm disturbances before or during the block. Results  The study group consist ed of 9 men and 9 women, mean age 55 19 years, who had recurrent unexplained syncope for 8 7 years and were subsequently followed up for as long as 14 years (4 4 years on average). The patients had no structural heart disease, standard ECG was normal, and electr ophysi ologica l study was neg- ative. In all patients, prolonged ECG monitoring documented paroxysmal complete AV block with 1 or multiple consec utive pauses (mean longest pause: 9 7 s at the time of syncope); AV block occurred without P-P cycle lengthening or PR interval prolongation. During the observation time, no patient had permanent AV block; on permanent cardiac pacing, no patient had further syncopal recurrences. Conclusions  Common c linical an d electr ophysio logical f eature s dene a d istinct fo rm of syn cope due t o idiopa thic par oxys- mal AV block characterized by a long history of recurrent syncope, absence of progression to persistent forms of AV block, and ef cacy of car diac paci ng therap y. (J Am Coll Cardi ol 2011;58:167– 73) © 2011 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation Parox ysmal third-degree atrio ventri cular (AV) block is a known cause of syncope. Paroxysmal AV block that occurs in patients with underlying heart disease and/or abnormal standard electrocardiogram (ECG) is usually regarded as a manifestation of an intrinsic disease of the AV conduction system (Stokes-Adams attack). This is usually conrmed by abnormal electrophysiological ndings ( 1,2). Well-dened clinical and electrophysiological features allow differentiat- ing intrinsic AV block from the other known form of block, namely, vagal (extrinsic) paroxysmal AV block. Differenti- ation between the often benign and reversible causes of  vagal AV block from intrinsic AV block is of practical importance because the benet of permanent cardiac pacing for vagal AV block is controversial (3,4).  See page 174 In this study, we present data on patients with syncope due to par oxys mal AV blo ck une xpl ain abl e in ter ms of currently known mechanisms. Methods In this 4-center study, we evaluated 18 patients presenting  with unexplained syncope who had: 1) normal baseline standard ECG; 2) absence of structural heart disease; and 3) documentation, by means of prolonged ECG monitoring at the time of syncopal relapse, of paroxysmal third-degree  AV block with abrupt onset (and delayed emergence of an ade qua te esc ape rhy thm) and absenc e of other rhy thm disturbances before or during the block (type 1C according to the ISSUE [International Study of Syncope of Uncertain Etiology] study classication [5]). From the *Department of Cardiology, Arrhythmologic Centre, Ospedali del Tigullio, Lavagna, Italy; †Department of Cardiology, Timone University Hospital, Marseille, France; ‡Department of Cardiology, UCL Mont-Godinne, Yvoir, Belgium; §De- partment of Cardiology, Arcispedale S Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy;   Labora- tory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Timone University Hospital, Marseille, France; and the ¶Université de la Méditerranée, Ministère de la Défense, Marseille, France. The authors have reported that they have no relationships to disclose. Manuscript received September 17, 2010; revised manuscript received December 6, 2010, accepted December 21, 2010.  Journal of the American College of Cardiology Vol. 58, No. 2, 2011 © 2011 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation ISSN 0735-1097/$36.00 Published by Elsevier Inc. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2010.12.045 Downloaded From: http://content.onl inejacc.org/ on 01/14/201 5

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Guideline for cardiologist, GP, and medical student

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    Methods We evaluated 18 patients presenting with unexplained syncope who had: 1) normal baseline standard electro-

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    Journal of the American College of Cardiology Vol. 58, No. 2, 2011 2Pub

    Downloadecardiogram (ECG); 2) absence of structural heart disease; and 3) documentation, by means of prolonged ECGmonitoring at the time of syncopal relapse, of paroxysmal third-degree AV block with abrupt onset and absenceof other rhythm disturbances before or during the block.

    Results The study group consisted of 9 men and 9 women, mean age 55 19 years, who had recurrent unexplainedsyncope for 8 7 years and were subsequently followed up for as long as 14 years (4 4 years on average).The patients had no structural heart disease, standard ECG was normal, and electrophysiological study was neg-ative. In all patients, prolonged ECG monitoring documented paroxysmal complete AV block with 1 or multipleconsecutive pauses (mean longest pause: 9 7 s at the time of syncope); AV block occurred without P-P cyclelengthening or PR interval prolongation. During the observation time, no patient had permanent AV block; onpermanent cardiac pacing, no patient had further syncopal recurrences.

    Conclusions Common clinical and electrophysiological features define a distinct form of syncope due to idiopathic paroxys-mal AV block characterized by a long history of recurrent syncope, absence of progression to persistent formsof AV block, and efficacy of cardiac pacing therapy. (J Am Coll Cardiol 2011;58:16773) 2011 by theAmerican College of Cardiology Foundation

    roxysmal third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block is aown cause of syncope. Paroxysmal AV block that occurspatients with underlying heart disease and/or abnormalndard electrocardiogram (ECG) is usually regarded as anifestation of an intrinsic disease of the AV conductiontem (Stokes-Adams attack). This is usually confirmed bynormal electrophysiological findings (1,2). Well-definednical and electrophysiological features allow differentiat-

    intrinsic AV block from the other known form of block,mely, vagal (extrinsic) paroxysmal AV block. Differenti-on between the often benign and reversible causes ofal AV block from intrinsic AV block is of practical

    importance because the benefit of permanent cardiac pacingfor vagal AV block is controversial (3,4).

    See page 174

    In this study, we present data on patients with syncopedue to paroxysmal AV block unexplainable in terms ofcurrently known mechanisms.

    Methods

    In this 4-center study, we evaluated 18 patients presentingwith unexplained syncope who had: 1) normal baselinestandard ECG; 2) absence of structural heart disease; and3) documentation, by means of prolonged ECG monitoringat the time of syncopal relapse, of paroxysmal third-degreeAV block with abrupt onset (and delayed emergence of anadequate escape rhythm) and absence of other rhythmdisturbances before or during the block (type 1C according

    m the *Department of Cardiology, Arrhythmologic Centre, Ospedali del Tigullio,agna, Italy; Department of Cardiology, Timone University Hospital, Marseille,nce; Department of Cardiology, UCL Mont-Godinne, Yvoir, Belgium; De-ment of Cardiology, Arcispedale S Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy; Labora-of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Timone University Hospital, Marseille,

    nce; and the Universit de la Mditerrane, Ministre de la Dfense, Marseille,nce. The authors have reported that they have no relationships to disclose.Syncope Due to IdiopathicParoxysmal Atrioventricular BlLong-Term Follow-Up of a Distinct Fo

    Michele Brignole, MD,* Jean-Claude Deharo, MDDominique Blommaert, MD, Lara Dabiri, MD,

    Lavagna and Reggio Emilia, Italy; Marseille, France;

    Objectives We present data on patients with syncopof currently known mechanisms.

    Background Paroxysmal AV block is known to be due

    011 by the American College of Cardiology Foundationlished by Elsevier Inc.toEt

    anuscript received September 17, 2010; revised manuscript received December 6,0, accepted December 21, 2010.

    d From: http://content.onlinejacc.org/ on 01/14/2015kof Atrioventricular Block

    uc De Roy, MD, Carlo Menozzi, MD,Ruf, MD, Regis Guieu, MD

    Yvoir, Belgium

    to paroxysmal atrioventricular (AV) block unexplainable in terms

    rinsic AV conduction disease or to heightened vagal tone.

    ISSN 0735-1097/$36.00doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2010.12.045the ISSUE [International Study of Syncope of Uncertainiology] study classification [5]).

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    DownloadeThese patients underwent afull cardiological work-up thatexcluded structural heart disease.In particular, a conventional in-vasive electrophysiological evalu-ation, which included rapid atrialpacing and ajmaline drug chal-lenge, was performed in 15 pa-tients; 3 patients denied theirconsent for the examination.Further additional nonconven-

    nal electrophysiological tests included measurement ofseline adenosine plasma level (APL) as described previ-sly (J.C. Deharo et al., personal communication, 2011)8) and adenosine or adenosine triphosphate (ATP) test11). An increased susceptibility to the ATP test has beenpected in patients with syncope due to paroxysmal AVck (9). Syncope work-up was completed by means of-table testing and carotid sinus massage.The APL was also determined in 9 control patients (6n and 3 women, mean age 58 17 years) with syncopee to reflex long pauses (mean 19 16 s) due to sinusest documented by implantable loop recorder, and in 81althy subjects matched for age and sex.Data are reported as mean SD or as median (inter-artile range [IQR]), as appropriate. Comparison betweenontinuous variables with a non-Gaussian distribution wasrformed by applying the Mann-Whitney nonparametrict.

    tient Characteristics, Test Results, and Outcomeable 1 Patient Characteristics, Test Results, and Outcome

    atient#

    Age (yrs),Sex

    Syncope

    Total No.Duration(yrs)

    1 73, M 20 8.0

    2 85, F 4 1.0

    3 69, M 2 0.5

    4 63, F 3 7.0

    5 50, F 20 20.0

    6 63, F 6 13.0

    7 66, F 25 8.0

    8 57, F Very frequent 5.0

    9 68, M 6 18.0

    10 62, M 4 2.0

    11 70, F 100 20.0

    12 20, M 4 4.0

    13 41, M 10 8.0

    14 57, M 21 4.0

    15 13, M 1 0.0

    16 49, F 2 0.5

    17 52, M 1 0.5

    bbreviationsnd Acronyms

    PL adenosine plasmaevel

    TP adenosineriphosphate

    V atrioventricular

    CG electrocardiogram

    QR interquartile range

    Idiopathic Paroxysmal AV Block18 26, F 10 16.0 No

    d From: http://content.onlinejacc.org/ on 01/14/2015sults

    e study group consisted of 9 men and 9 women (meane 55 19 years) who had had recurrent unexplainedcope and pre-syncope for 8 7 years (median 6 years,R: 3 to 12 years, range 0 to 20 years) (Table 1). Mostcopal episodes were unpredictable, in that prodromesre absent or very short (a few seconds of dizziness orrred vision). Only 3 patients had some episodes withtures that suggested autonomic activation: during a mealceded by prodromes (Patient #4), triggered by unex-ined cough or by emotion (Patient #11), and preceded byusea and prodromes (Patient #16). The patients did notve structural heart disease, and standard ECG was nor-l. Prolonged ECG monitoring (implantable loop re-

    rder in 10 patients, Holter in 5 patients, and in-hospitalemetry in 3 patients) at the time of syncope or pre-cope documented paroxysmal complete AV block with 1multiple consecutive pauses (longest pause 9 7 s) dueabsence or depression of escape rhythm in all patients;

    block occurred without P-P cycle lengthening (n 12)with minimal P-P cycle lengthening (n 6); PR intervalained stable before and at the end of the pause (Figs. 1,

    and 3). One patient had advanced AV block, whichrsisted for 2 days, followed by first-degree AV block for a

    days and then normal conduction. An electrophysiolog-l study performed at the time of first-degree AV blockwed impaired AV nodal conduction. Multiple episodes

    AV block (2 to 20) were also documented in 11 patients

    Spontaneous AVB

    dromes, Autonomictivation, Triggers Diagnostic Tool Max Pause, s

    ILR 5.0

    all while sitting) ILR 13.0

    ILR 3.5

    (meal, prodromes) ILR 5.0

    ILR 22.0

    ILR 10.0

    ILR 28.0

    In-hospital telemetry 4.5

    ILR 17.0

    1 while driving) ILR 8.0

    (tussive, emotional) 7-day Holter 8.0

    In-hospital telemetry 3.6

    Holter 3.4

    Holter 11.0

    Holter 3.5

    (nausea,romes)

    Holter 4.8

    while driving) ILR 4.5

    July 5, 2011:16773Re

    ThagsynIQsynweblufeapreplanahamacotelsynortoAV

    Brignole et al. JACC Vol. 58, No. 2, 2011In-hospital telemetry 5.0

    Continued on next page

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    169JACC Vol. 58, No. 2, 2011 Brignole et al.July

    Downloadewhom monitoring was continued after the first docu-nted syncope; these were always similar to the firstcumented episode.After the diagnosis, the patients were followed up for aal of 4 4 years (range 0.6 to 14 years). Seventeentients underwent permanent dual-chamber cardiac pac-, and no patient had recurrence of syncope. The totale from the first syncopal symptom to the end of

    low-up was 12 8 years (range 1.6 to 34 years). Durings period, no patient had permanent AV block.boratory findings. Electrophysiological study did notw any impairment of AV conduction in 14 patients; in 1 ofse, mild sinus dysfunction was detected. The medianeline APL of these patients was significantly lower than thatnd in the age- and sex-matched population of 81 healthyjects: 0.33 M (IQR: 0.20 to 0.56 M) versus 0.49 MR: 0.38 to 0.68l M, p 0.017). The median APL valuethe patients was also 4-fold lower than that found in 9trol patients with syncope due to reflex sinus arrest (1.2MR: 1.0 to 1.7 M]; p 0.001) (Fig. 4). In 15 (83%)

    tients with paroxysmal AV block, the rapid intravenousection of 18 mg adenosine or 20 mg ATP caused complete

    block similar to the spontaneous AV block and a meanximum pause of 10 6 s (Table 1, Fig. 3B). Finally,-table testing induced a vasovagal syncope in 7 (41%) ofes, but never reproduced AV block, and carotid sinusssage was negative in all patients in whom it was performed.

    scussion

    e common clinical and electrophysiological features ofse patients define a distinct form of syncope character-

    ntinuedable 1 Continued

    PLM)

    ATP Test: AVB(Max Pause, s) EPS

    Tilt TableTesting

    .91 Yes (7.5) Normal DOH

    .45 Sinus arrest Mild SND Mixed

    .20 Yes (8.0) Normal Mixed

    .28 Yes (3.3) Normal Mixed

    .89 Yes (11.0) Normal Negative

    .40 Yes (8.6) Not done Negative

    .20 Yes (7.6) Normal Negative

    .29 Yes (8.0) * Not done

    .36 Yes (4.0) Not done Mixed

    .70 Yes (5.0) Not done Negative

    .38 Yes (10.0) Normal Negative

    .12 Yes (9.3) Normal Mixed

    .11 Negative Normal Negative

    .11 Yes (13.7) Normal Negative

    .89 Yes (8.0) Normal Negative

    .74 Yes (18.0) Not done Sinus arrest

    .34 Negative Normal Negative

    .12 Yes (25.0) Normal Sinus arrest

    5, 2011:16773tient #8 had advanced-degree atrioventricular block (AVB) that persisted for 2 days, then first-degree AVof the block showed impaired AV nodal conduction.

    PL adenosine plasma level; ATP adenosine triphosphate; DOH delayed orthostatic hypotension; ILR

    d From: http://content.onlinejacc.org/ on 01/14/2015d by a long history of recurrent syncope due to idiopathicroxysmal AV block with long pauses, absence of cardiacd ECG abnormalities, absence of progression to persis-t forms of AV block, and efficacy of cardiac pacingrapy. These patients have low baseline APL values andw an increased susceptibility to exogenous adenosine.

    Similar ECG features have been occasionally described inividual patients in clinical studies (9,11,12) and in a fewe reports (1316); no follow-up is reported.In our patients, the paroxysmal AV block had differentnical and electrophysiological features from those of the 2er known types of paroxysmal AV block: intrinsic AVck due to AV conduction disease and extrinsic vagal AVck.

    Intrinsic AV block due to AV conduction disease waslikely in our population. The absence of any evidence ofdiac abnormalities, the young age of several of thesetients, and the outcome showing no progression of theck toward permanent forms for several years argue

    ainst an intrinsic cardiac etiology. Furthermore, the AVck was never initiated by atrial, His, or ventricular

    emature extrasystole, increased heart rate (tachy-pendent AV block), or decreased heart rate (brady-pendent AV block), all features that support a diagnosisintrinsic AV block (1,2).The clinical features of our patients were also differentm those of a typical population of patients affected byovagal syncope. Specifically, historical findings of auto-mic activation, triggering, and predisposing factors thatuld suggest a diagnosis of reflex syncope were encounteredly in 3 of our patients, whereas the etiology remained

    Carotid SinusMassage

    PMTherapy

    Follow-UpDuration(yrs) Symptoms

    Not done Yes 4.4 No

    Not done Yes 4.0 No

    Negative Yes 8.0 No

    Negative Yes 1.7 No

    Negative Yes 14.0 No

    Negative Yes 10.0 No

    Negative Yes 2.0 No

    Not done No 1.7 No

    Negative Yes 1.0 No

    Negative Yes 5.0 No

    Negative Yes 0.8 No

    Negative Yes 2.0 No

    Negative Yes 5.6 No

    Negative Yes 2.3 No

    Negative Yes 10.7 No

    Negative Yes 1.1 No

    Not done Yes 1.3 No

    Negative Yes 0.6 No

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    implantable loop recorder; Maxmaximum; PM pacemaker; SND sinus node disease.

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    170 Brignole et al. JACC Vol. 58, No. 2, 2011

    Downloadeigure 2 Case #10

    he 4 strips are continuous and show a spontaneous syncope recorded by implantable loop recorder. Initial minimal sinus slowing (P-P cycle increased by 80 ms) wasigure 1 Case #14

    , B) Holter recording of 2 episodes of spontaneous syncope that occurred a few minutes apart. The 2 episodes were very similar and were characterized by sudden-nset complete atrioventricular (AV) block without changes in P-P cycle length, which constantly remained 720 ms and long ventricular asystole of 7 and 11 sop and bottom, compressed traces, respectively).

    Idiopathic Paroxysmal AV Block July 5, 2011:16773llowed by 2:1 atrioventricular (AV) block and finally complete AV block with a very long asystolic pause. During AV block, the P-P cycle progressively shortened, indicat-g a compensatory reflex sympathetic activation.

    d From: http://content.onlinejacc.org/ on 01/14/2015

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    171JACC Vol. 58, No. 2, 2011 Brignole et al.July

    Downloadeexplained in the others. Also, the electrophysiologicaltures of our patients were against a vagally mediated AVck. Indeed, a classic vagal effect on the conduction systemludes gradual slowing of the sinus rate (P-P interval) and

    conduction (prolonging PR), which are occasionallylowed by sinus arrest or complete AV block. The 2nditions frequently coexist, indicating a simultaneousal action on sinus node and AV node. Even when a moreminent AV response occurs, vagally mediated AV blockusually preceded by significant PR prolongation orenckebach; the P-P interval is prolonged markedly alsoring asystole, and there is significant PR prolongation onumption of AV conduction (1,4,5,17). These featuresre absent in our patients, who were affected by abrupt-set AV block without significant rhythm disturbancesfore or during the attack (type 1C block).Paroxysmal type 1C AV block is very rare during tilt-uced vasovagal syncope. Apart from 2 case reports,18), AV block with a constant P-P cycle has never been

    served in large series of tilt-table tests (17,19). In thesent study, tilt-table testing, which induced a vasovagal

    igure 3 Case #7

    ) The 2 strips are continuous and show a spontaneous syncope recorded by implalock, followed by complete AV block without changes in P-P cycle length. (B) Adenosdenosine, complete AV block with constant P-P cycle and ventricular asystole of 7.6

    5, 2011:16773cope in 7 cases, never reproduced AV block. Carotidus massage was invariably negative. In addition, low APL

    cA

    d From: http://content.onlinejacc.org/ on 01/14/2015ues clearly differentiated our patients from patients withcumented spontaneous reflex sinus arrest, who had adian APL value 4 times higher than patients with AVck (Fig. 4). High APL values seem to characterizeovagal syncope as they were also found in 3 studies

    loop recorder. The episode was characterized by 2:1 atrioventricular (AV)st. A few seconds after rapid intravenous (i.v.) injection of a bolus of 18 mginduced.

    igure 4 Individual APL in Patients and Controls

    he individual values of adenosine plasma level (APL) in patients and

    Idiopathic Paroxysmal AV Blockvaldomeblovas

    ntableine tes was

    F

    T

    ontrols are plotted. The median APL value of each group is also shown.V atrioventricular.

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    172 Brignole et al. JACC Vol. 58, No. 2, 2011

    Downloadeolving patients with a diagnosis of vasovagal syncopenfirmed by positive tilt-table testing (J.C. Deharo et al.,rsonal communication, 2011) (6,7). Thus, a differentsmatic adenosine background seem to be present in

    tients with idiopathic AV block and in patients withovagal syncope. Finally, permanent cardiac pacing was

    mpletely successful in preventing syncopal recurrencesring long-term follow-up. This suggests that paroxysmal

    block was the main determinant of syncope in ourtients. Conversely, cardiac pacing has been reported to bes efficacious in patients affected by reflex cardioinhibitorycope, even if a spontaneous asystolic reflex has been

    cumented, with syncope recurring in 9% to 45% oftients (3,4). The cause of persistence of syncopal recur-ce in reflex syncope is attributed to the coexistence of aodepressor reflex, which, to some degree, is present intually all patients.thophysiological observations. We found that our pa-nts had a low baseline APL value (compared with controljects and with patients with reflex asystolic syncope) and

    ate of positive ATP test much higher than that found inliterature in normal control subjects (9) and in patients

    th unexplained syncope (912,20), indicating an in-ased susceptibility of the AV node to adenosine. Theseservations may lead to hypothesize some relationshiptween the adenosine pathway and the genesis of the AVck.

    The effect of adenosine on the AV node is mainly due tostimulation of high-affinity A1 receptors, which are

    ch more numerous in the AV node than in the sinoatrialde (2123). Like many other cell surface receptors, thember of cardiac adenosine A1 receptors undergoes up-ulation and down-regulation when cardiac tissues are

    ronically exposed to low or elevated concentrations ofenosine receptor agonist (i.e., adenosine), respectively. Ansient release of endogenous adenosine could be sufficientblock conduction in the AV node when a high number ofe high-affinity A1 receptors in the AV node are availablew-APL patients). The cause of the transient release ofdogenous adenosine responsible for paroxysmal AV blockour patients is unknown. Adenosine is a ubiquitousstance, which is released under several physiological and

    thological conditions (e.g., in the case of myocardialpoxia or during reflex beta-adrenergic stimulation),25). Even if a role of the adenosine pathway in the

    nesis of the AV block may be possible, these data areufficient to prove a causal relationship. Therefore, thechanism of the block in our patients remains largelyexplained (idiopathic AV block). The above observationsght be of interest for the planning of future studies.udy limitations. Three patients had historical featurest suggest the activation of vasovagal or situational re-

    xes. Seven patients had a vasovagal response during

    Idiopathic Paroxysmal AV Block-table testing. Apart these features, these patients wereistinguishable from the others. The absence of sinuswing along with AV block does not definitely rule out

    eveAV

    d From: http://content.onlinejacc.org/ on 01/14/2015e role of exogenous hypervagotonia in causing the blockthese patients. Probably are the very different APL valuest differentiate better the patients with idiopathic AVck from patients with typical vasovagal syncope. In some

    tients, the follow-up period after pacemaker implantations too short to allow evaluating the efficacy of pacingrapy in preventing symptomatic recurrences.

    nclusions

    clinical practice, paroxysmal AV block without or withnimal changes in the P-P cycle, as was observed in ourdy patients, is usually regarded as a manifestation of anrinsic disease of the AV conduction system, and inordance with current guidelines (26), a diagnosis ofdiac syncope (primary arrhythmia) is made. Conversely,the basis of their clinical features and the absence of any

    tectable cardiac abnormality, our patients would probablyve been categorized as possibly affected by an atypicalm of neurally mediated syncope if they had not had theher fortuitous documentation of paroxysmal AV block at

    time of syncope (26). Therefore, 2 opposite diagnosesuld be made in the same patients, depending on whetherroxysmal AV block during a spontaneous attack is docu-nted on ECG. We were able to give an alternativelanation.

    How frequent is syncope due to idiopathic AV block?pe 1C block was found to be present in 8% of syncopetients with normal ECG and absence of structural heartease (corresponding to 15% of those who had ECGcumentation of syncope) (11). We can only speculate thatse figures may represent the prevalence of this newdrome among patients without structural heart diseaseo are affected by unexplained syncope. However, aspective study is needed to confirm this hypothesis.

    Given that ECG documentation of idiopathic AV blockthe gold standard for diagnosis, is there some other testt could anticipate diagnosis? The adenosine test appearedbe sensitive enough to identify the patients with idio-

    thic AV block in this study, but it showed a very lowcificity in other studies in which there was a lack of

    rrelation between the responses to the test and thechanism of spontaneous syncope documented by im-ntable loop recorder (11,12). There is not a clear-cut

    toff of APL value between idiopathic AV block patientsd normal control subjects. In patients with unexplainedcope, normal ECG, and absence of structural heartease, low-to-normal APL values suggest an idiopathic

    block whereas high APL values suggest a typical reflexcope. That is probably likely for patients (30% of our

    pulation) who have an APL value 0.24 M, which isfifth lower percentile in normal healthy subjects. How-

    July 5, 2011:16773r, the specificity of APL value in identifying idiopathicblock is unknown and a matter of future studies.

  • Reprint requests and correspondence: Dr. Michele Brignole,Arrhythmologic Center, Department of Cardiology, Ospedali delTigullio, Via Don Bobbio 25, 16033 Lavagna, Italy. E-mail:[email protected].

    REFERENCES

    1. Lee S, Wellens JJ, Josephson M. Paroxysmal atrioventricular block.Heart Rhythm 2009;6:122934.

    2. El-Sherif N, Jalife J. Paroxysmal atrioventricular block: are phase 3 andphase 4 block mechanisms or misnomers? Heart Rhythm 2009;6:151421.

    3. Brignole M, Sutton R, Menozzi C, et al. Early application of animplantable loop recorder allows effective specific therapy in patientswith recurrent suspected neurally mediated syncope. Eur Heart J2006;27:108592.

    4. Sud S, Klein G, Skanes A, Gula L, Yee R, Krahn A. Implications ofmechanism of bradycardia on response to pacing in patients withunexplained syncope. Europace 2007;9:3128.

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    173JACC Vol. 58, No. 2, 2011 Brignole et al.July 5, 2011:16773 Idiopathic Paroxysmal AV Block

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    y Words: adenosine y AV block y ECG monitoring ytrocardiography y syncope.

    Syncope Due to Idiopathic Paroxysmal Atrioventricular BlockMethodsResultsLaboratory findings

    DiscussionPathophysiological observationsStudy limitations

    ConclusionsReferences