The assessment of blood pressure variability in children with vasovagal syncopes using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate blood pressure variability (BPV) using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in children with vasovagal syncopes (VVS). Methods: In 37 children, 27 girls, 10 boys, aged 9-18 years (mean 14,4±2,2) with syncope (23) or presyncope (14) VVS were diagnosed based on anamnesis and noninvasive evaluation of the circulatory system. In 12 children tilt test was performed. Standard deviations of the mean values of the following ABPM parameters were analyzed: systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure, diurnal (D-SBP) and nocturnal (N-SBP) systolic blood pressure, diurnal (D-DBP) and nocturnal (N-DBP) diastolic blood pressure, heart rate (HR), day (D-HR) and night (N-HR) heart rate and nocturnal dipp. Results were compared to control group consisted of 22 children matched according height and weight. Statistical analyses were obtained by using t-Student test and Fischer’s exact test. Results: There were no significant differences between study vs control group regarding heart rate: HR(/min.) 12,83 vs 13,35; D-HR(/min.) 12,19 vs 12,96; N-HR(/min.) 9,32 vs 9,52. The results of other ABPM parameters are presented in the table. There were no significant differences between parameters of BPV in children with syncopes and presyncopes compared to control group. Conclusions: BPV did not differ significantly in children with VVS compared to control group. Potential parasympathetic hiperactivation in subjects with VVS seems to have no influence on BPV during everyday activity. Research is still in progress.
| SBP (mmHg) | DBP (mmHg) | D-SBP (mmHg) | N-SBP (mmHg) | D-DBP (mmHg) | N-DBP (mmHg) | dipp (%) | |
| Study group (37) | 10,31 | 10,1 | 9,74 | 6,97 | 9,6 | 6,55 | 12,34 |
| Control group (22) | 10,52 | 10,1 | 9,7 | 8,2 | 9,56 | 7,3 | 12,69 |
| p | ns | ns | ns | ns | ns | ns | ns |