1
|
Barik S, Riddell T. The Brain-Heart Network of Syncope. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6959. [PMID: 39000068 PMCID: PMC11241714 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25136959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2024] [Revised: 06/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Observed and recorded in various forms since ancient times, 'syncope' is often popularly called 'fainting', such that the two terms are used synonymously. Syncope/fainting can be caused by a variety of conditions, including but not limited to head injuries, vertigo, and oxygen deficiency. Here, we draw on a large body of literature on syncope, including the role of a recently discovered set of specialized mammalian neurons. Although the etiology of syncope still remains a mystery, we have attempted to provide a comprehensive account of what is known and what still needs to be performed. Much of our understanding of syncope is owing to studies in the laboratory mouse, whereas evidence from human patients remains scarce. Interestingly, the cardioinhibitory Bezold-Jarisch reflex, recognized in the early 1900s, has an intriguing similarity to-and forms the basis of-syncope. In this review, we have integrated this minimal model into the modern view of the brain-neuron-heart signaling loop of syncope, to which several signaling events contribute. Molecular signaling is our major focus here, presented in terms of a normal heart, and thus, syncope due to abnormal or weak heart activity is not discussed in detail. In addition, we have offered possible directions for clinical intervention based on this model. Overall, this article is expected to generate interest in chronic vertigo and syncope/fainting, an enigmatic condition that affects most humans at some point in life; it is also hoped that this may lead to a mechanism-based clinical intervention in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sailen Barik
- Independent Researcher, EonBio, 3780 Pelham Drive, Mobile, AL 36619, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Francia P, Viveros D, Falasconi G, Penela D, Soto-Iglesias D, Martí-Almor J, Alderete J, Saglietto A, Bellido AF, Franco-Ocaña P, Zaraket F, Matiello M, Fernández-Armenta J, San Antonio R, Berruezo A. Clinical impact of aging on outcomes of cardioneuroablation for reflex syncope or functional bradycardia: Results from the cardionEuroabLation: patiEnt selection, imaGe integrAtioN and outComEs-The ELEGANCE multicenter study. Heart Rhythm 2023; 20:1279-1286. [PMID: 37329936 DOI: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2023.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cardioneuroablation (CNA) is a novel treatment for reflex syncope. The effect of aging on CNA efficacy is not fully understood. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of aging on candidacy and efficacy of CNA for treating vasovagal syncope (VVS), carotid sinus syndrome (CSS), and functional bradyarrhythmia. METHODS The ELEGANCE (cardionEuroabLation: patiEnt selection, imaGe integrAtioN and outComEs) multicenter study assessed CNA in patients with reflex syncope or severe functional bradyarrhythmia. Patients underwent pre-CNA Holter electrocardiography (ECG), head-up tilt testing (HUT), and electrophysiological study. CNA candidacy and efficacy was assessed in 14 young (18-40 years), 26 middle-aged (41-60 years), and 20 older (>60 years) patients. RESULTS Sixty patients (37 men; mean age 51 ± 16 years) underwent CNA. The majority (80%) had VVS, 8% had CSS, and 12% had functional bradycardia/atrioventricular block. Pre-CNA Holter ECG, HUT, and electrophysiological findings did not differ across age groups. Acute CNA success was 93%, without differences between age groups (P = .42). Post-CNA HUT response was negative in 53%, vasodepressor in 38%, cardioinhibitory in 7%, and mixed in 2%, without differences across age groups (P = .59). At follow-up (8 months, interquartile range 4-15), 53 patients (88%) were free of symptoms. Kaplan-Meier curves did not show differences in event-free survival between age groups (P = .29). The negative predictive value of a negative HUT was 91.7%. CONCLUSION CNA is a viable treatment for reflex syncope and functional bradyarrhythmia in all ages, and is highly effective in mixed VVS. HUT is a key step in postablation clinical assessment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Francia
- Arrhythmia Department, Teknon Heart Institute, Teknon Medical Center, Barcelona, Spain; Cardiology Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital, University Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniel Viveros
- Arrhythmia Department, Teknon Heart Institute, Teknon Medical Center, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Giulio Falasconi
- Arrhythmia Department, Teknon Heart Institute, Teknon Medical Center, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Diego Penela
- Arrhythmia Department, Teknon Heart Institute, Teknon Medical Center, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Soto-Iglesias
- Arrhythmia Department, Teknon Heart Institute, Teknon Medical Center, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Julio Martí-Almor
- Arrhythmia Department, Teknon Heart Institute, Teknon Medical Center, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Alderete
- Arrhythmia Department, Teknon Heart Institute, Teknon Medical Center, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrea Saglietto
- Arrhythmia Department, Teknon Heart Institute, Teknon Medical Center, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Paula Franco-Ocaña
- Arrhythmia Department, Teknon Heart Institute, Teknon Medical Center, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Fatima Zaraket
- Arrhythmia Department, Teknon Heart Institute, Teknon Medical Center, Barcelona, Spain; Clínica del Pilar, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Rodolfo San Antonio
- Arrhythmia Department, Teknon Heart Institute, Teknon Medical Center, Barcelona, Spain; Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Berruezo
- Arrhythmia Department, Teknon Heart Institute, Teknon Medical Center, Barcelona, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Francia P, Viveros D, Falasconi G, Soto-Iglesias D, Fernández-Armenta J, Penela D, Berruezo A. Computed tomography-based identification of ganglionated plexi to guide cardioneuroablation for vasovagal syncope. Europace 2023; 25:euad170. [PMID: 37343139 PMCID: PMC10311406 DOI: 10.1093/europace/euad170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Francia
- Arrhythmia Department, Teknon Heart Institute, Teknon Medical Center, Carrer de Vilana, 12, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
- Cardiology Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant’Andrea Hospital, University Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniel Viveros
- Arrhythmia Department, Teknon Heart Institute, Teknon Medical Center, Carrer de Vilana, 12, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Giulio Falasconi
- Arrhythmia Department, Teknon Heart Institute, Teknon Medical Center, Carrer de Vilana, 12, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Soto-Iglesias
- Arrhythmia Department, Teknon Heart Institute, Teknon Medical Center, Carrer de Vilana, 12, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Diego Penela
- Arrhythmia Department, Teknon Heart Institute, Teknon Medical Center, Carrer de Vilana, 12, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Berruezo
- Arrhythmia Department, Teknon Heart Institute, Teknon Medical Center, Carrer de Vilana, 12, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Francisco Pascual J, Jordan Marchite P, Rodríguez Silva J, Rivas Gándara N. Arrhythmic syncope: From diagnosis to management. World J Cardiol 2023; 15:119-141. [PMID: 37124975 PMCID: PMC10130893 DOI: 10.4330/wjc.v15.i4.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Syncope is a concerning symptom that affects a large proportion of patients. It can be related to a heterogeneous group of pathologies ranging from trivial causes to diseases with a high risk of sudden death. However, benign causes are the most frequent, and identifying high-risk patients with potentially severe etiologies is crucial to establish an accurate diagnosis, initiate effective therapy, and alter the prognosis. The term cardiac syncope refers to those episodes where the cause of the cerebral hypoperfusion is directly related to a cardiac disorder, while arrhythmic syncope is cardiac syncope specifically due to rhythm disorders. Indeed, arrhythmias are the most common cause of cardiac syncope. Both bradyarrhythmia and tachyarrhythmia can cause a sudden decrease in cardiac output and produce syncope. In this review, we summarized the main guidelines in the management of patients with syncope of presumed arrhythmic origin. Therefore, we presented a thorough approach to syncope work-up through different tests depending on the clinical characteristics of the patients, risk stratification, and the management of syncope in different scenarios such as structural heart disease and channelopathies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jaume Francisco Pascual
- Unitat d’Arritmies Servei de Cardiologia VHIR, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona 08035, Spain
- Grup de Recerca Cardiovascular, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca, Barcelona 08035, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid 28029, Spain
- Departament de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
| | - Pablo Jordan Marchite
- Unitat d’Arritmies Servei de Cardiologia VHIR, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona 08035, Spain
| | - Jesús Rodríguez Silva
- Unitat d’Arritmies Servei de Cardiologia VHIR, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona 08035, Spain
| | - Nuria Rivas Gándara
- Unitat d’Arritmies Servei de Cardiologia VHIR, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona 08035, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid 28029, Spain
- Departament de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
San Antonio R. Time for a paradigm shift: from pacing to ablation in reflex syncope. J Interv Card Electrophysiol 2023:10.1007/s10840-023-01521-z. [PMID: 37052860 DOI: 10.1007/s10840-023-01521-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rodolfo San Antonio
- Heart Disease Institute, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), Bellvitge University Hospital, Feixa Llarga st., L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907, Barcelona, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|