Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Stretch syncope in humans: Evidence for symptomatic neural reflex hypotension triggered by stretching of shoulder and upper back muscles
Authors' conclusion
Shoulder/upper back stretching induces a transient hypotensive response in humans, with BP fall greater in patients with SIS than in controls. Further, compensatory HR increment associated with stretch-induced hypotension was less in both patients with SIS and controls than comparable transient BP fall with AS, suggesting chronotropic restraint. Thus, SIS results from exaggerated stretch-induced vasodepression with limited compensatory tachycardia favoring a neural reflex mechanism.
Study context
- Population
- Otherwise healthy patients with stretch-induced syncope (SIS) and healthy controls evaluated for symptoms unrelated to stretching
- Participants
- 33 individuals
- Comparison
- Impact of shoulder/upper back stretching on heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) responses in patients with SIS, with the findings in controls evaluated for symptoms unrelated to stretching
- Patients with SISn = 9
- Controlsn = 24
- Outcome
- Nadir SBP and MAP during stretch
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Nadir values of systolic BP (SBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) (patients with SIS and controls, respectively)
95.9 ± 24.2 and 76.2 ± 17.3 mm Hg
Further findings
| Outcome | P value |
|---|---|
| Stretch-induced SBP and MAP decreasePatients with SIS vs controls · greater in patients with SIS | P = 0.003 |
| Stretch-induced SBP and MAP decreasePatients with SIS vs controls · greater in patients with SIS | P = 0.013 |
| Ratio of ΔHR increase to ΔBP dropStretch-induced hypotension vs hypotension induced immediately after AS · lower during stretch-induced hypotension | P = 0.001 |
Original publication
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →