EEG-abnormalities in patients with vagovascular syncope
Friedli, P.
Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift 105(23): 746-752
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-7672 PMID: 1215874 Document Number: 95751
In 248 patients with vagovasal syncope, EEGs recorded during a seizure free period showed abnormality in 19.3% of the cases. In 2% there were only nonspecific disturbances of background activity. 12.9% (during the resting record 9.7%) of the investigated persons showed paroxysmal slower and/or sharper transients and a further 4.4% (in the resting record 2.4%) hypersynchronous activity, which occurred significantly more often in women than in men. It also usually consisted of single fine spikes or sharp waves and only rarely did real sharp and slow-wave complexes or abortive spike-waves appear. Two patients (one with a normal and the other with an abnormal record) had spontaneous syncopal attacks during the EEG recording, showing in the EEG as generalized high voltage delta waves, which in one case changed into a transitory isoelectric trace. These EEG changes were similar to those in provoked vagovasal syncope, as described by other authors. EEG transients in patients with clinical vagovasal syncope are discussed. In the rare cases with very pronounced EEG changes, a neurological examination is advisable for complete assessment of the case. In patients with otherwise typical vagovasal syncope, long-term anticonvulsive therapy merely because of dyrhythmic transients and/or single fine spikes in the seizure-free period is, in the opinion of the author, not indicated.