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Severe cardioinhibitory vasovagal syncope in sleep and supine posture
Author(s) -
Xu Zheyu,
Bower Simon,
Seneviratne Udaya
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
epileptic disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.673
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1950-6945
pISSN - 1294-9361
DOI - 10.1684/epd.2014.0627
Subject(s) - vasovagal syncope , asystole , supine position , medicine , anesthesia , syncope (phonology) , epilepsy , bradycardia , cardiology , heart rate , blood pressure , psychiatry
Severe cardioinhibitory vasovagal syndrome is characterised by syncope accompanied by cardiac asystole which may lead clinically to seizure‐like motor activity. Vasovagal syncope usually occurs in erect posture and is often provoked by emotional or physical triggers. We report two patients who presented with severe cardioinhibitory vasovagal syncope accompanied by cardiac asystole resulting in seizure‐like motor manifestations in sleep and supine posture. Both cases were initially diagnosed as epilepsy and treated with antiepileptic drugs. We discuss the putative mechanisms of this rare condition and its potential for misdiagnosis as epilepsy. [ Published with video sequences ]