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Syncope or seizure? The diagnostic value of the EEG and hyperventilation test in transient loss of consciousness.
- Source :
-
Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry [J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry] 1991 Nov; Vol. 54 (11), pp. 953-6. - Publication Year :
- 1991
-
Abstract
- In a prospective study of consecutive patients (age 15 or over) with transient loss of consciousness 45 patients had a history of seizure and 74 patients had a history of syncope. All patients had an EEG, ECG, laboratory tests and a hyperventilation test and were followed for an average of 14.5 months. Epileptiform activity in the interictal EEG had a sensitivity of 0.40 and a specificity of 0.95 for the diagnosis of a seizure. Epileptiform activity nearly doubled the probability of a seizure in doubtful cases. If no epileptiform activity was found, this probability remained substantially the same. The hyperventilation test had a sensitivity of 0.57 and a specificity of 0.84 for the diagnosis of syncope. A positive test increased the probability of syncope half as much in doubtful cases. A negative test did not exclude syncope. Laboratory tests were not helpful except for an ECG which was helpful in elderly patients.
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Diagnosis, Differential
Electrocardiography
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Predictive Value of Tests
Prospective Studies
Seizures physiopathology
Syncope physiopathology
Unconsciousness physiopathology
Electroencephalography
Hyperventilation physiopathology
Seizures diagnosis
Syncope diagnosis
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0022-3050
- Volume :
- 54
- Issue :
- 11
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 1800665
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.54.11.953