ABSTRACT
PURPOSE--In order to identify the reproducibility of head-up tilt test, a second test one week later in 22 patients with a positive first test, was performed. METHODS--The test was performed in a fasting state during the morning. The heart rate and blood pressure were monitored during 20 minutes in the supine position and then at 60 degrees for up to 40 minutes. The test were considered positive if the patient experienced syncope or pre-syncope with fall in systolic blood pressure > 30mmHg. The following aspects were evaluated: reproducibility of the positive response; the type of response (hypotension, asystole or hypotension plus bradycardia) and the time interval between tilt and the beginning of symptoms. RESULTS--Eighteen (82 per cent) patients had a second positive response; 14 (77.8 per cent) of then had the same type of response; and 17 (94 per cent) had syncope in similar time interval after tilt. CONCLUSION--The head-up tilt testing has good reproducibility, although its use in the therapeutic management needs a longer period of evaluation