Plasma hydrogen sulfide in differential diagnosis between vasovagal syncope and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome in children.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To explore the predictive value of plasma hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) in differentiating between vasovagal syncope (VVS) and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) in children.

STUDY DESIGN:

Patients were divided between the POTS group (n=60) and VVS group (n=17) by using either the head-up test or head-up tilt test. Twenty-eight healthy children were selected for the control group. Plasma concentrations of H(2)S were determined for children in all groups (POTS, VVS, and control).

RESULTS:

Plasma levels of H(2)S were significantly higher in children with VVS (95.3±3.8 μmol/L) and POTS (100.9±2.1 μmol/L) than in children in the control group (82.6±6.5 μmol/L). Compared with the VVS group, the POTS group had plasma levels of H(2)S that were significantly increased. The receiver operating characteristic curve for the predictive value of H(2)S differentiation of VVS from POTS showed a H(2)S plasma level of 98 μmol/L as the cutoff value for high probability of distinction. Such a level produced both high sensitivity (90%) and specificity (80%) rates of correctly discriminating between patients with VVS and patients with POTS.

CONCLUSION:

H(2)S plasma level has both high sensitivity and specificity rates to predict the probability of correctly differentiating between patients with VVS and patients with POTS.

• Authors: Fengwen Zhang, Xueying Li, Chen Stella, Li Chen, Ying Liao, Chaoshu Tang, Hongfang Jin, Junbao Du
• Journal: The Journal of pediatrics (J Pediatr) Vol. 160 Issue 2 Pg. 227-31 (Feb 2012) ISSN: 1097-6833 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21920536 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Hydrogen Sulfide

Topics

• Adolescent
• Blood Pressure
• Child
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Female
• Heart Rate
• Humans
• Hydrogen Sulfide (blood)
• Male
• Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (blood, diagnosis, physiopathology)
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Syncope, Vasovagal (blood, diagnosis, physiopathology)