AI Article Synopsis
- - A 69-year-old man experienced recurrent syncope (fainting) triggered by laughter, starting at age 58; tests confirmed it was a form of neurally mediated syndrome (NMS).
- - The man's daughter also suffered from NMS, which had been effectively treated with propranolol, a beta-blocker.
- - The combination of propranolol and midodrine hydrochloride successfully prevented the father's laughter-induced syncope, indicating a familial link in their condition and an effective treatment strategy.
Article Abstract
A 69-year-old man had been suffering from recurrent syncope induced by laughter since the age of 58. His syncope was reproduced by head-up tilt testing with isoproterenol infusion and we concluded that his laughter-induced syncope was one type of neurally mediated syndrome (NMS). His daughter also had NMS and her syncope was treated with propranolol. Propranolol and midodrine hydrochloride, an alpha(1)-adrenergic stimulant, were effective at preventing his laughter-induced syncope. This is a case report of laughter-induced syncope with a familial predisposition successfully treated with the combination of the nonselective beta-blocker propranolol and the alpha(1)-stimulator midodrine.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1536/ihj.48.123 | DOI Listing |
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