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Disease

Syncope

Late-stage therapeutic developmentEmerging researchSteady momentum
MeSHSyncope
5
Publications
12
Clinical trials
7
Related conditions
2023
Latest publication
Latest activity
beta

Recent clinical, regulatory, research and industry developments relating to this disease.

Cardiac rehabilitation engagement and associated factors among heart failure patients: a cross-sectional study.

Research2023-09-11BMC cardiovascular disorders

2014 ESC Guidelines on diagnosis and management of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: the Task Force for the Diagnosis and Management of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

Research2014-08-29European heart journal

2013 ESC Guidelines on cardiac pacing and cardiac resynchronization therapy: the Task Force on cardiac pacing and resynchronization therapy of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Developed in collaboration with the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA).

Research2013-06-24European heart journal

Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of syncope (version 2009).

Research2009-08-27European heart journal

ACC/AHA/HRS 2008 Guidelines for Device-Based Therapy of Cardiac Rhythm Abnormalities: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Revise the ACC/AHA/NASPE 2002 Guideline Update for Implantation of Cardiac Pacemakers and Antiarrhythmia Devices): developed in collaboration with the American Association for Thoracic Surgery and Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

Research2008-05-15Circulation

What's happening now

An analyst briefing on current research, clinical, regulatory and industry activity surrounding this disease.

Executive briefingUpdating summary…Momentum: Low
Key developments
  • 2 clinical trials with recent milestones.
Clinical Milestones2View
Recently completed 2
Activity timeline2

Clinical trials

6 sponsors · 0 new · 0 completed in the last 12 months (net +0)

The current development programme across all trial phases.

Clinical programme
12
All trials
3
Active
4
Late-stage
6
Completed
Late-stage studies

A Randomized, Prospective, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study of Atomoxetine in the Prevention of Vasovagal Syncope (POST7)

Phase 3 · Recruiting · University of Calgary

Randomized Controlled Trial on Discontinuation of Vasoactive Drugs in Patients With Hypotensive Reflex Syncope

Phase 3 · Completed · Gruppo Italiano Multidisciplinare per lo Studio della Sincope

A Randomized Clinical Trial of Fludrocortisone for Vasovagal Syncope: The Second Prevention of Syncope Trial (POST II)

Phase 4 · Completed · University of Calgary

Propranolol for Syncope With Sympathoadrenal Imbalance

Phase 4 · Completed · National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Recently completed

The Effect of Capsaicin-Phenylephrine-Caffeine Formulation on Aborting Tilt Induced Syncope in Patients With a History of Vasovagal Syncope or Near Syncope

Phase 2 · Completed · University of Wisconsin, Madison

Mechanisms of Vasovagal Syncope

Early Phase 1 · Completed · New York Medical College

A Proof of Principle Study of Atomoxetine for the Prevention of Vasovagal Syncope (VVS): POST6

Phase 2 · Completed · University of Calgary

Randomized Controlled Trial on Discontinuation of Vasoactive Drugs in Patients With Hypotensive Reflex Syncope

Phase 3 · Completed · Gruppo Italiano Multidisciplinare per lo Studio della Sincope

A Randomized Clinical Trial of Fludrocortisone for Vasovagal Syncope: The Second Prevention of Syncope Trial (POST II)

Phase 4 · Completed · University of Calgary

Propranolol for Syncope With Sympathoadrenal Imbalance

Phase 4 · Completed · National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Research activity

5 papers

Key research shaping understanding of this disease, combining the latest publications with the most influential evidence.

Publications over time
20082023
Most influential

2014 ESC Guidelines on diagnosis and management of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: the Task Force for the Diagnosis and Management of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

European heart journal · 2014 · 2,990 cites

2013 ESC Guidelines on cardiac pacing and cardiac resynchronization therapy: the Task Force on cardiac pacing and resynchronization therapy of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Developed in collaboration with the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA).

European heart journal · 2013 · 1,359 cites

Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of syncope (version 2009).

European heart journal · 2009 · 1,193 cites

ACC/AHA/HRS 2008 Guidelines for Device-Based Therapy of Cardiac Rhythm Abnormalities: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Revise the ACC/AHA/NASPE 2002 Guideline Update for Implantation of Cardiac Pacemakers and Antiarrhythmia Devices): developed in collaboration with the American Association for Thoracic Surgery and Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

Circulation · 2008 · 934 cites

Cardiac rehabilitation engagement and associated factors among heart failure patients: a cross-sectional study.

BMC cardiovascular disorders · 2023 · 12 cites
Recent publications

Cardiac rehabilitation engagement and associated factors among heart failure patients: a cross-sectional study.

BMC cardiovascular disorders · 2023 · 12 cites

2014 ESC Guidelines on diagnosis and management of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: the Task Force for the Diagnosis and Management of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

European heart journal · 2014 · 2,990 cites

2013 ESC Guidelines on cardiac pacing and cardiac resynchronization therapy: the Task Force on cardiac pacing and resynchronization therapy of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Developed in collaboration with the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA).

European heart journal · 2013 · 1,359 cites

Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of syncope (version 2009).

European heart journal · 2009 · 1,193 cites

ACC/AHA/HRS 2008 Guidelines for Device-Based Therapy of Cardiac Rhythm Abnormalities: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Revise the ACC/AHA/NASPE 2002 Guideline Update for Implantation of Cardiac Pacemakers and Antiarrhythmia Devices): developed in collaboration with the American Association for Thoracic Surgery and Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

Circulation · 2008 · 934 cites
Major themes2
  • Cardiac Rehabilitation1
  • Heart Failure1
Leading journals3
  • European heart journal3
  • BMC cardiovascular disorders1
  • Circulation1
Leading researchers8
  • Brignole M2
  • Charron P2
  • Deharo JC2
  • Elliott PM2
  • Nihoyannopoulos P2
  • Pieske B2
  • Sutton R2
  • Achenbach S1
Affiliations (unnormalised)3
  • School of Nursing1
  • The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University1
  • Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore1

Related conditions

7 matches

Diseases frequently studied alongside this one. Number shows shared papers.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac3Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic3Heart Failure3Heart Defects, Congenital2Heart Valve Diseases2Myocardial Infarction2Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular2

Disease profile

A grounded synthesis of the condition — overview, causes, mechanism, risk factors and current standard of care.

Overview

Syncope is a transient loss of consciousness with loss of postural tone caused by reduced blood flow to the brain. Presyncope refers to the lightheadedness and weakness that can occur before a syncopal episode or with an incomplete episode.

Causes

The supplied grounding identifies diminished blood flow to the brain, or brain ischemia, as the proximate cause of syncope. It does not provide a more specific aetiology or list underlying causes.

Pathophysiology

The core mechanism is transient cerebral hypoperfusion leading to brain ischemia. This reduction in blood flow produces brief loss of consciousness and postural tone, and may be preceded by presyncopal symptoms when the episode is incomplete or impending.

AI-generated summary grounded in MeSH. Informational only — not medical advice. Generated 2026-07-07.

Reference

Authoritative identity, definition & identifiers.

Defined in MeSH

A transient loss of consciousness and postural tone caused by diminished blood flow to the brain (i.e., BRAIN ISCHEMIA). Presyncope refers to the sensation of lightheadedness and loss of strength that precedes a syncopal event or accompanies an incomplete syncope. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp367-9)

Identifiers
MeSHSyncope
References & data sources
  • Disease identity & definition — NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), public domain
  • Clinical trials — ClinicalTrials.gov (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
  • Research activity — Europe PMC (EMBL-EBI) + OpenAlex-derived paper links
  • Related entities are derived from literature co-mention (studied together) — associative, not causal.