Erythrocytic Hydrogen Sulfide Production Is Increased in Children with Vasovagal Syncope
Jinyan Yang, Hongxia Li, Todd Ochs, Juan Zhao, Qingyou Zhang
DOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2014.12.021 Abstract
Objectives
To explore the differences in erythrocyte hydrogen sulfide (H2S) production in children with vasovagal syncope (VVS).
Study design
A total of 54 children including 27 with VVS, aged 6-16years (mean age 11.3&plun;3.3years), and 27healthy children, aged 3-17years (mean age 10.4&plun;1.8years) were included in the study. Children with VVS had symptoms of dizziness, pallor, blurred vision, nausea, and some had syncope. Erythrocyte H2S production was measured by a sulphur-sensitive electrode. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of brachial artery was measured for each patient by vascular ultrasound.
Results
H2S production from erythrocytes was significantly increased in the children with VVS compared with controls (P<.01). The erythrocytic H2S production in the VVS-vasoinhibitory subgroup was obviously higher than that in VVS-cardioinhibitory (P<.05) and VVS-mixed inhibitory subgroups (P<.05). FMD in the VVS-vasoinhibitory subgroup was greater than that in the VVS-cardioinhibitory (P<.05) and the VVS-mixed subgroups (P<.05). The erythrocytic H2S production had a positive linear correlation with FMD in children with VVS (P<.05).
Conclusions
Increased erythrocyte H2S production may be involved in the pathogenesis of VVS in children.