Vasovagal syncope is an exaggerated tendency towards the common faint where disordered autonomic nervous system regulation of blood pressure leads to hypotension and subsequent syncope.

Patients with vasovagal syncope suffer from fatigue and are frequently affected with symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome(CFS/ME). This has lead to the hypothesis that vasovagal syncope and CFS/ME share a common biological pathway and that this is likely to be related to autonomic dysfunction.

In recent years, orthostatic (or tilt) training has been described in several small studies as an effective treatment for neurally mediated vasovagal syncope, with a pilot series from our unit confirming not only improvements in blackout symptoms but also autonomic parameters on tilt training in patients with vasovagal syncope.

Considering the high prevalence of autonomic dysfunction in CFS/ME safe, non-invasive interventions that have the potential to improve autonomic nervous system abnormalities have the potential to be treatments in CFS/ME. We therefore propose the first trial of home orthostatic training (HOT therapy) in patients with CFS/ME, with a comprehensive analysis likely to reflect modulation of the autonomic nervous system.

If you would like more information and have CFS/ME diagnosed, then please get in touch and we will be able to send you further information. There are no needles, nothing invasive. Participants will need to visit the RVI on 3 occasions but transport can be arranged if necessary.

Contact the ME North office on 0191 389 2222