The Calgary Syncope Seizures Score And The Modified Calgary Syncope Seizures Score In The Differential Diagnosis Between Syncope And Epilepsy In Children

Objective:This study aimed at analyzing the usefulness of the Calgary Syncope Seizures Score and the Modified Calgary Syncope Seizures Score in the differential diagnosis between syncope and epilepsy in children. Methods:Totally201children [95males,106females, aged5-18years, mean age (11.76±3.03) years] with syncope or epilepsy who were at the syncope clinic or admitted to the department of nerve speciality clinic of pediatrics, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from October2013to April2014were included in the study. Patients were eligible if they have had≥1loss of consciousness.The diagnosis was analyzed by the Calgary syncope seizures score and the modified Calgary Syncope Seizures Score and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to explore the predictive value of different scores in differential diagnosis between syncope and epilepsy. Results:There were significant differences in the Calgary Syncope Seizures Score between syncope [-4.00(-6,1)] and epilepsy [2(-3,5)](z=-11.63,P <0.01). When the score was≥1, the sensitivity and specificity of the differential diagnosis between syncope and epilepsy were91.46%and95.80%, respectively; and Youden index was0.87. Epilepsy should be considered when the score was≥1. There were significant differences in the Modified Calgary Syncope Seizures Score between syncope [-4.00(-6,1)] and epilepsy [3(-3,6)](z=-11.71,P<0.01). When the score was≥1, the sensitivity and specificity of the differential diagnosis between syncope and epilepsy were92.68%and96.64%, respectively; and Youden index was0.89. Epilepsy should be considered when the score was≥1. The sensitivity and specificity of the Modified Calgary Syncope Seizures Score for the diagnosis of epilepsy were a bit higher than the Calgary Syncope Seizures Score’s, but there were no significant differences (χ2=0, P>0.05). Conclusions:The Calgary Syncope Seizures Score and the Modified Calgary Syncope Seizures Score might be used as an initial diagnostic method in differential diagnosis between syncope and epilepsy, based on the history of the patients.The Modified Calgary Syncope Seizures Score in the differential diagnosis between syncope and epilepsy was more objective, easier to operate in the clinical work than the Calgary Syncope Seizures Score.