Citrus fruits induced swallow syncope with atrioventricular block or sinus arrest

Swallow syncope is a relatively rare syndrome and caused by various foods and drinks. A 76-year-old man was admitted with frequent syncope while eating. Holter electrocardiogram revealed frequent occurrence of atrioventricular block during meals. Both atrioventricular block and sinus arrest were induced by only eating citrus fruits, citrus jelly, and acidic foods but not by other drinks and foods. These arrhythmias were suppressed after administration of atropine. No further episodes of syncope recurred after the implantation of a DDD pacemaker.

Source: Journal of Electrocardiology - April 18, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Yoshiaki Yamaguchi, Koichi Mizumaki, Tamotsu Sakamoto, Yosuke Nakatani, Yasushi Tsujino, Hiroshi Inoue, Koichiro Kinugawa Source Type: research