[The significance of longitudinal Holter electrocardiogram monitoring in the differential diagnosis of syncope in elderly patients].

Longitudinal monitoring of the electrocardiogram by Holter's method is indicated in particular for the diagnosis of intermittent dysrhythmia which may be related to the symptom of syncope in elderly patients. Transient dysrhythmia with subsequent cerebral ischemia may be the cause of altered consciousness, vertige, presyncopes, or true syncopes. Transient dysrhythmias may be therefore considered after elimination of other causes of syncopes as their aetiology, in particular in elderly patients and old age groups where organic heart disease is already present. In those instances Holter's ECG is a useful non-invasive examination method which makes it possible to start appropriate treatment, and later by using serial monitoring, it makes it possible to follow up the effectiveness of antiarrhytmic treatment, or to follow up the function of an implanted cardiostimulator (pacemaker).