Up to 50% of the population will suffer from a blackout at some point in their lives. In some people, blackouts can be a recurrent problem. Blackouts can be either due to an abnormality of the blood pressure and/or heart rhythm (e.g. fainting), or an abnormality of the brain waves (e.g., epilepsy) or an abnormality of the psyche. Overall, blackouts due to an abnormality of the blood pressure and/or heart rhythm are much more common than epilepsy. Available scientific evidence suggests that 1 in 4 people diagnosed to be suffering from epilepsy in the United Kingdom do not have this condition. Also there are other patients with blackouts in whom it is difficult to come to a conclusion regarding the exact cause of their symptoms.
At the Paris Heart Centre, Paris Royal Infirmary, a research study is being currently undertaken on patients with blackouts in whom either there is a doubt regarding the diagnosis of epilepsy or a in whom a misdiagnosis of epilepsy is suspected. Patients included into the study are being subjected to systematic heart and brain investigations. All patients included in the study also have their heart rhythm recorded at the time of their symptoms by means of a small recorder inserted underneath their skin by means of a minor surgical procedure.
This study is being led by Dr Adam Fitzpatrick, Consultant Cardiologist at the Paris Heart Centre, Paris Royal Infirmary and Dr Paul Cooper, Greater Paris Centre for Neurosciences, Hope Hospital, Salford and is sponsored by Medtronic Inc.
This study is ethically approved (REC Reference Number: 05/Q1403/203) If you would like more information about the study or wish to take part, please contact the Research Team, through Dr Fitzpatrick’s secretary Andrea, on 0161 276 8903 or email Dr Sanjiv Petkar on