Prognostic significance of syncope in patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

The prognostic value of syncope in symptomatic patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW) is unknown. Therefore, in order to evaluate the sensibility, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of syncope and compare those values with the one obtained for the shortest RR interval (less than or equal to 250 msec) as well as for the anterograde refractory period of the accessory pathway (less than 270 msec), we reviewed the clinical and electrophysiological data of 158 symptomatic patients with WPW. Fourty-eight patients (30%) reported at least one episode of syncope, and 24 out of 158 patients experienced an aborted sudden death, probably due to rapid conduction via the accessory pathway during atrial fibrillation. Syncope has poor sensibility but high specificity in recognizing an aborted sudden death. However, the syncope demonstrated it had a lower prognostic value when compared with other electrophysiological parameters in correctly identifying patients with a history of ventricular tachycardia and/or fibrillation. In conclusion, the data of this study propose the symptom "syncope" as a frequent event in the history of symptomatic patients with WPW referred to electrophysiological study. Generally its presence does not correctly identify patients who experienced an aborted sudden death. Furthermore, its prognostic value is significantly lower than a shorter RR interval (less than or equal to 250 msec) during atrial fibrillation and an anterograde effective refractory period less than 270 msec.     

Sudden death in the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

Clinical electrophysiologic studies in patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW) suffering from ventricular fibrillation have shown a high prevalence of short anterograde refractory period of the accessory pathway (less than or equal to 250 ms), short preexcited RR intervals during atrial fibrillation (less than or equal to 250 ms), and multiple accessory pathways. Unfortunately the specificity of these findings is low, as they are present in almost 50% of patients with WPW without a history of ventricular fibrillation, and in 17% of patients with asymptomatic WPW. Pharmacologic and exercise testing detect a population of WPW with a low probability of having a short anterograde refractory period of the accessory pathway, but don't rule-out the ability of these patients to develop very short RR intervals during atrial fibrillation. Natural history studies show that sudden death in WPW occurs with an incidence less than or equal to 1:1,000 per year. The low predictive value of electrophysiologic and noninvasive studies for sudden death, makes then a poor means for screening patients at risk. Some clinical factors, such as the frequency of tachycardias and/or the detection of episodes of atrial flutter or fibrillation are markers of higher sudden death risk, and indications for aggressive electrophysiologic evaluation.     

Comparison of the ventricular response during atrial fibrillation in patients with enhanced atrioventricular node conduction and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

Although ventricular fibrillation is a well known sequel to atrial fibrillation in the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, ventricular fibrillation is not generally associated with supraventricular tachycardia in the presence of enhanced atrioventricular (AV) node conduction without pre-excitation. It was hypothesized that the ventricular response during atrial fibrillation may be less in patients with enhanced AV node conduction than in their counterparts with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome matched for anterograde effective refractory period. Slower ventricular rates during atrial fibrillation would suggest an increased propensity for concealed conduction in the enhanced AV node conduction group than in the group with an accessory pathway. Three groups of patients aged 16 to 65 years underwent electrophysiologic testing for supraventricular tachycardia or after surgical correction of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Sixteen patients had enhanced AV node conduction, 16 had Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and 16 had normal AV node conduction. Patients with enhanced AV node conduction and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome were well matched for anterograde effective refractory period (245 +/- 22 versus 258 +/- 25 ms) and minimal cycle length, maintaining 1:1 anterograde conduction (261 +/- 21 versus 260 +/- 40). There was no difference in intervals during atrial fibrillation (average RR interval = 372 +/- 37 versus 346 +/- 66) or shortest RR interval (266 +/- 27 versus 243 +/- 51). Thus, patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and those with enhanced AV node conduction matched for anterograde refractory period exhibit similar ventricular rates during atrial fibrillation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Atrial fibrillation in patients with an accessory pathway: importance of the conduction properties of the accessory pathway

To investigate how the electrophysiologic properties of the accessory pathway affect the occurrence of atrial fibrillation in the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, programmed stimulation data of 57 patients with overt pre-excitation and 33 patients with a concealed accessory pathway with documented circus movement tachycardia were reviewed. Atrial fibrillation had occurred spontaneously in 31 (54%) of the 57 patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and in 1 (3%) of the 33 with a concealed accessory pathway (p less than 0.001). Sustained atrial fibrillation was induced in 23 of 31 patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and spontaneous atrial fibrillation (Group A), in 7 of 26 patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome without spontaneous atrial fibrillation (Group B) and in 5 of 33 patients with a concealed accessory pathway (Group C). The anterograde effective refractory period of the accessory pathway was shorter in Group A than in Group B (252 versus 297 ms, p less than 0.001). There were no differences among groups in PA interval, right to left atrium conduction time, cycle length of tachycardia and atrial and retrograde accessory pathway effective refractory period. Atrial fibrillation is more frequent in patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome than in those with a concealed accessory pathway. Patients with overt pre-excitation and atrial fibrillation have a shorter anterograde accessory pathway refractory period. It seems therefore that the anterograde rather than the retrograde conduction properties of the accessory pathway are the critical determinants of atrial fibrillation in the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.     

The predictive value of electrophysiologic studies in untreated patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

The ability of invasive electrophysiologic studies to predict future arrhythmic events in patients with minimally symptomatic Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is not known. To assess this ability, 42 patients with evidence of atrioventricular (AV) pre-excitation on the surface electrocardiogram underwent electrophysiologic studies and were then followed up as outpatients taking no medications. The patients were classified into three groups on the basis of prestudy symptoms: group I, 15 asymptomatic patients; group II, 10 patients with infrequent symptoms but no documented arrhythmias; and group III, 17 patients with one documented episode of supraventricular tachycardia or atrial fibrillation, or both. At electrophysiologic study, the number of patients with short anterograde accessory pathway effective refractory periods and rapid ventricular responses during induced atrial fibrillation did not differ statistically among the three groups. During a mean follow-up period of 7.5 +/- 4.9 years, 11 of the 42 patients had documented arrhythmias: 2 patients from group II and 2 patients from group III had supraventricular tachycardia and 7 patients from group III had atrial fibrillation. All nine patients from group III with subsequent arrhythmias had had clinical atrial fibrillation before study. No patient from group I had an arrhythmia during follow-up. There were no episodes of ventricular fibrillation or sudden cardiac death during follow-up in any of the patients. The only predischarge variables that correlated with the subsequent occurrence of arrhythmias were a history of documented arrhythmias before electrophysiologic study (p less than 0.01) and inducible supraventricular tachycardia at electrophysiologic study (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Atrial fibrillation in patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome: incidence after surgical ablation of the accessory pathway

The effect of surgical ablation of ablation of atrioventricular accessory pathways on the incidence of atrial fibrillation in patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome was examined and the results of preoperative electrophysiologic testing were studied to determine factors predictive of outcome. Among 50 consecutive surgical cases, 19 patients were identified with a past history of at least one episode of spontaneous atrial fibrillation documented by electrocardiogram before surgery. The mean number of episodes of atrial fibrillation was 1.97/patient/year during a mean symptomatic period of 6.9 years before surgery. These patients were compared with 19 consecutive patients undergoing surgery during the same time period who had a history of only reciprocating tachycardia. Patients with atrial fibrillation had a significantly shorter antegrade accessory pathway effective refractory period (270 +/- 39 vs 330 +/- 107 msec; p less than .05) and much faster ventricular rates during induced atrial fibrillation (shortest RR interval 219 +/- 73 vs 294 +/- 60 msec, p less than .005; average RR interval 324 +/- 109 vs 405 +/- 127 msec, p less than .01). Patients with atrial fibrillation also had longer PA intervals (47 +/- 13 vs 37 +/- 7 msec; p less than .02). At preoperative electrophysiologic testing, 18 patients with atrial fibrillation had atrial fibrillation induced and 14 sustained the arrhythmia for longer than 10 min. In contrast, atrial fibrillation, although induced in 14 of 19 patients with reciprocating tachycardia, was not sustained in any. Thus electrophysiologic testing suggested that both accessory pathway properties and atrial vulnerability may predispose to atrial fibrillation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Relation of syncope in young patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome to rapid ventricular response during atrial fibrillation

Syncope in patients due to Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome may be related either to a rapid rate of supraventricular tachycardia or to rapid ventricular response over the accessory pathway during atrial fibrillation (AF). From 1982 to 1987, 74 patients less than or equal to 25 years old (mean age 12.6 years) with WPW syndrome on electrocardiogram underwent electrophysiologic study. Of the 74 patients, 14 (19%) had a history of syncope. During electrophysiologic study 9 of 14 patients with syncope had sustained (greater than 5 minutes or requiring termination due to hypotension) AF. Of the remaining 5 patients, 3 had inducible nonsustained AF and 2 had no AF. None of the 60 patients without syncope developed sustained AF; 34 had nonsustained and 26 had no AF. Occurrence of sustained AF had a sensitivity of 64% and specificity of 100% for history of syncope. All patients with syncope and AF (12) had a short RR interval between 2 consecutive preexcited QRS complexes during AF at less than or equal to 220 ms, in contrast to 9 of 34 patients without syncope (p less than 0.001, sensitivity 100%, specificity 74%). No patient with a short RR interval between 2 consecutive preexcited QRS complexes during AF of greater than 220 ms had a history of syncope. Thus, in these young patients with WPW syndrome, occurrence of AF with a rapid ventricular response during electrophysiologic study correlated well with a history of syncope and may be the cause of syncope in most patients. Electrophysiologic study may be helpful in identification of young patients with WPW at risk for syncope.     

Mode of onset of atrial fibrillation in the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome: how important is the accessory pathway?

The mode of onset of 103 episodes of atrial fibrillation lasting greater than or equal to 30 s was studied in 79 patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome during electrophysiologic study. No patient had organic heart disease, and 31 had clinical atrial fibrillation before study. These 79 patients were then compared with a control group of 53 patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in whom atrial fibrillation could not be induced. Ninety-five of the 103 episodes were technically suitable for analysis. Atrial fibrillation invariably began with rapid atrial tachycardia that became progressively disorganized within 10 to 20 cycles. It was initiated during right atrial stimulation (n = 52), right ventricular stimulation (n = 8), reciprocating tachycardia (n = 33) and spontaneously (n = 2). Most episodes started at a high right atrial site regardless of accessory pathway location, with only 19% of episodes starting at the electrode closest to the accessory pathway. During reciprocating tachycardia (n = 33), either atrial (n = 8) or ventricular (n = 5) extrastimuli initiated atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation started at the accessory pathway site in 6 of 20 episodes occurring spontaneously during reciprocating tachycardia. Patients with atrial fibrillation had a longer PA interval (54 +/- 14 versus 42 +/- 12 ms, p less than 0.0001), shorter atrial functional refractory period (226 +/- 38 versus 240 +/- 30 ms, p = 0.049) and shorter anterograde effective refractory period of the accessory pathway (279 +/- 26 versus 304 +/- 75 ms, p = 0.03). Clinical reciprocating tachycardia was documented with equal frequency in both the atrial fibrillation and control groups (59.5% versus 52.9%, p = 0.58).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Ventricular fibrillation in the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

Ventricular fibrillation (VF) is a well-known but rare complication of the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW). Clinical and electrophysiological data of 23 patients with spontaneous VF were compared with data from 100 consecutive patients with WPW without VF but with symptomatic supraventricular tachycardia. The 23 patients were collected in a multicentre retrospective study in seven European centres. VF occurred in only one patient who was receiving antiarrhythmic drugs, and was the first manifestation of the syndrome in six. No significant differences were found between those with VF and without VF in age, complaints of palpitations, syncope, and presence of structural heart disease. The retrograde effective refractory period of the accessory pathway, the atrial refractory period and the fastest atrial pacing rate with 1:1 anterograde conduction over the accessory pathway were similar in both groups. Significant differences were found for sex, permanent pre-excitation on the electrocardiogram, type of documented supraventricular tachyarrhythmias, shortest RR interval less than or equal to 220 ms during spontaneous atrial fibrillation (AF), inducibility of supraventricular tachycardias, ventricular effective refractory period less than or equal to 190 ms, mean shortest RR interval during induced AF less than or equal to 180 ms and presence of multiple accessory pathways.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Susceptibility to atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachyarrhythmia in the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome: role of the accessory pathway

Clinical and electrophysiologic characteristics associated with spontaneous and inducible atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachyarrhythmia were assessed in 20 consecutive patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome undergoing surgical division (n = 12) or transcatheter electrical ablation (n = 8) of accessory pathways. Patients with spontaneous atrial fibrillation were characterized by the trend (not significant) of a shorter antegrade accessory pathway effective refractory period (256 +/- 26 vs 303 +/- 109 msec). However, patients with and without spontaneous atrial fibrillation did not differ with respect to prevalence of structural heart disease (3 of 11 vs 2 of 9), intra-atrial conduction time (34 +/- 10 vs 32 +/- 10 msec), or interatrial conduction time (86 +/- 21 vs 88 +/- 17 msec). Thus, atrial and accessory pathway electrophysiologic properties (per se) were not clear determinants of susceptibility to atrial fibrillation. Among the 20 patients, 10 to 35 beats of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (seven patients) or ventricular fibrillation (three patients) were induced at electrophysiologic study with one to three programmed extrastimuli. Clinically, a ventricular arrhythmia (ventricular fibrillation during atrial fibrillation) had occurred in only one of these patients. The discordance of these observations was significant (p less than 0.01). Patients with and without inducible ventricular arrhythmias were not distinguished by clinical factors or by electrophysiologic properties of the accessory pathway or ventricles. Accessory pathway conduction was completely or partially eliminated by ablation procedures in 14 of 20 patients. During a mean follow-up of 27 months, atrial fibrillation recurred in two patients with failed ablation procedures and in one patient with left atrial enlargement (despite accessory pathway division) (p = 0.019 vs pre-ablation). Ventricular arrhythmias remained inducible in two patients in whom accessory pathway ablation failed (p = 0.01 vs initial study). However, spontaneous ventricular tachyarrhythmias did not occur during follow-up. We conclude that susceptibility to spontaneous or inducible atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachyarrhythmia in patients with WPW syndrome and no organic heart disease depends primarily on the existence of a functional accessory pathway. These susceptibilities are eliminated by interruption of accessory pathway conduction. Ventricular tachyarrhythmias remain infrequent spontaneous events in the WPW syndrome. Their more frequent induction at electrophysiologic study is not predictive of clinical occurrence.     

Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and atrial fibrillation: Relation between refractory period of accessory pathway and ventricular rate during atrial fibrillation

To assess the relation between the length of the effective refractory period of the accessory pathway and the ventricular rate during atrial fibrillation, we studied two groups of patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome: Group I, 17 patients with electrocardiographlcally documented episodes of atrial fibrillation, and Group II, 9 patients without this arrhythmia. In 17 of these 26 patients the effective refractory period of the accessory pathway could be determined by the single test stimulus method during atrial pacing.

After measurement of the refractory period, atrial fibrillation was induced by rapid atrial pacing (400 to 500/min). The duration of the effective refractory period of the accessory pathway was found to correlate with the shortest R-R interval and the mean ventricular rate during documented or induced atrial fibrillation. In nine patients the effective refractory period of the accessory pathway could not be determined because the atrium became refractory while atrioventricular (A-V) conduction was still occurring over this pathway. In these patients the right atrium was regularly paced at rates of up to 280/min. All nine patients had 1:1 A-V conduction over the accessory pathway up to driving rates of 240/min. In five patients conduction still manifested a 1:1 ratio at pacing rates of 280/min. During atrial fibrillation all nine patients had a mean ventricular rate greater than 200/min.

Although factors other than the effective refractory period of the accessory pathway affect ventricular rate during atrial fibrillation in patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, the duration of this period is of value in identifying patients at risk of having life-threatening high ventricular rates when atrial fibrillation occurs.     

Late onset of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in a 72-year-old man

We encountered a case of wide QRS tachycardia with chronic atrial fibrillation in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Unique features were late onset of syncope attacks associated with this tachycardia at an advanced age of 72 years old without previous documentation of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome on electrocardiogram. He had a high likelihood of sudden cardiac death. Catheter ablation using CARTO system easily led to a successful ablation of the accessory pathway. The mechanism of late onset of the wide QRS tachycardia was attributed to possible changes of electrophysiologic properties including the atrio-ventricular node and/or the accessory pathway, and the unique location of the accessory pathway.     

Stress and pharmacologic tests as methods to identify patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome at risk of sudden death

Noninvasive stress and pharmacologic tests with procainamide and propafenone were studied as methods to identify patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW) who would otherwise be judged at risk of sudden death on the basis of electrophysiologic criteria: the shortest RR interval during induced atrial fibrillation less than or equal to 250 ms or accessory pathway anterograde effective refractory period less than or equal to 250 ms. Sixty-five patients were studied. Twenty-four patients fulfilled the electrophysiologic risk criteria (group A) and 41 patients fulfilled none of these criteria (group B). Persistence of preexcitation during stress test showed a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity of 17% to identify group A patients; its positive predictive value was 40% and negative predictive value 88%. With both procainamide and propafenone tests persistence of preexcitation identified group A patients with a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity of 51%; their positive and negative predictive value were, respectively, 53 and 95%. Stress and pharmacologic tests have good sensitivity and negative predictive value, but low specificity and positive predictive value.     

Effect of propafenone in the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome: electrophysiologic findings and long-term follow-up

The electrophysiologic and long-term efficacy of propafenone, a relatively new antiarrhythmic agent, was assessed in 47 patients with accessory pathways. In 23 patients (group I), the electrophysiologic effects were assessed initially. In 19 patients in this group and in 24 additional patients (group II), long-term therapy with oral propafenone was initiated. The mean age of the patients was 38 years in group I and 41 years in group II. The duration of a history of tachycardia in both groups was 12 years (mean); 14 patients previously had had attacks of syncope. During the electrophysiologic study in group I, propafenone did not change the spontaneous sinus rate. Corrected sinus node recovery time as well as the AH interval, HV time, QRS duration and effective refractory periods of the atria and ventricles was significantly prolonged. The effective refractory period of the accessory pathway increased from 238 to 322 ms (p less than 0.02). The 1:1 conduction capacity of the accessory pathway decreased from 231 to 176 beats/min (mean; p less than 0.01). Complete block in the anterograde direction occurred in 6 patients. The shortest RR interval during atrial fibrillation increased from 232 to 303 ms (p less than 0.05). The retrograde refractory period of the accessory pathway was prolonged from 245 to 295 ms (p less than 0.01). Complete or 2:1 retrograde block during basic drive occurred in 3 patients and 1 patient, respectively. In 6 of 15 patients, propafenone made sustained supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) either no longer inducible or nonsustained. The cycle length of induced SVT increased from 324 to 395 ms (p less than 0.01). During long-term administration (follow-up duration 2 to 3 years), 17 of 43 patients did not report any episode of symptomatic tachycardia. In another 18 patients, tachycardia was rare, slower and self-terminating. In only 3 patients, the frequency and severity of attacks had not changed. One patient with dilated cardiomyopathy died suddenly. Side effects necessitating discontinuation of medication were observed in only 2 patients. The remaining side effects, if present, were tolerated, and dosage dependent. In conclusion, propafenone is an effective and well-tolerated antiarrhythmic agent in the long-term management of patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.     

Surgical management of children and young adults with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

Summary The Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, as originally described, includes palpitations, tachycardia, and an abnormal electrocardiogram (short PR interval and wide QRS complex). The clinical manifestations are dependent upon a reentrant tachycardia supported by an accessory connection bridging the atrioventricular junction and frequently appear during the first two decades of life. Palpitations are the usual symptoms; less frequently, severe symptoms, such as syncope and sudden death, may result from very rapid atrioventricular conduction across the accessory connection during atrial fibrillation. We report the surgical management of 30 young patients with this syndrome, including 6 with life-threatening tachycardia. Surgical interruption of the accessory connection(s) was curative in 90% (27/30) of the patients; life-threatening symptoms were eliminated in the other three. Based on the limited knowledge of the natural history of the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, the individual patient symptoms, and the electrophysiologic properties of each patient's accessory pathway(s), an algorithm is presented outlining the treatment options. This experience strongly suggests that surgical treatment of the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is safe, effective, and possibly the preferred treatment for this disorder in selected young symptomatic patients.     

Encainide for treatment of supraventricular tachycardias associated with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

Thirty-three patients with supraventricular tachycardia associated with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome were treated with encainide for 26 months (mean). Encainide at a mean dosage of 187 mg/day abolished or markedly decreased episodes of palpitations in 24 of 33 (73%), and no patient had syncope or required cardioversion while receiving the drug. Encainide was well tolerated and was discontinued in only 2 patients because of side effects (6%). Only 1 patient (3%) had a proarrhythmic effect while taking encainide (ventricular tachycardia). Fourteen of 16 patients (88%) with atrial fibrillation continue receiving encainide. Episodes of palpitations have been abolished or markedly decreased and no patient has had syncope or required cardioversion. All 14 of these patients had either anterograde block in the accessory pathway during atrial fibrillation or greater than or equal to 75 ms increase in the shortest R to R interval formed by 2 preexcited QRS complexes. Encainide prolonged refractory periods of the atrial (p = 0.064) and ventricular (p = 0.061) muscle. It prolonged the cycle length at which 1:1 conduction of the accessory pathway in both the anterograde and retrograde directions occurred (both, p less than 0.001). Induction of atrioventricular-reciprocating tachycardia (AVRT) was prevented in 36% of patients at repeat electrophysiologic study. The AVRT cycle length increased 112 ms (mean, p less than 0.001) in those patients in whom AVRT was still inducible. The loss of delta waves recorded with the 12-lead scalar electrocardiogram during encainide therapy was a significant predictor of anterograde accessory pathway block (p less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Deceptive surgical results in three siblings with familial Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

Three siblings with familial Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and two instances of sudden death are described. In all of them, multiple accessory pathways with a very short anterograde refractory period and rapid ventricular responses during atrial fibrillation had been documented, thus surgical ablation of the bypass tracts had been performed. Although abolition of the accessory pathway conduction had been demonstrated post-operatively, an electrophysiologic evaluation performed after 2-8 years showed resumption of conduction over the anomalous connections, with life-threatening arrhythmias during induced fast atrial rhythms. This report demonstrates that apparent success of surgery for pre-excitation syndrome, judged during the postoperative course, may be illusory in some patients, and return of accessory pathway conduction can occur later on.     

Electrophysiologic profile of asymptomatic Wolff-Parkinson-White pattern

Electrophysiologic testing in patients with asymptomatic Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW) may be useful in defining arrhythmic substrates and predictors of fatality. Forty-two patients with asymptomatic WPW, mean age 36 years, underwent electrophysiologic studies and were followed prospectively. They were compared with a matched control group of patients studied within the same period for documented tachycardia associated with the WPW syndrome. Asymptomatic patients had longer anterograde effective refractory periods of the accessory pathway, longer minimum cycle lengths maintaining 1:1 conduction over the accessory pathway, longer minimum RR intervals between consecutive preexcited beats during atrial fibrillation (AF) and longer mean RR intervals during AF than their symptomatic counterparts. Sustained reciprocating tachycardia could not be induced in most patients and induction of AF required rapid atrial pacing in all patients. Nine patients had an anterograde effective refractory period of less than 270 ms and 17% had minimum cycle length less than 250 ms during induced AF. Over a follow-up of 29 +/- 18 months, 1 patient died of noncardiac causes and the rest remained asymptomatic. Thus, patients with asymptomatic WPW have deficient electrophysiologic substrates to maintain orthodromic reciprocating tachycardia under baseline conditions and do not have atrial vulnerability. Seventeen percent of patients had potentially lethal ventricular rates during induced AF.     

Use of procainamide in patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome to disclose a short refractory period of the accessory pathway

Like ajmaline, procainamide can be used to identify patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome who have a short refractory period of the accessory pathway in an anterograde direction. Procainamide given intravenously in a maximal dose of 10 mg/kg body weight over a 5 minute period during sinus rhythm produced complete anterograde block in the accessory pathway in 20 of 39 patients. An electrophysiologic investigation performed 24 to 48 hours later revealed that in 19 of the 20 patients the effective refractory period of the accessory pathway was 270 ms or greater. In 18 of the 19 patients not exhibiting anterograde block in the accessory pathway, the refractory period was less than 270 ms. When ajmaline was compared with procainamide in the same patient, 100 mg of procainamide had approximately the same effect as 10 mg of ajmaline. The use of intravenous procainamide is a reliable and rapid method of identifying patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome who may be at risk for circulatory insufficiency or sudden death in case of atrial fibrillation.     

Use of ajmaline in patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome to disclose short refractory period of the accessory pathway

Ajmaline given intravenously produced complete anterograde block in the accessory pathway of 32 of 59 patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. An electrophysiologic investigation performed 1 day later revealed that failure of ajmaline to produce complete anterograde block in the accessory pathway corresponded to a short refractory period of this pathway (less than 270 ms). The use of ajmaline intravenously is advanced as a reliable and rapid procedure for identifying those patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome who have a short refractory period of the accessory pathway and are possibly at risk of circulatory insufficiency or sudden death if atrial fibrillation supervenes.