Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) Syndrome
What is Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) Syndrome?
In Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome, an extra signaling pathway between the heart's upper and lower chambers causes a fast heartbeat (tachycardia). WPW syndrome is a heart condition present at birth (congenital heart defect). It is fairly rare.
The episodes of fast heartbeats seen in WPW syndrome usually aren't life-threatening, but serious heart problems can occur. Rarely, WPW syndrome may lead to sudden cardiac death in children and young adults.
Treatment of WPW syndrome may include special actions, medications, a shock to the heart (cardioversion) or a catheter procedure to stop the irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia).
WPW syndrome may also be called preexcitation syndrome.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/wolff-parkinson-white-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20354626
In Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome, an extra signaling pathway between the heart's upper and lower chambers causes a fast heartbeat (tachycardia). WPW syndrome is a heart condition present at birth (congenital heart defect). It is fairly rare.
The episodes of fast heartbeats seen in WPW syndrome usually aren't life-threatening, but serious heart problems can occur. Rarely, WPW syndrome may lead to sudden cardiac death in children and young adults.
Treatment of WPW syndrome may include special actions, medications, a shock to the heart (cardioversion) or a catheter procedure to stop the irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia).
WPW syndrome may also be called preexcitation syndrome.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/wolff-parkinson-white-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20354626
The general prevalence of WPW has been estimated between 1 to 3 per 1000 individuals (0.1 to 0.3 %).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554437/
Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome is a type of heart problem present at birth (congenital heart defect). WPW syndrome may occur with other types of congenital heart disease, such as Ebstein anomaly.
Rarely, WPW syndrome is passed down through families (inherited). The inherited, or familial, type is associated with a thickened heart muscle. This is a form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/wolff-parkinson-white-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20354626
The most common sign of Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome is a heart rate greater than 100 beats a minute.
Episodes of a fast heart rate (tachycardia) can begin suddenly and may last a few seconds or several hours. Episodes can occur during exercise or while at rest.
Other signs and symptoms of WPW syndrome are related to the fast heart rate and underlying heart rhythm problem (arrhythmia). The most common arrhythmia seen with WPW syndrome is supraventricular tachycardia. Supraventricular tachycardia causes episodes of a fast, pounding heartbeat that begin and end abruptly. Some people with WPW syndrome also have a fast and chaotic heart rhythm problem called atrial fibrillation.
In general, signs and symptoms that may occur in people with WPW syndrome include:
- A rapid, fluttering or pounding heartbeat (palpitations)
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Fainting
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Anxiety
Symptoms in infants
Signs and symptoms of WPW syndrome in infants can include:
- Pale or faded skin color (pallor)
- Blue or gray coloring to the skin, lips and nails (cyanosis)
- Restlessness or irritability
- Rapid breathing
- Poor eating
Some people with an extra electrical pathway don't have signs or symptoms of a fast heartbeat. This condition is called Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) pattern. It's often discovered by chance during a heart test.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/wolff-parkinson-white-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20354626
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Lightheadedness | Lightheadedness |
| Chest pain | Chest pain |
| Palpitations | The sensation of the heart racing, fluttering or pounding strongly in the chest or the carotid arteries |
| Loss of consciousness | Loss of consciousness |
| Shortness of breath | Shortness of breath |
If you have a fast heartbeat, your health care provider will likely recommend tests to check for WPW syndrome, such as:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). This quick and painless test measures the electrical activity of the heart. Sticky patches (electrodes) are placed on the chest and sometimes the arms and legs. Wires connect the electrodes to a computer, which displays the test results. A health care provider can look for patterns among the heart signals that suggest an extra electrical pathway in the heart.
- Holter monitor. This portable ECG device is worn for a day or more to record the heart's rate and rhythm during daily activities.
- Event recorder. This wearable ECG device is used to detect infrequent arrhythmias. You press a button when symptoms occur. An event recorder is typically worn for up to 30 days or until you have an arrhythmia or symptoms.
- Electrophysiological (EP) study. An EP study may be recommended to distinguish between WPW syndrome and WPW pattern. One or more thin, flexible tubes (catheters) are guided through a blood vessel, usually in the groin, to various spots in the heart. Sensors on the tips of the catheters record the heart's electrical patterns. An EP study allows a health care provider to see how electrical signals spread through the heart during each heartbeat.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/wolff-parkinson-white-syndrome/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354630
Treatment for Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome depends on the severity and frequency of symptoms and the type of heart rhythm problem (arrhythmia) causing the fast heart rate.
The goals of treatment are to slow a fast heart rate when it occurs and to prevent future episodes. Treatment options for a fast heart rate include:
- Vagal maneuvers. Simple but specific actions such as coughing, bearing down as if having a bowel movement or putting an ice pack on the face can help slow down the heart rate. Your health care provider may ask you to perform these actions during an episode of a fast heartbeat. These actions affect the vagus nerve, which helps control the heartbeat.
- Medications. If vagal maneuvers don't stop a fast heartbeat, you might need medications to control the heart rate and restore the heart rhythm. Medications may need to be given by IV.
- Cardioversion. Paddles or patches on the chest are used to electrically shock the heart and help reset the heart rhythm. Cardioversion is typically used when vagal maneuvers and medications don't work.
- Catheter ablation. In this procedure, the health care provider inserts a thin, flexible tube (catheter) through a blood vessel, usually in the groin, and guides it to the heart. Sometimes more than one catheter is used. Sensors on the tip of the catheter use heat (radiofrequency energy) to create tiny scars in the heart. The scar tissue permanently blocks faulty electrical signals, restoring a regular heartbeat. Catheter ablation doesn't require surgery to access the heart, but it may also be done at the same time as other heart surgeries.
People with an extra signaling pathway but no symptoms (WPW pattern) usually don't need treatment.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/wolff-parkinson-white-syndrome/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354630
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