Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

WPW syndrome versus WPW-pattern ECG

WPW syndrome or pre-excitation syndrome occurs when one or more strands of myocardial fibers capable of conducting electrical impulses (known as accessory pathways or bypass tracts) connect the atrium to the ipsilateral ventricle across the mitral or tricuspid annulus.[1]Vidaillet HJ Jr, Pressley JC, Henke E, et al. Familial occurrence of accessory atrioventricular pathways (preexcitation syndrome). N Engl J Med. 1987 Jul 9;317(2):65-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3587328?tool=bestpractice.com A patient who is asymptomatic but with typical WPW ECG abnormalities is referred to as having WPW pattern.

Asymptomatic/symptomatic patients

Symptomatic patients are those with episodes of tachycardia. The severity of symptoms can vary widely based on the frequency of episodes, whether they self-terminate, and the rate of the tachycardia. Tolerance is related to the rate of supraventricular tachycardia as well as the patient's subjective experience.