Is a WPW syndrome inheritable?

No. WPW syndrome is a disorder of the heart that is congenital. However, it is not hereditary.

Diagnosis of WPW syndrome

Initially, the anamnesis plays a decisive role. It usually provides the first indications for the suspicion of the presence of a cardiac arrhythmia. The ECG provides further important clues for the diagnosis.

In addition to the normal ECG, a long-term ECG measurement over 24 hours or even 7 days may be used. A stress ECG can also be used. In this case, the person concerned usually sits on a bicycle ergometer and is exposed to increasing physical stress while an ECG is written in parallel.

An ultrasound examination of the heart (echocardiography) is also frequently performed. A very specific examination in WPW syndrome is the electrophysiological examination (EPU), which examines the accessory pathway in more detail. A special type of cardiac catheter examination is performed for this purpose. In most cases, a therapeutic ablation is also performed during this electrophysiological examination.

What ECG changes are seen in WPW syndrome?

The typical and pathognomonic (certainly indicative of a WPW syndrome) ECG change is the so-called delta wave. The excitation of the atrium is shown in the normal ECG as a P-wave. This is followed by chamber excitation as a so-called QRS complex.

The delta wave is a wave that lies directly in front of the QRS complex and, so to speak, merges into it. In the ECG with WPW syndrome, there is also a shortened PQ time (time between atrial fibrillation and ventricular excitation) and changes in excitation recovery (ST segment and T wave). The WPW syndrome is characterized by sudden attacks of tachycardia (paroxysmal tachycardia).The attacks come out of nowhere and are usually unpredictable by those affected.

They can last from seconds to minutes, but also up to hours. The heartbeat can increase to over 200 beats per minute (normal heartbeat is between 60 and 100 beats per minute). The tachycardia attack ends as suddenly as it began.

In addition to the fast heartbeat, you may experience discomfort, sweating and dizziness. In rare cases, WPW syndrome can lead to ventricular fibrillation, an acutely life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia. This can lead to unconsciousness and the need for resuscitation.