Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome

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Complications

By Mayo Clinic staff

Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome doesn't cause significant problems for many people, but complications can occur, and it's not always possible to know your risk of serious heart-related events. If the disorder is left untreated, and particularly if you have other heart conditions, you could experience the following complications:

  • Sudden death
  • Chaotic electrical signals through the ventricles and very rapid beating of the ventricles (ventricular fibrillation)
  • Low blood pressure (hypotension)
  • Inability of the heart to pump enough blood (heart failure)
  • Frequent fainting spells
References
  1. Knight B. Patient information: Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 14, 2008.
  2. Mitchell L. Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Merck Manuals Online Medical Dictionary: Home Edition for Patients and Caregivers. http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec03/ch027/ch027e.html. Accessed Jan. 10, 2009.
  3. Calkins H. Supraventricular tachycardia: AV nodal reentry and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. In: Fuster V, et al., eds. Hurst's The Heart. 12th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3050545. Jan. 14, 2009.
  4. Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference. http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=wolffparkinsonwhitesyndrome. Accessed Jan. 10, 2009.
  5. What are Holter, event and transtelephonic monitors? American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3005149. Accessed Jan. 15, 2009.
  6. Hebbar AK, et al. Management of common arrhythmias: Part I. Supraventricular arrhythmias. American Family Physician. 2002;65:2479-2486.
  7. Delacretaz E. Supraventricular tachycardia. New England Journal of Medicine. 2006;354:1039-1051.

DS00923

March 19, 2009

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