Re: Wolff-Parkenson-White

Posted By Nell on April 13, 1999 at 16:11:12
My husband is 45 years old and has WPW.  He's never been medicated for it.  I know the syndrome is not hereditary but I also hear that our children have a higher likelihood for having WPW.  It is caused by a genetic abnormality?  Also: our 3 year old son shows no signs of the syndrome.  I know that symptoms often appear by age 5.  Does that mean, if he's got WPW, that the severity isn't known until he's a little older?  Why?  Finally what is the best test, in young children, to determine is the syndrome is present?

[CCF CARDIO MD APS]

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD-APS on April 17, 1999 at 11:33:16
Dear Nell,
WPW does seem to be more prevalent in people with a family history, however as yet no "gene" has been identified as being responsible for WPW and that certainly doesn't mean that it isn't genetic in some way.
A simple 12 lead ecg can be helpful in determining if your child has WPW, however if the ecg is totally normal, this still does not rule out the possibility that he has a form of WPW.  Often patients will have WPW and not know it until later in life; the presentation is highly variable and very dependent on the patients' accessory pathway characteristics (does the pathway conduct one way or both ways-i.e.up and down, is the pathway conduction intermitttant or constant, etc?)  Some patients go their whole lives without any symptoms or problems, some develop them early in life and still others in mid-life.  In general, even a patient with diagnosed WPW who is asymptomatic is not considered to be at any significant risk that warrants further testing.
We in the medical profession and science have a ways to go yet on a better understanding of this abnormal conduction pathway in the heart.
Discuss the ecg and regular follow up with your son's pediatrician as it sounds this is all that is necessary at the present time (i.e. your son is asymptomatic.)

[Jenifer__0__0]

Posted By Jennifer on May 02, 1999 at 01:44:01
I am 17 years old and have had unexplained chest pains running down my left arm, elephant on my chest, fast heart rate, pale and sweaty forehead.  It comes on with exercise or just out of the blue.  The Dr. hooked me up to wires and said my heart was very healthy.  I live in a very remote area and this sounds like it might be something of an answer.











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