Oral anticoagulation for ECG tremor artefact simulating atrial fibrillation

That tremor simulates atrial fibrillation and causes oral anticoagulation has not been reported. In a 69-year-old patient with diabetes, arterial hypertension and recurrent strokes, hand tremor developed since 1998. In September 2000 atrial fibrillation was diagnosed upon a routine and 24-hour ambulatory ECG. Because of the additional risk factors for stroke/embolism, phenprocoumon was begun. The diagnosis was changed to paroxysmal AF upon the following ECGs, showing sinus rhythm. Not earlier than 1 year after establishing the diagnosis,"atrial fibrillation" was identified as being due to a tremor artefact. Phenprocoumon was discontinued. Neurological investigations revealed Parkinson's disease as the cause of the tremor. Three weeks after initiation of pramipexol, the tremor artefact was no longer visible on ECG. Misinterpreting an ECG-artefact due to Parkinsons's tremor as atrial fibrillation may be followed by unnecessary diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, including long-term oral anticoagulation. Upon adequate treatment of Parkinson's disease, the tremor artefact immediately disappears from the ECG.