[Electrophysiological characteristics of asymptomatic Wolff-Parkinson-White syndromes]

The management of the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW) is controversial especially when the patient is asymptomatic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the electrophysiological characteristics of such patients. Thirty two asymptomatic subjects with overt WPW on the surface ECG aged 14 to 68 years (average 36 +/- 15 years) underwent endocavitary or oesophageal electrophysiological study with the following protocol: programmed atrial stimulation using 1 or 2 extrastimuli over 3 cycles to evaluate the induction of paroxysmal junctional tachycardia and atrial fibrillation; atrial pacing at increasing frequencies to assess the shortest cycle conducted by the bundle of Kent. This protocol was repeated during intravenous infusion of 20 to 30 mg of Isoproterenol. Four electrophysiological characteristics were identified: the incidence of induction of junctional tachycardia was very low (2 cases, 6%); the incidence of induction of atrial fibrillation or tachycardia was similar to that of symptomatic WPW (9 cases 30%); the incidence of rapid conduction via the bundle of Kent (cycle conducted by the Kent less than 250 ms under basal conditions less than 200 ms with Isoproterenol) was 19% (6 cases); the incidence of potentially serious forms of WPW with rapid conduction in the bundle of Kent and atrial vulnerability (induction of atrial fibrillation at a frequency less than the Wenckebach point by programmed atrial stimulation) was similar to that in symptomatic WPW, 3 cases (10%). In conclusion, the asymptomatic character of the WPW is very probably due to the absence of junctional tachycardias. Nevertheless, these patients are at risk of atrial fibrillation with an incidence of potentially serious forms of 10%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)