Long-term status and survival in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

In a long-term follow-up study of 103 patients who had Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, four died suddenly; two men had previously experienced paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and two women, both elderly, had paroxysmal tachyarrhythmias, one documented as atrial paroxysmal tachycardia on one occasion. Sixty-six (64%) of the patients had histories of paroxysmal tachyarrhythmias. Of 88 survivors, 10 of the 35 (29%) who did not have a history of arrhythmias on entry developed tachyarrhythmias, and 20 of 33 (38%) who did have symptomatic arrhythmias on entry had no symptoms at last follow-up. Thirteen (15%) of the survivors had frequent attacks of symptomatic arrhythmias.