title: [Ventricular preexcitation: is risk stratification feasible?].
abstract: The Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is a current debated clinical issue. Although the anatomical characteristics, polymorphic electrocardiographic features, and electrophysiological mechanisms of arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death are well known, the identification of patients at risk of sudden cardiac death remains challenging. Owing to the lack of effective therapeutic strategies, in the pre-ablation era many studies have been conducted to define the prognostic value of clinical and instrumental tests, and to define the actual risk of sudden cardiac death in patients with ventricular preexcitation. Nowadays, radiofrequency transcatheter ablation of anomalous atrioventricular pathways is a strong therapeutic option for all patients, independent of the risk of sudden cardiac death. However, radiofrequency ablation is associated with serious complications, but many studies confirm an overall good prognosis for most of the patients with electrocardiographic pattern of ventricular preexcitation. The aim of this review is to assess the prognostic value of clinical and instrumental tests in patients with ventricular preexcitation, referring to the latest knowledge.
authors.affiliation: S.C. di Cardiologia, Centro Studio e Prevenzione della Morte Cardiaca Improvvisa, Presidio Ospedaliero "M. Santo", Azienda Ospedaliera di Cosenza. derosa.fr@libero.it
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Rosa
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mancuso
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiatto
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Calvelli
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Donato
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mazza
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spadafora
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000404:Ajmaline; D001283:Atrioventricular Node / Q000503:physiopathology; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods; D005080:Exercise Test; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011342:Procainamide; D011379:Prognosis; D011405:Propafenone; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014927:Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000404:Ajmaline; D011405:Propafenone; D011342:Procainamide