title: Temporal variation and morphologic characteristics of J-waves in patients with early repolarisation syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Electrocardiographic markers identifying malignant forms of early repolarisation (ER) from ER of normal variants are of prime clinical importance. We compared the ECG parameters of ER patterns in patients with early repolarisation syndrome (ERS) proximate to the ventricular fibrillation (VF) episodes, remote from the events and those with normal controls with ER.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective, case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 12 patients with ERS and 36 age-matched, gender-matched controls with ER.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dynamic change of J-wave.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The highest amplitude of J-wave, sum of the J-wave amplitudes or the number of leads with ER showed a dramatic change during the perievent period. J-wave amplitudes (2.0±1.3 vs 4.0±1.7, p=0.004) and the number of leads with ER (3.3±1.7 vs 5.3±2.0, p=0.021) were significantly higher around the time of VF. In particular, the characteristic morphology of 'giant' (wide, >80 ms) J-waves were observed during the perievent period in 5/12 patients with ERS. However, there were no significant differences in the electrocardiographic parameters of ER pattern remote from VF events between the patients with ERS and normal control subjects with ER.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the extent of and amplitude of J-wave or ST segment elevation (STE) increased significantly around VF episodes, the electrocardiographic parameters of ER remote from VF episodes were not significantly different from those of normal controls. The narrow time window of these ECG changes limits early detection of ER patients at risk of developing VF or sudden cardiac death.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, , Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung Oh
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Gi-Byoung
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Eun-Sun
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Ki-Hun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung-Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eui-Seock
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Kyoung-Min
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyoung-Suk
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Kee-Joon
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: You-Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013577:Syndrome; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*