WPW
Medical abbreviation · Cardiology
| Stands for | Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
WPW stands for Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a cardiology abbreviation.
Congenital condition in which an extra electrical pathway bypasses the AV node, producing pre-excitation on the ECG: a short PR interval, a slurred QRS upstroke called a delta wave, and episodes of tachycardia. The pattern is found in roughly 1 to 3 per 1,000 people.
Example: Resting ECG with short PR and delta waves; referred to electrophysiology for WPW risk stratification.
Usage notes
Named for Louis Wolff, John Parkinson and Paul Dudley White, who described it in 1930. A "WPW pattern" means pre-excitation without symptoms, whereas "WPW syndrome" adds arrhythmias. Rarely, atrial fibrillation conducted rapidly down the pathway causes sudden death, so athletes and symptomatic patients are often offered curative catheter ablation.
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This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.