@Article{,
AUTHOR = {Raya Safa, Ronald Thomas, Peter P. Karpawich},
TITLE = {Electrocardiographic early repolarization characteristics and clinical presentations in the young: a benign finding or worrisome marker for arrhythmias},
JOURNAL = {Congenital Heart Disease},
VOLUME = {12},
YEAR = {2017},
NUMBER = {1},
PAGES = {99--104},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/chd/v12n1/38728},
ISSN = {1747-0803},
ABSTRACT = {Background: The early ECG repolarization QRS pattern (ERp), with J-point elevation of 0.1 mV in
two contiguous inferior and/or lateral leads, can be associated with ventricular arrhythmias among
adults. The significance of an ERp in the young is unknown.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of ERp among young patients
(pts), describe and correlate the characteristics with clinical presentations and any arrhythmias.
Methods: This was a 1 y retrospective review of ECGs obtained from patients referred specifically
for documented arrhythmias, possible arrhythmia-related symptoms or sports clearance. ECGs
were analyzed for ERp (J-point, ascending/horizontal patterns, location) and correlated with presenting complaints.
Results: Of 301 patient ECGs, an ERp was found in 177 (59%), (pts age 11.7 ± 4.3 y); 54% male;
23% Caucasian. Of these, 6 pts had a family history of sudden cardiac death. Arrhythmias (72%
atrial) occurred in 22 pts. Only 3 pts had ventricular arrhythmias (1 successfully ablated). The
ascending ST segment and elevated J-point occurred in 77% and 51% of pts with and without
arrhythmias respectively. In 73% of all pts, the ERp location was in inferior/lateral leads. Neither
gender, ethnicity, large J-point, lead location, nor the combination of a horizontal ST segment with
large J-point correlated with any arrhythmias.
Conclusions: ERp, especially the diffuse ascending pattern, is common among the young, in those
of European ethnicity, found equally in both genders, and with no apparent correlation with atrial
nor ventricular arrhythmias.},
DOI = {}
}