RESUMEN
AIM: This study was designed to describe clinical characteristics and electrophysiologic in patients with asymptomatic Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. METHODS: From December 2000 to August 2005, a total of 154 patients with accessory pathway-mediated reentry mechanism underwent electrophysiologic studies at Sainte-Marguerite and Timone hospitals in Marseille. Ninety-six patients had WPW syndrome, out of which 78 were symptomatic patients and 18 were asymptomatic. The mean age was 26 years. Sex (masculine) 17. RESULTS: The incidence of intermittent arrhythmia associated with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome was lower in 2 patients (11%). There was a higher occurrence of rapid induced tachycardia in 9 patients (50%). However, atrial fibrillation occurred more commonly in 6 (33%) patients. The anterograde accessory pathway effective refractory period (APRP) in patients was much shorter (less than 250 ms [N=16]) 13 patients with accessory pathways were managed by ablation. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the difference in the electrophysiologic characteristics of anterograde accessory pathway and the atrioventricular node in asymptomatic WPW patients, and thus concluded that radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation is a safe and effective method to manage patients with asymptomatic WPW syndrome.