Wellens syndrome

[wel´enz]

a group of signs indicating critical proximal stenosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery in patients with unstable angina at a time when there is no pain. It consists of normal or minimally elevated cardiac enzyme levels; little or no elevation of the ST segment; no loss of precordial R waves; and progressive, deep, symmetrical inversion of the T waves, particularly in leads V₁ and V₂ (though not confined to these leads).

Wellens syndrome

(wel′ĕn)

[Hein J.J. Wellens, contemporary Dutch cardiologist]

The electrocardiographic (ECG) signs of impending occlusion of the left main or left anterior descending coronary artery. ECG shows an inverted symmetrical T wave with little or no associated change of the ST segment or R wave. Inversion appears principally in the V leads. The finding identifies patients who are at risk for an extensive myocardial infarction.

References in periodicals archive ?

Wellens syndrome was first described in the 1980s by de Zwaan, Wellens, et al, who identified specific T-wave changes in precordial leads in 14% to 18% of patients with unstable angina who, subsequently, developed a large anterior wall MI [21].

[23] described the following diagnostic criteria for Wellens syndrome:

Differential diagnosis of Wellens syndrome includes: pulmonary thromboembolism, right bundle branch block, left ventricular hypertrophy, right ventricular hypertrophy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, Brugada syndrome and hypokalemia [27].

ATYPICAL ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC PRESENTATIONS OF MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION WITH ST ELEVATION - ST ELEVATION MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION EQUIVALENTS/ATIPICNI ELEKTROKARDIOGRAFSKI PRIKAZI INFARKTA MIOKARDA SA ST ELEVACIJOM--EK-VIVALENTI INFARKTA MIOKARDA SA ELEVACIJOM ST SEGMENT A

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