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Wellens syndrome: a life-saving diagnosis.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Parikh, KS; Agarwal, R; Mehrotra, AK; Swamy, RS
Published in: Am J Emerg Med
January 2012

The diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome relies on clinical history, electrocardiographic (ECG) changes, and cardiac biomarkers; but within the spectrum of acute coronary syndrome, there exist subtle presentations that cannot afford to be overlooked. Wellens syndrome is one such example, in which a patient can present with both ECG changes that are not classic for myocardial ischemia and negative cardiac biomarkers. The characteristic ECG findings associated with Wellens syndrome consist of deep, symmetric T-wave inversions in the anterior precordial leads. However, Wellens syndrome can also present as biphasic T-wave inversions in those same ECG leads. The associated critical stenosis of the proximal left anterior descending artery carries an immediately life-threatening prognosis if not recognized promptly (Am Heart J. 1982;103[4 Pt 2]:730-736). We describe a case of a less common manifestation of Wellens syndrome (type 1) followed by a discussion of its implications and management.

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Published In

Am J Emerg Med

DOI

EISSN

1532-8171

Publication Date

January 2012

Volume

30

Issue

1

Start / End Page

255.e3 / 255.e5

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Syndrome
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Heart
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
  • Emergency & Critical Care Medicine
  • Electrocardiography
  • Coronary Stenosis
  • Coronary Angiography
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Parikh, K. S., Agarwal, R., Mehrotra, A. K., & Swamy, R. S. (2012). Wellens syndrome: a life-saving diagnosis. Am J Emerg Med, 30(1), 255.e3-255.e5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2010.10.014
Parikh, Kishan S., Rajiv Agarwal, Amit K. Mehrotra, and Rajiv S. Swamy. “Wellens syndrome: a life-saving diagnosis.Am J Emerg Med 30, no. 1 (January 2012): 255.e3-255.e5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2010.10.014.
Parikh KS, Agarwal R, Mehrotra AK, Swamy RS. Wellens syndrome: a life-saving diagnosis. Am J Emerg Med. 2012 Jan;30(1):255.e3-255.e5.
Parikh, Kishan S., et al. “Wellens syndrome: a life-saving diagnosis.Am J Emerg Med, vol. 30, no. 1, Jan. 2012, pp. 255.e3-255.e5. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2010.10.014.
Parikh KS, Agarwal R, Mehrotra AK, Swamy RS. Wellens syndrome: a life-saving diagnosis. Am J Emerg Med. 2012 Jan;30(1):255.e3-255.e5.
Journal cover image

Published In

Am J Emerg Med

DOI

EISSN

1532-8171

Publication Date

January 2012

Volume

30

Issue

1

Start / End Page

255.e3 / 255.e5

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Syndrome
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Heart
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
  • Emergency & Critical Care Medicine
  • Electrocardiography
  • Coronary Stenosis
  • Coronary Angiography