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Epidemiology, Prevalence of J Wave, and Early Repolarization Syndrome

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Early Repolarization Syndrome

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Abstract

The early repolarization pattern and J wave were recognized during the very early period after the invention of the ECG. While the J wave has been reported to become prominent in particular circumstances, i.e., hypothermia, hypercalcemia, and brain damages, early repolarization has long been considered to be a benign finding, which is attributable to the definition of early repolarization during the period that included not only end-QRS notching/slurring but also ST segment elevation continuing to the upward concave ST segment and tall T wave. The prevalence of an early repolarization pattern and its predictive value has varied widely among the studies published more recently, which presumably were due to the diversity of the definitions. In the reports, either in case control studies or population studies, showing an association between an early repolarization pattern and cardiac or arrhythmic death, the definition has been based on J point elevation with notched or slurred J wave in the inferior or lateral leads, while early repolarization based on ST segment elevation seldom has shown any increased risk. The accumulated evidence has also demonstrated that even in those with J point elevation, the arrhythmic risk does not increase with a concave ST segment morphology. The definition of an early repolarization pattern should be unified and standardized to better stratify the risk of arrhythmic death.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8603, Japan

    Meiso Hayashi M.D. & Wataru Shimizu M.D., Ph.D.

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  1. Meiso Hayashi M.D.
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  2. Wataru Shimizu M.D., Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Meiso Hayashi M.D. .

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  1. Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan

    Wataru Shimizu

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Hayashi, M., Shimizu, W. (2018). Epidemiology, Prevalence of J Wave, and Early Repolarization Syndrome. In: Shimizu, W. (eds) Early Repolarization Syndrome. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-3379-7_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-3379-7_1

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