Foundation News

RESEARCH PROJECT UNDERWAY!!!

 "The Natural History of Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome in a Large Pediatric Cohort and Correlation of Non-invasive and Invasive Electrophysiology Testing"

Sudden death is a devastating complication of heart disease in children. Children with a condition called Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome have extra electrical pathways in the heart that may lead to fatal heart rhythm abnormalities (‘arrhythmias’) in a very small proportion of cases. Most studies to date have been performed in adults. At the present time, it is critical that we increase our knowledge so that we can help determine which children are at risk of these serious heart rhythm abnormalities. In the proposed studies, supported by a generous grant from the Matthew P. Fischerkeller Memorial Fund, we will define the natural history of Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) in a very large cohort of pediatric patients with very long-term follow-up (up to 40 years) in the Greater Pittsburgh region; this will allow estimation of the risk of spontaneous life-threatening arrhythmias, and the incidence of sudden death. We will then review the results of all prior cardiac testing to determine which tests (invasive and non-invasive) best predict a good versus a bad outcome. In the long run, it is anticipated that these studies will help identify the best approach to diagnostic evaluation and treatment of children with this life-threatening condition.