open access

Vol 15, No 4 (2008)
Original articles
Submitted: 2013-01-14
Published online: 2008-05-21
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The clinical course and risk in patients with pseudo-Mahaim fibers

Łukasz Szumowski, Robert Bodalski, Zbigniew Jedynak, Ewa Szufladowicz, Roman Kępski, Paweł Derejko, Piotr Urbanek, Ewa Michalak, Michał Orczykowski, Joanna Zakrzewska, Andrzej Przybylski, Franciszek Walczak
Cardiol J 2008;15(4):365-370.

open access

Vol 15, No 4 (2008)
Original articles
Submitted: 2013-01-14
Published online: 2008-05-21

Abstract

Background: Pseudo-Mahaim (AP-M) fibers are a rare variant of atrioventricular (AV) accessory pathways. Atriofascicular and atrioventricular accessory connections are characterized by slow conduction and decremental properties. Dual physiological AV node pathways, slow and fast, are observed in a large number of patients with AP-M. Therefore, there is substrate for AV nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) in addition to antidromic AV reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) with left bundle branch block (LBBB)-like morphology. Other arrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter (AFL) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) are also observed. We analysed the occurrence of arrhythmias in a group of patients with AP-M treated in our department.
Methods: We evaluated 27 patients (12 women) aged 14-53 years (mean age 25.6 years) with AP-M. The clinical course in these patients, in particular with regard to the occurrence of arrhythmias, was analysed. Patients with dual AV node properties were compared to patients without such findings.
Results: We found dual AV node properties in 18 patients (Group 1), while 9 patients had fast pathway only (Group 2). Twenty-six patients presented with AVRT, 2 patients with AVNRT, 3 patients with AF, 1 patient with AT, 2 patients with AFL, and 3 patients with VF. In 2 patients, AP-M were seen in an atypical area. In one patient, the pathway connected the right atrium with the left ventricle (septal region), and in the other patient it connected the left atrium with the left ventricle (left anterior region).
Conclusions: The majority of AP-M was right-sided. Two thirds of patients with AP-M had anatomical substrate for AVNRT (fast/slow pathway AV node). VF or asystole occurred in 10% of patients.

Abstract

Background: Pseudo-Mahaim (AP-M) fibers are a rare variant of atrioventricular (AV) accessory pathways. Atriofascicular and atrioventricular accessory connections are characterized by slow conduction and decremental properties. Dual physiological AV node pathways, slow and fast, are observed in a large number of patients with AP-M. Therefore, there is substrate for AV nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) in addition to antidromic AV reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) with left bundle branch block (LBBB)-like morphology. Other arrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter (AFL) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) are also observed. We analysed the occurrence of arrhythmias in a group of patients with AP-M treated in our department.
Methods: We evaluated 27 patients (12 women) aged 14-53 years (mean age 25.6 years) with AP-M. The clinical course in these patients, in particular with regard to the occurrence of arrhythmias, was analysed. Patients with dual AV node properties were compared to patients without such findings.
Results: We found dual AV node properties in 18 patients (Group 1), while 9 patients had fast pathway only (Group 2). Twenty-six patients presented with AVRT, 2 patients with AVNRT, 3 patients with AF, 1 patient with AT, 2 patients with AFL, and 3 patients with VF. In 2 patients, AP-M were seen in an atypical area. In one patient, the pathway connected the right atrium with the left ventricle (septal region), and in the other patient it connected the left atrium with the left ventricle (left anterior region).
Conclusions: The majority of AP-M was right-sided. Two thirds of patients with AP-M had anatomical substrate for AVNRT (fast/slow pathway AV node). VF or asystole occurred in 10% of patients.
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Keywords

pseudo-Mahaim fibers; atriofascicular pathway; radiofrequency catheter ablation

About this article
Title

The clinical course and risk in patients with pseudo-Mahaim fibers

Journal

Cardiology Journal

Issue

Vol 15, No 4 (2008)

Pages

365-370

Published online

2008-05-21

Page views

655

Article views/downloads

1700

Bibliographic record

Cardiol J 2008;15(4):365-370.

Keywords

pseudo-Mahaim fibers
atriofascicular pathway
radiofrequency catheter ablation

Authors

Łukasz Szumowski
Robert Bodalski
Zbigniew Jedynak
Ewa Szufladowicz
Roman Kępski
Paweł Derejko
Piotr Urbanek
Ewa Michalak
Michał Orczykowski
Joanna Zakrzewska
Andrzej Przybylski
Franciszek Walczak

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