Vol 19, No 2 (2012)
Review Article
Submitted: 2013-01-24
Published online: 2012-03-30
QRS fragmentation: Diagnostic and prognostic significance
Grzegorz Pietrasik, Wojciech Zaręba
Cardiol J 2012;19(2):114-121.
Vol 19, No 2 (2012)
Review articles
Submitted: 2013-01-24
Published online: 2012-03-30
Abstract
Fragmentation of QRS (fQRS) complex is an easily evaluated non-invasive electrocardiographic
parameter. Fragmentation of narrow QRS is defined as presence of an additional R wave (R′)
or notching in the nadir of the S wave, or the presence of > 1 R′ in 2 contiguous leads,
corresponding to a major coronary artery territory on the resting 12-lead ECG. Fragmentation
of wide complex QRS consists of various RSR patterns, with more than 2 R waves (R′′) or
more than 2 notches in the R wave, or more than 2 notches in the downstroke or upstroke of the
S wave. Presence of fQRS has been associated with alternation of myocardial activation due to
myocardial scar and myocardial fibrosis. Initial studies reported higher sensitivity of fQRS
than Q wave for detecting myocardial scar and postulated that the presence of fQRS could be
a good predictor of cardiac events among the patients with coronary artery disease. The
presence of fQRS has been investigated among the patients with ischemic and non-ischemic
cardiomyopathy suggesting that this ECG parameter may affect prognosis and risk of sudden
cardiac death, risk of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy and response to cardiac
resynchronization therapy. In addition, there is evidence that fQRS could play an important
role as screening and prognostic tool among the patients with Brugada syndrome, long QT
syndrome, arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia and cardiac sarcoidosis. This paper
reviews definition, diagnostic and prognostic value of fQRS in different patient populations.
(Cardiol J 2012; 19, 2: 114–121)
Abstract
Fragmentation of QRS (fQRS) complex is an easily evaluated non-invasive electrocardiographic
parameter. Fragmentation of narrow QRS is defined as presence of an additional R wave (R′)
or notching in the nadir of the S wave, or the presence of > 1 R′ in 2 contiguous leads,
corresponding to a major coronary artery territory on the resting 12-lead ECG. Fragmentation
of wide complex QRS consists of various RSR patterns, with more than 2 R waves (R′′) or
more than 2 notches in the R wave, or more than 2 notches in the downstroke or upstroke of the
S wave. Presence of fQRS has been associated with alternation of myocardial activation due to
myocardial scar and myocardial fibrosis. Initial studies reported higher sensitivity of fQRS
than Q wave for detecting myocardial scar and postulated that the presence of fQRS could be
a good predictor of cardiac events among the patients with coronary artery disease. The
presence of fQRS has been investigated among the patients with ischemic and non-ischemic
cardiomyopathy suggesting that this ECG parameter may affect prognosis and risk of sudden
cardiac death, risk of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy and response to cardiac
resynchronization therapy. In addition, there is evidence that fQRS could play an important
role as screening and prognostic tool among the patients with Brugada syndrome, long QT
syndrome, arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia and cardiac sarcoidosis. This paper
reviews definition, diagnostic and prognostic value of fQRS in different patient populations.
(Cardiol J 2012; 19, 2: 114–121)
Keywords
QRS fragmentation; risk; prognosis; coronary artery disease; Q wave; myocardial scar; diagnosis
Title
QRS fragmentation: Diagnostic and prognostic significance
Journal
Cardiology Journal
Issue
Vol 19, No 2 (2012)
Article type
Review Article
Pages
114-121
Published online
2012-03-30
Page views
1528
Article views/downloads
4691
Bibliographic record
Cardiol J 2012;19(2):114-121.
Keywords
QRS fragmentation
risk
prognosis
coronary artery disease
Q wave
myocardial scar
diagnosis
Authors
Grzegorz Pietrasik
Wojciech Zaręba