Lown-Ganong-Levine Syndrome Clinical Presentation

  • Author: Daniel M Beyerbach, MD, PhD; Chief Editor: Jeffrey N Rottman, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jan 4, 2012
 

History

Symptoms of paroxysmal tachycardia must be elicited. Manifestations of such paroxysms include palpitations, lightheadedness, and shortness of breath. In cases of underlying structural heart disease or coronary artery disease, episodes of tachycardia may induce cardiac stress and produce symptoms of chest pain or possibly of hypotension or other hemodynamic instability. At higher ventricular rates, syncope may occur, particularly if ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation are initiated.

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Physical

An accentuated first heart sound of mitral valve closure may be present in 87% of cases.[3] During paroxysms of tachycardia, cardiovascular examination may reveal a rapid heart rate. Absence of a rapid heart rate does not exclude LGL as a possible diagnosis, as the tachycardia of LGL is paroxysmal.

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Causes

No environmental factors that contribute to occurrence of LGL have been identified. Some evidence suggests that both WPW and LGL may be hereditary in certain families.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Daniel M Beyerbach, MD, PhD  Medical Director, Cardiac Rhythm Program, The Christ Hospital; Affiliate Clinical Assistant Professor of Biomedical Science, Florida Atlantic University

Daniel M Beyerbach, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Cardiology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Christopher Cadman, MD  Director of Arrhythmia Service, Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of New Mexico

Christopher Cadman, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Cardiology and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Justin D Pearlman, MD, ME, PhD, FACC, MA  Chief, Division of Cardiology, Director of Cardiology Consultative Service, Director of Cardiology Clinic Service, Director of Cardiology Non-Invasive Laboratory, Director of Cardiology Quality Program KMC, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Dartmouth Medical School

Justin D Pearlman, MD, ME, PhD, FACC, MA is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Cardiology, American College of Physicians, American Federation for Medical Research, International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, and Radiological Society of North America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Frank M Sheridan, MD  Cardiology, Providence Everett Medical Center

Frank M Sheridan, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, and Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Amer Suleman, MD  Private Practice

Amer Suleman, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Heart Association, American Institute of Stress, American Society of Hypertension, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, Royal Society of Medicine, and Society of Cardiac Angiography and Interventions

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Jeffrey N Rottman, MD  Professor of Medicine and Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine; Chief, Department of Cardiology, Nashville Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Jeffrey N Rottman, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Heart Association and North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology (NASPE)

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Christopher Cadman, MD, contributed to the original version of this article.

References

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ECG demonstrating a short PR interval of approximately 100 ms and normal QRS.
ECG demonstrating ventricular preexcitation. A delta wave, which corresponds to initial myocardial depolarization via a bypass tract, appears at the beginning of each QRS complex.
 
 
 
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