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Wellen's Syndrome


Wellens’ Syndrome:

Recent history of chest pain
Little or no elevation of cardiac enzymes
Biphasic T-wave in V2-3
Minimal (<1mm), if any, ST elevations

Highly specific for LAD occlusion
specificity  89%
sensitivity  69%
positive predictive value of 86%

The recommended treatment for such patients is an early invasive approach, either with cardiac catheterization with angioplasty or coronary artery bypass surgery.

References
1-de Zwaan C, Bär FW, Wellens HJ. Characteristic electrocardiographic pattern indicating a critical stenosis in left anterior descending coronary artery in patients admitted because of impending myocardial infarction. Am Heart J 1982, 103:730-6.
 2-Haines DE, Raabe DS, Gundel WD, Wackers FJ. Anatomic and prognostic significance of new T-wave inversion in unstable angina. Am J Cardiol 1983, 52:14-8

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