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Lown–Ganong–Levine syndrome

Description

Lown–Ganong–Levine syndrome (LGL): Proposed pre-excitation syndrome. Accessory pathway composed of James fibres. Characteristic ECG findings of short PR interval (<120ms); normal P wave axis; normal/narrow QRS morphology in the presence of paroxysmal tachyarrhythmia.

Existence of LGL is disputed and the condition may not actually exist…the term should not be used in the absence of paroxysmal tachycardia


Lown–Ganong–Levine syndrome (LGL)
Example of Lown–Ganong–Levine syndrome

History of Lown–Ganong–Levine syndrome

1921-1952 – association of paroxysmal tachycardia, short AV conduction time, and normal QRS complexes reported across 11 cases, but usually attributed to being a variant of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

1938 – Clerc, Levy and Critesco first described ECG findings of a short PR interval, normal QRS complex, and paroxysmal tachycardia. [Archives des Maladies du Coeur 1938]

1952 – Lown, Ganong and Levine performed the first study correlating the characteristic ECG changes with clinical findings, which distinguished patients with paroxysmal tachycardia, short PR interval, and normal QRS complexes from Wolff-Parkinson-White characteristics. [Circulation 1952]

1961Thomas Naum James (1925-2010) described accessory pathway connections between the atria and distal atrioventricular node, which may have a role in the pathophysiology of LGL syndrome [Am Heart J. 1961]

1975 – Brechenmacher described accessory pathways between the atria and bundle of His, which may also be involved in LGL syndrome [Br Heart J. 1975]


Associated Persons

Alternative Names
  • Clerc-Lévy-Cristesco syndrome
  • Coronary nodal rhythm syndrome
  • Short PQ interval syndrome
  • Short PR-normal QRS syndrome
  • Short P-R syndrome

References

Advanced Reading

Online

Textbooks


LITFL Further Reading

eponymictionary

the names behind the name

Doctor in Australia. Keen interest in internal medicine, medical education, and medical history.

BA MA (Oxon) MBChB (Edin) FACEM FFSEM. Emergency physician, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.  Passion for rugby; medical history; medical education; and asynchronous learning #FOAMed evangelist. Co-founder and CTO of Life in the Fast lane | Eponyms | Books | Twitter |

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