Wellens Syndrome

• The pattern is usually present in the pain free state — it may be obscured during episodes of ischaemic chest pain, when there is “pseudonormalisation” of T waves in V2-3
• Wellens syndrome is a key example of why all patients presenting with chest pain must have serial ECGs

Clinical significance

• Patients may be pain free by the time the ECG is taken, and have normal or minimally elevated cardiac enzymes. However, they are at extremely high risk for extensive anterior wall MI within the subsequent days to weeks
• Due to the critical LAD stenosis, these patients usually require invasive therapy, do poorly with medical management, and may suffer MI or cardiac arrest if inappropriately stress tested

Diagnostic criteria

Rhinehart et al (2002) describe the following diagnostic criteria for Wellens syndrome:

There are two patterns of T-wave abnormality in Wellens syndrome:

• Type A – Biphasic, with initial positivity and terminal negativity (25% of cases)
• Type B – Deeply and symmetrically inverted (75% of cases)

Biphasic T Waves (Type A)

Deeply Inverted T Waves (Type B)

Wellens T wave evolution

T wave changes can evolve over time from Type A to Type B pattern (Smith et al).

Understanding T wave changes

The following sequence of events is thought to occur in patients with Wellens syndrome:

• A sudden complete occlusion of the LAD causes a transient anterior STEMI, causing chest pain & diaphoresis. This stage may not be successfully captured on an ECG recording
• Re-perfusion of the LAD (e.g. due to spontaneous clot lysis or prehospital aspirin) leads to resolution of chest pain. ST elevation improves and T waves become biphasic or inverted. The T wave morphology is identical to patients who reperfuse after a successful PCI
• If the artery remains open, the T waves evolve over time from biphasic to deeply inverted
• The coronary perfusion is unstable, however, and the LAD can re-occlude at any time. If this happens, the first sign on the ECG is an apparent normalisation of the T waves — so-called “pseudo-normalisation”. The T waves switch from biphasic/inverted to upright and prominent. This is a sign of hyperacute STEMI and is usually accompanied by recurrence of chest pain, although the ECG changes can precede the symptoms
• If the artery remains occluded, the patient now develops an evolving anterior STEMI
• Alternatively, a “stuttering” pattern may develop, with intermittent reperfusion and re-occlusion. This would manifest as alternating ECGs demonstrating Wellens and pseudonormalisation/STEMI patterns

This sequence of events is not limited to the anterior leads — similar changes may be seen in the inferior or lateral leads, e.g. with RCA or circumflex occlusion.

Also, the inciting event does not necessarily have to be thrombus formation — Wellens syndrome may also occur in normal coronary arteries following an episode of vasospasm, as in this case of cocaine-induced vasospasm. However, it is safer to assume the worst (i.e. critical LAD stenosis) and work the patient up for an angiogram.

The concept of occlusion/reperfusion/re-occlusion is explained by Dr Stephen Smith. Also check out Example 5, below.

History of Wellens Syndrome

1979 – Gerson et al first described the occurrence of exercise-induced U wave inversion (inverted terminal T-waves) in the precordial leads in patients with proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD) ischemia. 33/36 patients (92%) with this abnormality had >75% stenosis in the proximal LAD.

1980 – Gerson further evaluated ‘U-wave inversion‘, this time at rest, and found 24/27 (89%) of patients with the ECG findings had evidence of LAD or left main ischemia.

1982 – De Zwaan, Wellens et al reported a similar ECG abnormality without mentioning inverted U-waves. They observed that patients admitted for unstable angina with this ECG finding were at high risk for myocardial infarction.

Semantic nomenclature

There is confusion in the literature regarding the naming of the T wave patterns, with some authors using Type 1 (Type A) for biphasic T waves and Type 2 (Type B) for inverted. It may be better to just describe the T wave pattern!

Original description**

ECG patterns in precordial leads of the patients reported. Pattern A was found in four patients; pattern B, in 22 patients

Example ECGs

Example 1

Wellens Syndrome (Type A Pattern)

• Biphasic precordial T waves with terminal negativity, most prominent in V2-3
• Minor precordial ST elevation
• Preserved R wave progression (R wave in V3 > 3mm)

Example 2

Wellens Syndrome (Type A Pattern)

• The biphasic T waves in V2-3 are characteristic of Wellens syndrome

Example 3

Wellens Syndrome (Type B Pattern)

• There are deep, symmetrical T wave inversions throughout the anterolateral leads (V1-6, I, aVL)

Example 4

Wellens Syndrome (Type A Pattern)

• Biphasic T waves with minimal ST elevation in V1-5, consistent with Wellens syndrome
• The patient had experienced ischaemic chest pain immediately prior to arrival in hospital and was pain free at the time the ECG was taken

The prehospital ECG from ~15 minutes earlier demonstrates a clear anterolateral STEMI:

• This prehospital ECG was taken while the patient was still symptomatic with chest pain and diaphoresis
• It shows unmistakable features of anterolateral STEMI, with marked precordial ST elevations and inferior reciprocal change
• The symptom resolution and conversion to a Wellens ECG on arrival to hospital indicates reperfusion of the LAD

Example 5

This fantastic ECG series (submitted by paramedic Andrew Bishop) shows a stuttering pattern of LAD occlusion, reperfusion and re-occlusion in a middle aged lady with chest pain.

The ECGs are presented in chronological order, over a 45 minute period from the prehospital environment to the cath lab:

(a) Patient experiencing chest pain and diaphoresis

• The ECG shows a clear anterolateral STEMI, with inferior reciprocal change
• The artery is occluded at this point

(b) Resolution of pain

• The ECG now shows a typical Wellens pattern of biphasic T waves in V2-3, plus improvement in the anterolateral ST elevation
• This indicates spontaneous reperfusion of the LAD — i.e. the artery has re-opened

(c) Recurrence of chest pain and diaphoresis

• With recurrence of pain there is pseudo-normalisation of the precordial T waves: the previously biphasic T waves have become prominently upright (= “hyperacute” T waves)
• This apparent normalisation of the T waves indicates re-occlusion of the LAD artery

(d) Ongoing ischaemic symptoms

• Following re-occlusion of the artery, there is further evolution of the anterolateral ST changes, with evolving anterior STEMI

(e) Symptoms improving

• Once again there is reperfusion of the artery, only this time the ST changes are slower to resolve

(f) Now Pain Free

• Now the T waves are starting to become biphasic again (Wellens Pattern A)

Shortly after this series of ECGs was taken, this patient suffered a VF arrest that was refractory to defibrillation. She was placed on a mechanical CPR device and taken to the cath lab, where she was found to have a 100% proximal LAD stenosis. This was stented, she was successfully cardioverted and subsequently made a good neurological recovery!

Differential Diagnosis of Wellens Syndrome

While the morphology of the T wave changes in Wellens syndrome is often quite distinctive, there are numerous other conditions that may produce similar patterns of precordial T-wave inversion, including:

• Pulmonary embolism
• Right bundle branch block
• Right ventricular hypertrophy
• Left ventricular hypertrophy
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• Raised intracranial pressure
• Normal paediatric ECG
• Persistent juvenile T wave pattern
• Brugada syndrome
• Hypokalaemia

Explore the links above to appreciate the similarities and differences between these ECG patterns.

But is this Wellens?

This ECG was initially posted as an example of Wellens syndrome. What do you make of it?

What about this example?

Learn from the Experts!

Consolidate your learning with lessons from the masters of ECG interpretation. Follow the links below for expert commentary, video lessons, case-based discussion and detailed explanations to take your learning to the next level.

• Dr Smith’s ECG Blog – Wellens Syndrome (case discussions)
• Dr Smith’s ECG Blog – Wellens Mimics (case discussions)

Related Topics

• Anterior STEMI
• De Winter’s T waves
• ST elevation in aVR — a sign of LMCA occlusion?
• Myocardial ischemia
• “Pain free and in VT?” – an ECG Exigency
• ECG Case 132

References

• GersonMC, Phillips JF, Morris SN, McHenryPL. Exercise-induced U-wave inversion as a marker of stenosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Circulation 1979;60:1014–1020
• Gerson MC, McHenry PL. Resting U wave inversion as a marker of stenosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Am J Med 1980;69:545–550
• de Zwaan C, Bär FW, Wellens HJ. Characteristic electrocardiographic pattern indicating a critical stenosis high in left anterior descending coronary artery in patients admitted because of impending myocardial infarction. Am Heart J. 1982 Apr;103(4 Pt 2):730-6
• 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(1):14-8
• Doevendans PA, Gorgels AP, van der Zee R, Partouns J, Bär FW, Wellens HJ. Electrocardiographic diagnosis of reperfusion during thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction. Am J Cardiol. 1995;75(17):1206-10
• Tandy TK, Bottomy DP, Lewis JG. Wellens syndrome. Ann Emerg Med. 1999 Mar;33(3):347-51.
• Wehrens XH, Doevendans PA, Ophuis TJ, Wellens HJ. A comparison of electrocardiographic changes during reperfusion of acute myocardial infarction by thrombolysis or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Am Heart J. 2000 Mar;139(3):430-6
• Edhouse J, Brady WJ, Morris F. ABC of clinical electrocardiography: Acute myocardial infarction-Part II. BMJ. 2002; 324: 963-966
• Rhinehardt J, Brady WJ, Perron AD, Mattu A. Electrocardiographic manifestations of Wellens syndrome. Am J Emerg Med. 2002;20(7):638-643
• Movahed MR. Wellens’ Syndrome or Inverted U-waves? Clin Cardiol. 2008 Mar;31(3):133-4

Advanced Reading

Online

• Wiesbauer F, Kühn P. ECG Mastery: Yellow Belt online course. Understand ECG basics. Medmastery
• Wiesbauer F, Kühn P. ECG Mastery: Blue Belt online course: Become an ECG expert. Medmastery
• Kühn P, Houghton A. ECG Mastery: Black Belt Workshop. Advanced ECG interpretation. Medmastery
• Rawshani A. Clinical ECG Interpretation ECG Waves
• Smith SW. Dr Smith’s ECG blog.

Textbooks

• Zimmerman FH. ECG Core Curriculum. 2023
• Mattu A, Berberian J, Brady WJ. Emergency ECGs: Case-Based Review and Interpretations, 2022
• Straus DG, Schocken DD. Marriott’s Practical Electrocardiography 13e, 2021
• Brady WJ, Lipinski MJ et al. Electrocardiogram in Clinical Medicine. 1e, 2020
• Mattu A, Tabas JA, Brady WJ. Electrocardiography in Emergency, Acute, and Critical Care. 2e, 2019
• Hampton J, Adlam D. The ECG Made Practical 7e, 2019
• Kühn P, Lang C, Wiesbauer F. ECG Mastery: The Simplest Way to Learn the ECG. 2015
• Grauer K. ECG Pocket Brain (Expanded) 6e, 2014
• Surawicz B, Knilans T. Chou’s Electrocardiography in Clinical Practice: Adult and Pediatric 6e, 2008
• Chan TC. ECG in Emergency Medicine and Acute Care 1e, 2004

LITFL Further Reading

• ECG Library Basics – Waves, Intervals, Segments and Clinical Interpretation
• ECG A to Z by diagnosis – ECG interpretation in clinical context
• ECG Exigency and Cardiovascular Curveball – ECG Clinical Cases
• 100 ECG Quiz – Self-assessment tool for examination practice
• ECG Reference SITES and BOOKS – the best of the rest