Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

With Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome, an extra, abnormal pathway is present between the atrium, or upper chamber, and ventricle, or lower chamber. This causes the electrical signal to arrive at the ventricle too soon and to be transmitted back into the atrium. Very fast heart rates may develop as the electrical signal ricochets between the atria and ventricles.

Our Approach to Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

Over the past decades, UCSF has helped pioneer breakthroughs in the understanding and treatment of arrhythmias, or heart rhythm disorders, such as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. We offer comprehensive evaluations to pinpoint the source of the arrhythmia, as well as the most innovative treatments available to restore the heart's normal rhythm. Our team includes electrophysiologists – cardiologists who subspecialize in heart rhythm disorders – as well as expert nurses and technicians. We are highly experienced in treating arrhythmias of all kinds, performing more than 1,200 procedures every year.

While providing specialized, tailored care is our primary focus, we are also dedicated to finding new treatments through research. Patients who choose to participate in clinical trials may have access to experimental therapies, devices or medications that might work better for them than the established options.