The Syndrome of Short P R Interval, Apparent Bundle Branch Block, and Associated Paroxysmal Tachycardia

In 1930, Wolff, Parkinson, and White published the first collected series of eleven patients, who were apparently healthy but had electrocardiograms suggesting bundle branch block combined with a shortened P-R interval. Most of them were subject to attacks of paroxysmal tachycardia and a few to paroxysms of auricular fibrillation. Isolated cases of this nature had been reported by Wilson (1915), Wedd (1921), and Hamburger (1929). Numerous authors since 1930 have added to the published cases and considered the mechanism of the syndrome. Our purpose is to review present opinion, to report further cases, and to examine the various hypotheses advanced in explanation.