Causes & Risk Factors Of Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is a condition in which individuals are born with an accessory pathway in their hearts, which can cause many complications. There have been occasional cases of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome leading to cardiac arrest, and it can be fatal. Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome can be somewhat unpredictable, as some who are born with it never experience symptoms while others can become symptomatic at any age. While the true cause of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome remains unknown in many cases, there is evidence to suggest, in addition to the extra electrical pathway in heart, there are a few other factors for the condition. Learn about these now.

Abnormal Gene

There are seven known mutations in the PRKAG2 gene linked to Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Studies suggest mutations in this gene change the functioning of AMP-activated protein kinase, which thereby alters the enzyme's ability to meet energy demands from cells. Currently, research is not conclusive on whether the enzyme suffers from a decrease in activity or if it becomes over-activated. What is known about Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is, when it is familial, it is autosomally dominant regarding genetic inheritance. This means fifty percent of a person's offspring will inherit this abnormal gene and could potentially develop Wolff-Parkinson-White symptoms. This cause is considered rare, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy might accompany the abnormality.

Continue reading for more causes and risk factors for Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.