Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome: the supreme master of camouflage

Abstract

Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome is a condition in which there is an aberrant conduction pathway between the atria and ventricles, resulting in tachycardia. Most of the patients remain asymptomatic throughout their lives; however, approximately half of the patients with WPW syndrome experience symptoms secondary to tachyarrhythmias, like paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and, rarely, ventricular fibrillation and sudden death. Patients with WPW syndrome may present with a multitude of symptoms such as unexplained anxiety, palpitations, fatigue, light-headedness or dizziness, loss of consciousness, and shortness of breath and rarely with ischemic chest pain. We report a case of a 38-year-old male presented with various vague symptoms like feelings of constipations and anxiety accompanied by psychosocial stressors, lack of sleep with episodes of palpitations which was attributed to underlying anxiety and depressive disorder and stated on various antidepressive medication, but without any relief of symptoms. He was later diagnosed with WPW syndrome. Keeping cardiac dysrhythmia within the differentials would help in early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.