The prognostic importance of isolated P-Wave abnormalities.

Background: While certain P-Wave morphologies have been associated with abnormal atrial size and either pulmonary or cardiovascular (CV) disease, their relationship to mortality and specific cause of death has not been reported.

Methods: Analyses were performed on the first digitally recorded electrocardiogram (ECG) on 43 903 patients at the Palo Alto Veterans Administration Medical Center since 1987. After appropriate exclusions, 40 020 patients remained.

Mitral Valve Prolapse in a Professional Basketball Player.

The sequence of events in this case suggests that mitral valve prolapse may be an underlying cause of 'athlete's heart syndrome,' especially when it's accompanied by symptomatic arrhythmias.