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Palermi S, Tardini L, Graziano F, Bianco M, Bina A, Castelletti S, Cavarretta E, Contursi M, Corrado D, D'Ascenzi F, Inama G, Mos L, Pelliccia A, Palamà Z, Scarà A, Sciarra L, Sollazzo F, Patrizi G, Vessella T, Zorzi A. Interpretation and management of T wave inversion in athletes: An expert opinion statement of the Italian Society of Sports Cardiology (SICSPORT). Int J Cardiol 2025; 422:132968. [PMID: 39765321 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2025.132968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2024] [Revised: 12/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/03/2025] [Indexed: 01/13/2025]
Abstract
T wave inversion (TWI) on the electrocardiogram (ECG) is a relatively common finding in athletes. It poses a diagnostic challenge, as it can indicate either a benign physiological pattern or an early sign of serious cardiac pathology. This expert opinion statement provides a comprehensive review of the current understanding of TWI in athletes, emphasizing the importance of its localization, associated clinical features, and demographic factors in guiding its interpretation and management. We explore the potential causes of TWI, including physiological adaptations such as the juvenile pattern and training-induced repolarization variants, as well as pathological conditions like cardiomyopathies, ion channel diseases, and other cardiac abnormalities. Additionally, we discuss the implications of TWI in different ECG leads-anterior, inferior, and lateral-and the diagnostic work-up needed to exclude underlying disease. The importance of follow-up in athletes with TWI is highlighted, particularly for young athletes, to monitor the potential development of cardiomyopathy. Finally, we address considerations for sports eligibility in athletes with TWI, stressing the need for a balanced approach that ensures athlete safety without imposing unnecessary restrictions and investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Palermi
- Public Health Department, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy.
| | - Lucia Tardini
- Department of Cardiology, Ramazzini Hospital, AUSL Modena, Carpi, Italy.
| | - Francesca Graziano
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padova, Italy.
| | - Massimiliano Bianco
- Sports Medicine Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Catholic University, 00168 Rome, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Bina
- Sports Cardiology Unit - Heart & Wellness center, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Silvia Castelletti
- IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Cardiology Department, Milan, Italy.
| | - Elena Cavarretta
- Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Latina, Italy; Advanced Cardiovascular Therapies Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
| | - Maurizio Contursi
- Sports Cardiology Unit, Centro Polidiagnostico Check-up, Salerno, Italy.
| | - Domenico Corrado
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padova, Italy.
| | - Flavio D'Ascenzi
- Sports Cardiology and Rehab Unit, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Inama
- Department of Cardiology, Figlie di San Camillo Hospital, Cremona, Italy.
| | - Lucio Mos
- Sanirad Tricesimo, Friuli Coram Udine, Italy.
| | | | | | - Antonio Scarà
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Public Health, Life and Environmental Science, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
| | - Luigi Sciarra
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Public Health, Life and Environmental Science, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
| | - Fabrizio Sollazzo
- Sports Medicine Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Catholic University, 00168 Rome, Italy.
| | - Giampiero Patrizi
- Department of Cardiology, Ramazzini Hospital, AUSL Modena, Carpi, Italy.
| | - Teresina Vessella
- Reference Regional Center for Sports in People with Heart Disease, Sports Medicine Unit, ULSS2 Treviso, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Zorzi
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padova, Italy.
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Carvalho TD, Freitas OGAD, Chalela WA, Hossri CAC, Milani M, Buglia S, Falcão AMGM, Costa RVC, Ritt LEF, Pfeiffer MET, Silva OBE, Imada R, Pena JLB, Avanza Júnior AC, Sellera CAC. Brazilian Guideline for Exercise Testing in Children and Adolescents - 2024. Arq Bras Cardiol 2024; 121:e20240525. [PMID: 39292116 PMCID: PMC11495813 DOI: 10.36660/abc.20240525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/19/2024] Open
Abstract
CLASSES OF RECOMMENDATION LEVELS OF EVIDENCE
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Affiliation(s)
- Tales de Carvalho
- Clínica de Prevenção e Reabilitação Cardiosport, Florianópolis, SC - Brasil
- Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC - Brasil
| | | | - William Azem Chalela
- Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (InCor-HCFMUSP), São Paulo, SP - Brasil
- Sociedade Beneficente de Senhoras do Hospital Sírio-Libanês, São Paulo, SP - Brasil
| | | | - Mauricio Milani
- Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, DF - Brasil
- Hasselt University, Hasselt - Bélgica
- Jessa Ziekenhuis, Hasselt - Bélgica
| | - Susimeire Buglia
- Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia, São Paulo, SP - Brasil
| | - Andréa Maria Gomes Marinho Falcão
- Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (InCor-HCFMUSP), São Paulo, SP - Brasil
| | | | - Luiz Eduardo Fonteles Ritt
- Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Salvador, BA - Brasil
- Instituto D'Or de Pesquisa e Ensino, Salvador, BA - Brasil
- Hospital Cárdio Pulmonar, Salvador, BA - Brasil
| | | | | | - Rodrigo Imada
- Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (InCor-HCFMUSP), São Paulo, SP - Brasil
- Hospital Sírio-Libanês, São Paulo, SP - Brasil
| | - José Luiz Barros Pena
- Faculdade Ciências Médicas de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG - Brasil
- Hospital Felício Rocho, Belo Horizonte, MG - Brasil
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Sato A, Saiki H, Kudo M, Takizawa Y, Kuwata S, Nakano S, Sato Y, Miura K, Oyama K, Akasaka M. Chronological T-wave alternation before and after the onset of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2022; 27:e12965. [PMID: 35653270 PMCID: PMC9674788 DOI: 10.1111/anec.12965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Identification of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) during childhood is challenging due to the lack of specific ECG manifestation. We report chronological ECG alteration before several years of the ARVC onset in two affected children. Their ECG at the age of 6 years was almost normal for their age, and their chronological ECGs exhibited inversion of T wave in inferior leads, which are typical for ARVC, developed at younger age than that in precordial leads. In addition, the leftmost T‐wave inversion in the precordial lead shifted toward the left in our patients, which is a sharp contrast to its physiological transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Sato
- Department of Pediatrics, Iwate Medical University, Shiwa, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Saiki
- Department of Pediatrics, Iwate Medical University, Shiwa, Japan
| | - Maki Kudo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Iwate Health Service Association, Morioka, Japan
| | - Yurie Takizawa
- Department of Pediatrics, Iwate Medical University, Shiwa, Japan
| | - Seiko Kuwata
- Department of Pediatrics, Iwate Medical University, Shiwa, Japan
| | - Satoshi Nakano
- Department of Pediatrics, Iwate Medical University, Shiwa, Japan
| | - Yumi Sato
- Department of Pediatrics, Iwate Medical University, Shiwa, Japan
| | - Kunihiko Miura
- Department of Pediatrics, Iwate prefectural Miyako Hospital, Miyako, Japan
| | - Kotaro Oyama
- Department of Pediatrics, Iwate Medical University, Shiwa, Japan.,Michinoku Medical Center on Disability and Health, Shiwa, Japan
| | - Manami Akasaka
- Department of Pediatrics, Iwate Medical University, Shiwa, Japan
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