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P. Jeffrey Bower, MD

Arch Intern Med. 1978;138(1):133-137.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

The sick sinus syndrome describes a rather heterogeneous group of patients whose presenting symptoms are primarily cerebrovascular in nature (Stokes-Adams attacks, dizziness, and cerebrovascular accidents). The principal pathophysiological disturbance is "sinus node" dysfunction characterized by bradyarrhythmias (sinus bradycardia, sinoatrial block, sinus arrest) with or without associated tachyarrhythmias (tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome).¹ An interest in and an awareness of this syndrome is mandated by the frequency of these complaints.

Historically, the first causal relationship delineated was between Stokes-Adams attacks and sinus bradycardia and sinoatrial block.^2-4 Later in 1954 Short⁵ described syncope in patients with alternating bradyarrhythmias and tachyarrhythmias. Lown⁶ actually coined the term "sick sinus" syndrome to describe a group of patients in whom, after electrical cardioversion, chaotic atrial activity, bradycardia, ectopic beats, and atrial and nodal tachycardia developed. Ferrer⁷ ultimately grouped these patients with diverse symptoms and dysrhythmias together under the general heading "sick sinus syndrome" in . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Medicine, Section on Cardiology, Ochsner Medical Institutions, New Orleans.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication April 22, 1977.

Reprint requests to Ochsner Clinic, 1514 Jefferson Hwy, New Orleans, LA 70121 (Dr Bower).

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