The U-wave: A remaining enigma of the electrocardiogram.

Abstract

Literature searches were conducted to retrieve publications related to the electrocardiogram U-wave in the literature database Embase. The review of the literature revealed the following major theories that will be discussed; late depolarisation, delayed or prolonged repolarisation, electro-mechanical stretch and IK1 dependent intrinsic potential differences in the terminal part of the action potential. Various pathologic conditions were found to correlate with the presence and properties of the U-wave, such as its amplitude and polarity. Abnormal U-waves can, for example, be observed in coronary artery disease with ongoing myocardial ischemia or infarction, ventricular hypertrophy, congenital heart disease, primary cardiomyopathy and valvular defects. Negative U-waves are highly specific for the presence of heart diseases. Concordantly negative T- and U-waves are especially associated with cardiac disease. Patients with negative U-waves tend to have higher blood pressure and history of hypertension, higher heart rate, cardiac disease and left ventricular hypertrophy compared to subjects with normal U-waves. Negative U-waves have been found to be associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality, cardiac death and cardiac hospitalisation in men. The origin of the U-wave is still not established. U-wave diagnostics may reveal cardiac disorders and the cardiovascular prognosis. Including the U-wave characteristics in the clinical ECG assessment may be useful.