Profound First-Degree Atrioventricular Block in a High-Level Basketball Athlete

Justin D Stumph; William K Cornwell 3rd; Michael A Rosenberg; Morteza Khodaee

doi:10.1177/19417381231210297

Profound First-Degree Atrioventricular Block in a High-Level Basketball Athlete

Sports Health. 2023 Nov 9:19417381231210297. doi: 10.1177/19417381231210297. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Justin D Stumph¹, William K Cornwell 3rd^{2

3}, Michael A Rosenberg², Morteza Khodaee⁴

Affiliations

¹ OhioHealth, Primary Care Sports Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
² University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Medicine-Cardiology, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
³ University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Clinical Translational Research Center, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
⁴ University of Colorado School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine and Orthopedics, Denver, Colorado, USA.

PMID: 37946461
DOI: 10.1177/19417381231210297

Abstract

First-degree atrioventricular (AV) block (PR interval >200 ms) is commonly observed among screening electrocardiogram (ECG) in athletes. Profound first-degree AV block (PR interval >400 ms) and Mobitz type I (Wenckebach) second-degree AV block are generally uncommon and often require further workup on a case-by-case basis, particularly when there is concern for a structural cardiac abnormality. In this case, we present an example of an asymptomatic profound first-degree AV block with Mobitz type I (Wenckebach) second-degree AV block. Transthoracic echocardiogram and stress echocardiogram were unremarkable and the patient was cleared to participate in sports without any restriction. Physicians managing athletes should be aware of ECG features that require additional evaluation and cardiology consultation.

Keywords: Mobitz type I; PR interval; Wenckebach, arrhythmia.