Early repolarization is a benign finding on the electrocardiogram (ECG) frequently seen in young, healthy individuals, especially athletes, and represents a normal variant of ventricular repolarization.

Electrocardiographic Criteria

  • Presence of a notch or slur on the downstroke of the R wave
  • Notch peak or slur onset ≥ 1 mm above the baseline in two contiguous leads, excluding leads V1 to V3

ECG in Early Repolarization

Electrocardiogram showing early repolarization

Early repolarization. Young individual whose ECG shows ST-segment elevation with notching and slurring on the downstroke of the R wave in the inferolateral leads.

References

  1. MacFarlane PW, Antzelevitch C, Haissaguerre M, Huikuri H V., et al. The early repolarization pattern: A consensus paper. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2015;66(4):470–7.
  2. Patton KK, Ellinor PT, Ezekowitz M, Kowey P, et al. Electrocardiographic Early Repolarization: A Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2016;133(15):1520–9.