Rapid progression of Wellens syndrome in the emergency department.

BACKGROUND: In 1982, Wellens and colleagues described characteristic electrocardiogram (ECG) findings in angina patients virtually pathognomonic for significant stenosis of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery and associated with a high risk of acute anterior wall myocardial infarction.

CASE REPORT: We present the case of a 74-year-old emergency department patient with classic ECG findings of Wellens syndrome and progression to acute ST elevation within 55 min.

SUMMARY: We present this case to increase awareness among emergency physicians of the characteristic findings of Wellens syndrome.