EKG Dictionary
Create account
Waves, segments & intervals

Epsilon wave

Also calledepsilon wave · epsilon potential · postexcitation wave

Definition

Small, reproducible, low-amplitude signals between the end of the QRS complex and the onset of the T wave in the right precordial leads (V1 to V3). It is classed as a depolarization (conduction) abnormality and is characteristic of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). It was a major diagnostic criterion in the 2010 Task Force criteria, but the 2020 Padua criteria downgraded it to a minor criterion because its identification depends heavily on ECG filtering and sampling rate and varies widely between readers.

Sources

  1. Marcus FI, McKenna WJ, Sherrill D, et al. Diagnosis of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia: proposed modification of the task force criteria. Circulation. 2010;121(13):1533-1541. doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.108.840827
  2. Corrado D, Perazzolo Marra M, Zorzi A, et al. Diagnosis of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy: the Padua criteria. Int J Cardiol. 2020;319:106-114. doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2020.06.005

Last reviewed 2 October 2026. Every definition in the EKG Dictionary cites the guideline, consensus statement or original paper it comes from.

More in Waves, segments & intervals

Corrected QT (QTc) Delta wave Electrical alternans Isoelectric line J point J wave (Osborn wave) Low voltage P wave PR interval PR segment Q wave QRS complex QRS duration QRS fragmentation QT interval R wave R wave progression RR interval S wave ST segment T wave U wave

See it on real ECGs

EKGLab's free library holds more than 21,000 real 12-lead recordings with expert reads, and long arrhythmia recordings with every beat labelled.

Create account