Atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT) is the most common type of supraventricular tachycardia. Episodes often start and end suddenly, and occur because of a reentrant circuit — also called an accessory pathway — located in or near the AV node that causes the heart to beat prematurely. AVNRT tends to occur more often in young women, but it can affect both males and females of any age.