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Brugada-like electrocardiographic pattern induced by fever.
Daniel Saura1, Arcadi García-Alberola, Pilar Carrillo
1Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain. danielsaura@wanadoo.es
Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology : PACE
|June 7, 2002
Summary
Brugada syndrome, a heart condition, may only appear during fever. This suggests fever can unmask a Brugada-like ECG pattern in susceptible individuals, highlighting temperature sensitivity.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Genetics
- Electrophysiology
Background:
- Brugada syndrome is an inherited cardiac arrhythmia associated with ST-segment elevation on ECG.
- Genetic mutations, particularly in cardiac sodium channel genes, are implicated in Brugada syndrome.
- Experimental data suggests temperature sensitivity of mutated cardiac sodium channels.
Observation:
- This report details a patient exhibiting a typical Brugada electrocardiogram (ECG) pattern during a febrile state.
- The Brugada ECG pattern was not reproducible at normal body temperature, even with flecainide administration.
- This observation indicates a potential trigger for the manifestation of Brugada syndrome.
Findings:
- The patient's Brugada ECG pattern was transient and linked to fever.
- The absence of the pattern at normal temperature suggests a temperature-dependent channel dysfunction.
- Flecainide, a sodium channel blocker, did not induce the pattern when the patient was afebrile.
Implications:
- Febrile states may unmask Brugada syndrome or Brugada-like ECG patterns in susceptible individuals.
- Temperature sensitivity is a crucial factor to consider in the diagnosis and management of Brugada syndrome.
- Further research into temperature-dependent ion channel dysfunction is warranted for understanding Brugada syndrome.