Brugada-like electrocardiographic changes induced by fever

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Internal Medicine
• Clinical Electrocardiography

Background:

• Prompt diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction is critical, as "time is myocardium."
• High clinical suspicion is essential to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary interventions.
• Electrocardiography (ECG) is vital for identifying acute chest pain, particularly ST-segment elevation patterns.

Observation:

• A case is presented of a 22-year-old male with fever.
• The patient exhibited dynamic electrocardiographic changes.
• These changes were transient and resembled Brugada syndrome patterns.

Findings:

• The observed electrocardiographic anomalies were directly associated with the patient's elevated body temperature.
• ECG changes normalized as the patient's temperature returned to baseline.
• This suggests fever can induce transient Brugada-like electrocardiographic patterns.

Implications:

• Fever should be considered in the differential diagnosis of dynamic electrocardiographic changes, especially those mimicking Brugada syndrome.
• Awareness of this phenomenon can prevent misdiagnosis and inappropriate management of patients presenting with acute chest pain and fever.
• Further investigation may be warranted to understand the mechanisms linking fever and transient ECG abnormalities.