Brugada Pattern in Diabetic Ketoacidosis: A Case Report and Scoping Study

Brugada syndrome is a rare cardiac arrhythmia which is associated with right bundle branch block pattern (RBBB) and ST-segment elevation in right precordial leads. SCNA5 mutation is the most common genetic abnormality associated with Brugada syndrome. Brugada pattern not related to genetic mutations has been previously reported in the setting of fever, metabolic conditions, lithium use, marijuana and cocaine abuse, ischemia and pulmonary embolism, myocardial and pericardial diseases. Multiple isolated cases of Brugada pattern associated with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) have been previously reported. We here present a case of type 1 Brugada pattern in a 23 year-old-male who presented with DKA. Brugada pattern in DKA is attributed to acidosis and multiple electrolyte abnormalities including hyperkalemia which alter ion channel expression in the heart thus leading to Brugada pattern which subsequently resolved with treatment of DKA. In such patients, Brugada pattern is not reproducible on procainamide induction cardiac electrophysiology study (EPS). Our scoping study demonstrates male predominance 20/22 cases of (DELETE this highlighted area) Brugada pattern in DKA, a finding that is consistent with prevalence of this disease among males.