Brugada phenocopy: Mechanisms, diagnosis, and implications

Brugada phenocopies are Brugada-like ECG patterns induced by reversible clinical conditions. Baranchuk and colleagues characterized this condition in 2012, and since then the phenomenon has been increasingly reported. It has the same pattern classification of Brugada syndrome (i.e., types 1 and 2), but differs substantially regarding etiology and prognosis. Awareness of Brugada phenocopies must be sought to help understanding the mechanisms of ion channel dysfunction and to avoid misdiagnosis and mistreatment of Brugada syndrome.