Implantable loop recorders in patients with Brugada syndrome: the BruLoop study

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Electrophysiology
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Brugada syndrome (BrS) is a rare genetic disorder affecting the heart's electrical system.
• Continuous rhythm monitoring data in BrS patients are limited.
• Implantable loop recorders (ILRs) offer prolonged cardiac rhythm surveillance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the diagnostic yield of ILRs for continuous rhythm monitoring in a large cohort of BrS patients.
• To assess the clinical implications of ILR findings in BrS.
• To determine the precise arrhythmic cause of syncope in BrS patients.

Main Methods:

• A multi-center study included 370 BrS patients with ILRs.
• Median follow-up duration was 3 years.
• Continuous rhythm monitoring data were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Arrhythmic events were recorded in 30.7% of symptomatic BrS patients.
• Atrial arrhythmias (AAs) and bradyarrhythmias (BAs) were the most common, while ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) occurred in 7.3%.
• ILR findings led to therapy adjustments in 70% of patients, including drug initiation, ablation, pacemaker, or cardioverter-defibrillator implantation.

Conclusions:

• ILR monitoring is effective in detecting arrhythmias in symptomatic BrS patients.
• ILR implantation guided by symptom status can optimize management.
• AAs and BAs are more frequently detected than VAs in BrS patients using ILRs.