204: Clinical and Genetic Characteristics of Brugada Syndrome in a Tunisian Population

Abstract

The Brugada syndrome (BS) is a clinical entity involving cardiac sodium channelopathy, typical electrocardiogram (ECG) changes and predisposition to ventricular arrhythmia. This syndrome is mainly recognized by specialized cardiologists and electrophysiologists. Data regarding BS largely come from multicentre registries or Asian countries. The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of native Tunisian subjects with the Brugada-type ECG pattern (BS) BS has been diagnosed in 10 patients (9 men, 1 woman, mean age 38±11 years) at the department of cardiology Sfax since January 2002. Patients were referred from primary care physicians for ECG abnormalities, syncope or ventricular arrhythmia, or were diagnosed incidentally on an ECG obtained for other purposes. Nine patients had had an episode of syncope, dizziness or chest pain, 1 patient was asymptomatic at diagnosis and any patients survived sudden cardiac death. The electrocardiographics (ECGs) of all patients showed spontaneous ST-segment elevation in leads V1–3 at baseline and 8 patients (80%) showed transient normalization of the ST-segment elevation during follow-up. Two patients had a family history of sudden cardiac death at younger than 45 years of age. No patient has been found to have a mutation in the SCN5A gene. An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator was implanted in four patients (40%), including the patient with a history of syncope. No event occurred in our population after a mean follow-up of 26±29 months. BS is present in the Tunisian population and is probably under-recognized. Long-term prognosis of individuals with BS, especially in sporadic, asymptomatic cases, needs to be clarified.