Similarities between Brugada syndrome and ischemia-induced ST-segment elevation. Clinical correlation and synergy

Abstract

Vasospastic angina (VSA) and Brugada syndrome (BS) are classified into different categories of cardiac disease, but both can be causes of sudden cardiac death from ventricular fibrillation (VF). The coexistence of VSA and BS in the same patient is possible, and this raises several questions: (1) what is the incidence of the coexistence of BS and VSA in the same patient? (2) is susceptibility to VF enhanced by the coexistence of the 2 diseases? and (3) is there any possibility of Ca-antagonists being used for the treatment of VSA-aggravated BS? In our institution, VSA coexisted in 5 of the 38 patients with BS (13.1%). Anginal episodes were confirmed clinically in 4 of the 5 patients, and syncope attack occurred after the symptom of chest pain in 2 patients. However, VF did not develop during the coronary vasospasm in any of the patients. Treatment with Ca-antagonist was effective for VSA, and neither aggravation of Brugada-type electrocardiographic abnormality nor an increase in the incidence of syncope attack was observed. Although the coexistence of BS and VSA in the same patient is not rare, neither enhanced susceptibility to VF nor the proarrhythmic effect of Ca-antagonist has been confirmed in our experience. However, careful attention is required in such patients because the influence of myocardial ischemia and/or the effect of Ca-antagonist may be different in each patient with BS.