Transient Brugada-type electrocardiographic abnormalities in renal failure reversed by dialysis

Abstract

The Brugada syndrome (BRS) is a hereditary cardiac condition (characteristically with a gene mutation affecting sodium channel function) identified by an elevated terminal portion of the QRS complex (prominent J wave) followed by a descending ST-segment elevation ending in a negative T wave in the right precordial leads, and malignant tachyarrhythmias in patients without demonstrable structural heart disease. We report a patient with a previous history of epilepsy treated with psychotropic drugs (with a sodium channel blocking effect) and chronic renal failure on haemodialysis who developed hyperkalaemia (6.6 mmol/l) and ECG findings resembling BRS. This condition was manifested by the prominent J wave, the coved-type ST-segment elevation and the negative T wave in the right precordial leads. These ECG changes disappeared after haemodialysis when the potassium became normal. Subsequently, a flecainide test did not reproduce ST-segment elevation. We conclude that hyperkalaemia associated with cardiac membrane active drugs may cause ECG changes mimicking the Brugada syndrome.