Spontaneous electrocardiogram alterations predict ventricular fibrillation in Brugada syndrome

Background: Patients with Brugada syndrome (BS) often have spontaneous changes in their electrocardiogram (ECG).

Objective: To evaluate the significance of ECG alterations, we investigated the relationships between the ECG and the occurrence of ventricular fibrillation (VF) in both patients and an experimental model of BS.

Methods: In study 1, we evaluated ECG alterations in BS patients with (VF+, n = 33) and without (VF-, n = 41) spontaneous VF. We defined type 0 ECG as coved-type ST elevation without a negative T wave, which represents the existence of loss-of-dome (LOD) type action potentials (APs). In study 2, we optically mapped epicardial APs and recorded transmural ECGs in 34 canine right ventricular tissues with a drug-induced BS model by a combination of pinacidil and pilsicainide.

Results: In study 1, changes in ST level ≥0.2 mV were more frequent in the VF+ group than in the VF- group (P <.01). Spontaneous ECG alterations and appearances of types 1 and 0 ECGs were more frequent in the VF+ group than in the VF- group (P <.01). In study 2, BS model with spike-and-dome (SAD) epicardial APs exhibited type 1 ECG. Deepening of the phase 1 notch of the APs induced heterogeneous conversion of the APs (SAD→LOD) and resulted in ECG conversion from type 1 to type 0. Significant AP heterogeneity often appeared during AP alterations and initiated phase 2 reentry. Tissues having ventricular tachycardia (VT; n = 20) had more frequent alterations in APs and ECG than in tissues without VT (n = 14; P <.01).

Conclusion: ECG alterations, especially conversion between types 0 and 1, are associated with significant AP heterogeneity that can initiate VF in BS.