Prognostic significance of a low T/R ratio in Brugada syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prognostic value of a low T/R ratio, defined as the amplitude ratio between the T waves and the R waves, in patients (pts) with a spontaneous type-1 Brugada pattern (SBT1). BACKGROUND: Abnormalities of myocardial repolarization may play a key role in the initiation of ventricular fibrillation (VF) in Brugada syndrome (BrS). Recent studies have shown that the height of the T waves and the T/R ratio are inversely proportional to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) risk in early repolarization syndrome and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. METHODS: In an international retrospective study, we reviewed 115 pts. (105 males, 91.3%). 45 had VF and/or SCA (38.7 ±â€¯11.5 years old, all males), while 70 (49.3 ±â€¯12.0 years, 10 women) remained free of ventricular arrhythmia. 6 ECG markers plus the T/R ratio in leads V5 & II were studied. RESULTS: The T/R ratio among leads II & V5 was significantly lower in the VF/SCA group (0.24 [0.14; 0.38]vs. 0.34 [0.24; 0.45]; p = 0.006). 44.4% of pts. in the VF/SCA group had a lowest T/R ratio among leads II & V5 ≤ 0.17 compared to 11.4% in the non-VF/SCA group (p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, a lowest T/R ratio among leads II & V5 ≤ 0.17 was independently associated with VF/SCA (OR 6.10, 95% CI 1.92-19.40; p = 0.002). Type 1 Brugada pattern in the peripheral leads (OR 10.78) and early repolarization (OR 3.60) were other independent markers of VF/SCA. CONCLUSION: A low T/R ratio among leads II & V5 is an independent marker for VF/SCA risk in patients with type-1 Brugada pattern.

Flecainide is a safe and effective treatment for pre-excited atrial fibrillation rapidly conducted to the ventricle in pregnant women: a case series.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy is associated with an increased incidence of cardiac arrhythmias likely due to hormonal, haemodynamic, and autonomic changes. Yet, there is little data available regarding the efficacy and safety of anti-arrhythmic agents to prevent pre-excited atrial fibrillation (AF) in pregnant women. CASE SUMMARY: We report on three pregnant women who developed AF rapidly conducted to the ventricle through an overt accessory pathway as the first manifestation of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. DISCUSSION: All patients were treated with flecainide with neither arrhythmias recurrence nor adverse events of the treatment. Mechanisms of action and clinical efficacy of flecainide are discussed.

Prediction of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with a spontaneous Brugada type 1 pattern: the key is in the electrocardiogram.

AIMS: There is currently no reliable tool to quantify the risks of ventricular fibrillation or sudden cardiac arrest (VF/SCA) in patients with spontaneous Brugada type 1 pattern (BrT1). Previous studies showed that electrocardiographic (ECG) markers of depolarization or repolarization disorders might indicate elevated risk. We aimed to design a VF/SCA risk prediction model based on ECG analyses for adult patients with spontaneous BrT1. METHODS AND RESULTS: This retrospective multicentre international study analysed ECG data from 115 patients (mean age 45.1 ± 12.8 years, 105 males) with spontaneous BrT1. Of these, 45 patients had experienced VF/SCA and 70 patients did not experience VF/SCA. Among 10 ECG markers, a univariate analysis showed significant associations between VF/SCA and maximum corrected Tpeak-Tend intervals ≥100 ms in precordial leads (LMaxTpec) (P < 0.001), BrT1 in a peripheral lead (pT1) (P = 0.004), early repolarization in inferolateral leads (ER) (P < 0.001), and QRS duration ≥120 ms in lead V2 (P = 0.002). The Cox multivariate analysis revealed four predictors of VF/SCA: the LMaxTpec [hazard ratio (HR) 8.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.4-28.5; P < 0.001], LMaxTpec + ER (HR 14.9, 95% CI 4.2-53.1; P < 0.001), LMaxTpec + pT1 (HR 17.2, 95% CI 4.1-72; P < 0.001), and LMaxTpec + pT1 + ER (HR 23.5, 95% CI 6-93; P < 0.001). Our multidimensional penalized spline model predicted the 1-year risk of VF/SCA, based on age and these markers. CONCLUSION: LMaxTpec and its association with pT1 and/or ER indicated elevated VF/SCA risk in adult patients with spontaneous BrT1. We successfully developed a simple risk prediction model based on age and these ECG markers.

Delayed diagnosis of Brugada syndrome in a patient with aborted sudden cardiac death and initial negative flecainide challenge.

A negative flecainide challenge does not rule out Brugada syndrome even in the presence of nonfatal cardiac arrest as the first manifestation of the disease. This should prompt clinicians to ensure long-term ECG follow-up and consider repeating a drug test with another sodium channel blocker.

Significance of atypical symptoms for the diagnosis and management of myocardial infarction in elderly patients admitted to emergency departments.

BACKGROUND: Few recent studies have examined the characteristics of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) among elderly patients managed in emergency departments (EDs). AIMS: To describe the clinical characteristics and management of elderly STEMI patients in EDs. METHODS: This retrospective, multicentre study involved STEMI patients aged ≥ 75 years admitted to four different EDs in the city of Lyon between 2004 and 2008. RESULTS: Among 255 patients, reasons for admission to the ED included chest pain (41.2%), faintness and/or fall (15.7%), dyspnoea (15.7%), digestive symptoms (9.8%), impaired general condition (6.7%) and delirium (5.0%). Compared with those who presented with chest pain, patients admitted for other reasons waited longer before going to the hospital (prehospital delay< 12 hours: 32.0% vs 73.3%; P<0.001), presented with more severe clinical symptoms (Killip score≥III: 28.0% vs 10.5%; P=0.001), waited longer to be examined in the hospital (waiting time > 1 hour: 36.0% vs 11.4%; P<0.001), were less likely to receive reperfusion therapy (40.7% vs 77.1%; P<0.001) and had a higher mortality rate at 1 month (42.7% vs 21.0%; P<0.001). Such atypical symptoms are more common among patients with cognitive impairment and/or communication difficulties. CONCLUSION: Atypical clinical symptoms of STEMI are common and severe among elderly patients in EDs. Thus, rapid provision of an electrocardiogram to all elderly patients admitted to the ED is essential, even in the absence of cardiovascular symptoms.