Brugada Syndrome (BrS)

Details

Brugada syndrome is an inherited channelopathy defined by coved ST-segment elevation ≥2 mm with T-wave inversion in the right precordial leads — the type 1 pattern — in the absence of structural heart disease, predisposing to syncope and sudden cardiac death from ventricular fibrillation. It accounts for up to 28% of SCD in structurally normal hearts and ~5–10% of resuscitated cardiac arrest. Arrhythmias cluster at rest, during sleep and after large meals — periods of high vagal tone — rather than during exertion, a distribution that governs both risk assessment and sports advice.

Key Facts

Epidemiology

Pathophysiology

Three non-mutually-exclusive hypotheses — a confluence is the likeliest truth, which is why no single treatment targets them all:

Hypothesis Mechanism Evidence What it implies
Depolarisation Fibrosis, inflammatory infiltrate and reduced connexin-43 in epicardial RVOT → conduction delay and heterogeneity of depolarisation RVOT histopathology; electroanatomic mapping showing low voltage and fractionated electrograms in the RVOT Substrate ablation — epicardial RVOT modification
Repolarisation Increased outward Ito during phase 1 shortens the AP dome selectively in RVOT subepicardium, where Ito density is highest → "all-or-none" dome loss → voltage gradient against endocardium → current of injury (the ECG pattern) → phase 2 re-entry triggers VF Ito pharmacology; KChIP2 expression gradients Ito-blocking drugs — quinidine
Neural crest Abnormal cardiac neural crest migration → impaired connexin-43 expression → electrical uncoupling in the outflow tract Developmental models —

(sources/brs-jaccep-2022, rating: high; sources/channelopathies-jaha-2025, rating: high)

Genetics

Gene ClinGen status Date
SCN5A Definitive (broad designation) 10/08/2025
KCNH2 Disputing 06/2025
CACNA1C Disputing 02/2025
CACNB2 Disputing 07/2025
SCN10A Disputing 09/2025
ABCC9 Disputing 10/2025
HCN4, SCN1B, SCN2B, PKP2 Disputing 11/2017
TRPM4, SCN3B Refuting 12/2025

ECG Patterns and Diagnosis

Type Morphology Criteria Diagnostic alone
1 Coved ST with negative T J-point ≥2 mm, descending ST segment, negative T in V1/V2 Yes
2 Saddleback J-point ≥2 mm, terminal ST ≥1 mm, positive or biphasic T No
3 Saddleback J-point ≥2 mm, terminal ST <1 mm No

(sources/channelopathies-jaha-2025, rating: high)

Risk Stratification

Presentation Annual severe arrhythmic event rate
Cardiogenic syncope + spontaneous type 1 ECG 2.3–3.7%
Cardiogenic syncope + drug-induced type 1 ECG 0.98–1.96%
Asymptomatic + spontaneous type 1 ECG 0.8–1.2%
Asymptomatic + drug-induced type 1 ECG 0.21–0.3%

(sources/brs-jaccep-2022, rating: high)

Conservative Management

Antiarrhythmic Therapy

Device Therapy

Catheter Ablation

Drug-Induced Brugada Syndrome

SCB Provocation Testing — 2025 EHRA Consensus

Indications and contraindications, each carrying >90% consensus (sources/pharmacological-provocation-europace-2025, rating: high):

Decision Scenario
Test Unexplained VF or polymorphic VT after comprehensive workup (ECG, echo, coronary assessment, CMR)
Test Asymptomatic first-degree relative of a definite SCN5A-negative BrS patient
Test Type 2/3 pattern with cardiac or suspected cardiac syncope and no significant structural disease
Test First-degree relative of a SADS decedent where the circumstances suggest BrS (sleep, fever, suspicious ECG)
Test SCN5A variant of uncertain significance with symptoms or family history — for segregation
Test Substrate ablation for symptomatic BrS, to enable mapping — the only setting where a documented type 1 is not a contraindication
Do not test Documented type 1 pattern already present, other than for phenocopy or ablation
Do not test Asymptomatic incidental type 2/3 pattern with no supporting features
Do not test Known SCN5A pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant — increased arrhythmia risk during testing; expert centre only
Do not test Active fever

ESC 2022 Recommendations

Recommendation Class
Diagnose BrS with spontaneous type 1 ECG and no structural disease I
Diagnose BrS in an SCA survivor with VF/PVT and a type 1 pattern induced by sodium-channel blocker or fever I
SCN5A genetic testing in probands I
Avoid aggravating drugs, fever, cocaine, cannabis and excess alcohol I
ICD after aborted cardiac arrest or documented sustained VT I
ILR for BrS with unexplained syncope IIa
Catheter ablation of triggering PVCs or RVOT epicardial substrate for recurrent ICD shocks refractory to drugs IIa
Programmed ventricular stimulation in asymptomatic spontaneous type 1 BrS IIb
Sodium-channel-blocker test when a type 1 pattern is already documented III — not recommended
Catheter ablation in asymptomatic BrS III — not recommended

(sources/VA-SCD-ESC-2022, rating: very high)

Emerging Therapies

Contradictions / Open Questions

Connections

Sources

Core reviews

Genetics

Diagnosis and provocation

Management

Physiology and emerging therapy