title: Autonomic imbalance as a property of symptomatic Brugada syndrome.
abstract: The autonomic properties in 27 patients with the electrocardiographic morphology of Brugada syndrome were investigated using 24-h Holter monitoring: 10 patients had a history of ventricular fibrillation (VF; Br-VF group) and 17 did not (Br-N group); there were 26 healthy subjects enrolled in this study. All subjects underwent normal Holter data monitoring and power spectral analysis. Few extrasystoles were observed in either group, and the mean heart rate (HR), maximum HR, and total heart beats over 24 h were obtained. All of these measurements were significantly lower in the Br-VF group than in the Br-N and healthy subject groups. The RR interval variability was analyzed over 512 beats every 10 min. The high-frequency component (0.15-0.40 Hz; HF), low-frequency component (0.04-0.15 Hz; LF) and the LF/HF ratio were analyzed over 24 h. The HF was significantly higher and LF/HF ratio lower in the Br-VF group than in the healthy subjects. The HF was also significantly higher than in the Br-N group. During the night (00.00-05.00 h), the HF was significantly higher in the Br-VF group, and the LH/HF lower. During the day (12.00-17.00 h), the HF was significantly higher in the Br-VF group, but there was no difference in the LF/HF. These results indicate that high vagal tone and low sympathetic tone are specific properties of symptomatic Brugada syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakazawa
authors.forename: Tsuneharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakurai
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takagi
authors.forename: Ryoji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kishi
authors.forename: Keizo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Osada
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nanke
authors.forename: Fumihiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Miyake
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
mesh_terms: D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002037:Bundle-Branch Block / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005117:Cardiac Complexes, Premature / Q000503:physiopathology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology*; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013575:Syncope / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013577:Syndrome; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology*