title: [Non-invasive electrical markers in patients with the Brugada syndrome].
abstract: Throughout the 13 years of recognizing the Brugada syndrome as a separate entity, there has been a search for invasive and non-invasive markers for detecting risk of life-threatening arrhythmic events, particularly for asymptomatic individuals in whom the first manifestation may be sudden cardiac death. Hence, the preclinical diagnosis is pivotal for adequate and timely preventive measures. The objective of this study was to compare various non-invasive markers to characterize and stratify patients at risk. Late potentials, QT interval, QT dispersion, and heart variability were analyzed over a two-year period, in 20 patients (17 men and 3 women) with the Brugada syndrome (symptomatic and asymptomatic) and compared with 20 normal individuals similar in age and gender (control group). Late potentials were present in 80% of patients versus 5% in the control group (p < 0.0001); all of these with recurrent episodes had late potentials. In conclusion, this is the most important non-invasive marker for risk stratification, recurrences and inducibility of malignant arrhythmias during electrophysiological testing. Markers, invasive and non-invasive, should be considered integrally, for a better diagnostic and prognostic approach to reality.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Rehabilitación Cardíaca, Instituto de Cardiología y Cirugía Cardiovascular, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. jalvarez@infomed.sid.cu
authors.forename: Juan Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Gómez
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dorantes Sánchez
authors.forename: Jeanice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stanley
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stusser Beltranena
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Castro Hevia
authors.forename: Darío
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barrera Sarduy
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rivas Estany
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dorticós Balea
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002037:Bundle-Branch Block / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003645:Death, Sudden; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013577:Syndrome