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Balla C, Margutti A, De Carolis B, Canovi L, Di Domenico A, Vivaldi I, Vitali F, De Raffele M, Malagù M, Sassone B, Biffi M, Selvatici R, Ferlini A, Gualandi F, Bertini M. Cardiac conduction disorders in young adults: Clinical characteristics and genetic background of an underestimated population. Heart Rhythm 2024; 21:1363-1369. [PMID: 38467355 DOI: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2024.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cardiac conduction disorder (CCD) in patients <50 years old is a rare and mostly unknown condition. OBJECTIVE We aimed to assess clinical characteristics and genetic background of patients <50 years old with CCD of unknown origin. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed a consecutive series of patients with a diagnosis of CCD before the age of 50 years referred to our center between January 2019 and December 2021. Patients underwent complete clinical examination and genetic evaluation. RESULTS We enrolled 39 patients with a median age of 40 years (28-47 years) at the onset of symptoms. A cardiac implantable electronic device was implanted in 69% of the patients. In 15 of 39 CCD index patients (38%), we found a total of 13 different gene variations (3 pathogenic, 6 likely pathogenic, and 4 variants of uncertain significance), mostly in 3 genes (SCN5A, TRPM4, and LMNA). In our cohort, genetic testing led to the decision to implant an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in 2 patients for the increased risk of sudden cardiac death. CONCLUSION Patients with the occurrence of CCD before the age of 50 years present with a high rate of pathologic gene variations, mostly in 3 genes (SCN5A, TRPM4, and LMNA). The presence of pathogenic variations may add information about the prognosis and lead to an individualized therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Balla
- Cardiology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Ferrara, Cona (Ferrara), Italy.
| | - Alice Margutti
- Unit of Medical Genetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Beatrice De Carolis
- Cardiology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Ferrara, Cona (Ferrara), Italy
| | - Luca Canovi
- Cardiology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Ferrara, Cona (Ferrara), Italy
| | - Assunta Di Domenico
- Cardiology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Ferrara, Cona (Ferrara), Italy
| | - Ilaria Vivaldi
- Unit of Medical Genetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Francesco Vitali
- Cardiology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Ferrara, Cona (Ferrara), Italy
| | - Martina De Raffele
- Cardiology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Ferrara, Cona (Ferrara), Italy
| | - Michele Malagù
- Cardiology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Ferrara, Cona (Ferrara), Italy
| | - Biagio Sassone
- Division of Cardiology, SS.ma Annunziata Hospital, Department of Emergency, AUSL Ferrara, Cento (Ferrara), Italy
| | - Mauro Biffi
- Cardiology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Rita Selvatici
- Unit of Medical Genetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Alessandra Ferlini
- Unit of Medical Genetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Francesca Gualandi
- Unit of Medical Genetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Matteo Bertini
- Cardiology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Ferrara, Cona (Ferrara), Italy
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Liantonio A, Bertini M, Mele A, Balla C, Dinoi G, Selvatici R, Mele M, De Luca A, Gualandi F, Imbrici P. Brugada Syndrome: More than a Monogenic Channelopathy. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2297. [PMID: 37626795 PMCID: PMC10452102 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11082297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Brugada syndrome (BrS) is an inherited cardiac channelopathy first diagnosed in 1992 but still considered a challenging disease in terms of diagnosis, arrhythmia risk prediction, pathophysiology and management. Despite about 20% of individuals carrying pathogenic variants in the SCN5A gene, the identification of a polygenic origin for BrS and the potential role of common genetic variants provide the basis for applying polygenic risk scores for individual risk prediction. The pathophysiological mechanisms are still unclear, and the initial thinking of this syndrome as a primary electrical disease is evolving towards a partly structural disease. This review focuses on the main scientific advancements in the identification of biomarkers for diagnosis, risk stratification, pathophysiology and therapy of BrS. A comprehensive model that integrates clinical and genetic factors, comorbidities, age and gender, and perhaps environmental influences may provide the opportunity to enhance patients' quality of life and improve the therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Liantonio
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy; (A.L.); (A.M.); (G.D.); (M.M.); (A.D.L.)
| | - Matteo Bertini
- Cardiological Center, Sant’Anna University Hospital of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (M.B.); (C.B.)
| | - Antonietta Mele
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy; (A.L.); (A.M.); (G.D.); (M.M.); (A.D.L.)
| | - Cristina Balla
- Cardiological Center, Sant’Anna University Hospital of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (M.B.); (C.B.)
| | - Giorgia Dinoi
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy; (A.L.); (A.M.); (G.D.); (M.M.); (A.D.L.)
| | - Rita Selvatici
- Medical Genetics Unit, Department of Mother and Child, Sant’Anna University Hospital of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy;
| | - Marco Mele
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy; (A.L.); (A.M.); (G.D.); (M.M.); (A.D.L.)
- Cardiothoracic Department, Policlinico Riuniti Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
| | - Annamaria De Luca
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy; (A.L.); (A.M.); (G.D.); (M.M.); (A.D.L.)
| | - Francesca Gualandi
- Medical Genetics Unit, Department of Mother and Child, Sant’Anna University Hospital of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy;
| | - Paola Imbrici
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy; (A.L.); (A.M.); (G.D.); (M.M.); (A.D.L.)
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Miles C, Boukens BJ, Scrocco C, Wilde AA, Nademanee K, Haissaguerre M, Coronel R, Behr ER. Subepicardial Cardiomyopathy: A Disease Underlying J-Wave Syndromes and Idiopathic Ventricular Fibrillation. Circulation 2023; 147:1622-1633. [PMID: 37216437 PMCID: PMC11073566 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.122.061924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Brugada syndrome (BrS), early repolarization syndrome (ERS), and idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (iVF) have long been considered primary electrical disorders associated with malignant ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death. However, recent studies have revealed the presence of subtle microstructural abnormalities of the extracellular matrix in some cases of BrS, ERS, and iVF, particularly within right ventricular subepicardial myocardium. Substrate-based ablation within this region has been shown to ameliorate the electrocardiographic phenotype and to reduce arrhythmia frequency in BrS. Patients with ERS and iVF may also exhibit low-voltage and fractionated electrograms in the ventricular subepicardial myocardium, which can be treated with ablation. A significant proportion of patients with BrS and ERS, as well as some iVF survivors, harbor pathogenic variants in the voltage-gated sodium channel gene, SCN5A, but the majority of genetic susceptibility of these disorders is likely to be polygenic. Here, we postulate that BrS, ERS, and iVF may form part of a spectrum of subtle subepicardial cardiomyopathy. We propose that impaired sodium current, along with genetic and environmental susceptibility, precipitates a reduction in epicardial conduction reserve, facilitating current-to-load mismatch at sites of structural discontinuity, giving rise to electrocardiographic changes and the arrhythmogenic substrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Miles
- Cardiovascular Clinical Academic Group, St. George’s University Hospitals’ NHS Foundation Trust and Molecular and Clinical Sciences Institute, St. George’s, University of London, UK (C.M., C.S., E.R.B.)
| | - Bastiaan J. Boukens
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands (B.J.B.)
- University of Maastricht, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University Medical Center, the Netherlands (B.J.B.)
| | - Chiara Scrocco
- Cardiovascular Clinical Academic Group, St. George’s University Hospitals’ NHS Foundation Trust and Molecular and Clinical Sciences Institute, St. George’s, University of London, UK (C.M., C.S., E.R.B.)
| | - Arthur A.M. Wilde
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Cardiology, the Netherlands (A.A.M.W.)
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Heart Failure and Arrhythmias, the Netherlands (A.A.M.W.)
- European Reference Network for rare, low-prevalence, and complex diseases of the heart: ERN GUARD-Heart (A.A.M.W., M.H.)
| | - Koonlawee Nademanee
- Center of Excellence in Arrhythmia Research Chulalongkorn University, Department of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand (K.N.)
- Pacific Rim Electrophysiology Research Institute, Bumrungrad Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand (K.N.)
| | - Michel Haissaguerre
- European Reference Network for rare, low-prevalence, and complex diseases of the heart: ERN GUARD-Heart (A.A.M.W., M.H.)
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Liryc, Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute, Pessac, France (M.H.)
- Department of Electrophysiology and Cardiac Stimulation, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux, France (M.H.)
| | - Ruben Coronel
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Cardiovascular Science, the Netherlands (R.C.)
| | - Elijah R. Behr
- Cardiovascular Clinical Academic Group, St. George’s University Hospitals’ NHS Foundation Trust and Molecular and Clinical Sciences Institute, St. George’s, University of London, UK (C.M., C.S., E.R.B.)
- Mayo Clinic Healthcare, London, UK (E.R.B.)
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Russo V, Papaccioli G, Maddaloni V, Caputo A, Pepe N, Rago A, Maiorino M, Golino P, Nigro G. Case report: Lamin A/C gene mutation in patient with drug-induced type 1 Brugada syndrome at high arrhythmic risk. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 9:1099508. [PMID: 36704457 PMCID: PMC9871475 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.1099508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
We report the case of drug-induced type 1 Brugada syndrome at high arrhythmic risk associated with Lamin A/C gene mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Russo
- Cardiology Unit, Department of Medical Translational Sciences, Monaldi Hospital, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy,*Correspondence: Vincenzo Russo ✉
| | - Giovanni Papaccioli
- Cardiology Unit, Department of Medical Translational Sciences, Monaldi Hospital, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Valeria Maddaloni
- Clinical Biochemistry Unit, Genetic Section, Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy
| | - Adriano Caputo
- Cardiology Unit, Department of Medical Translational Sciences, Monaldi Hospital, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Nicola Pepe
- Clinical Biochemistry Unit, Genetic Section, Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy
| | - Anna Rago
- Cardiology Unit, Department of Medical Translational Sciences, Monaldi Hospital, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Golino
- Cardiology Unit, Department of Medical Translational Sciences, Monaldi Hospital, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Gerardo Nigro
- Cardiology Unit, Department of Medical Translational Sciences, Monaldi Hospital, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
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Long-Term Prognosis of Febrile Individuals with Right Precordial Coved-Type ST-Segment Elevation Brugada Pattern: A 10-Year Prospective Follow-Up Study. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10214997. [PMID: 34768515 PMCID: PMC8584636 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10214997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A febrile state may provoke a Brugada electrocardiogram (ECG) pattern and trigger ventricular tachyarrhythmias in susceptible individuals. However, the prognostic value of fever-induced Brugada ECG pattern remains unclear. We analyzed the clinical and extended long-term follow-up data of consecutive febrile patients with a type 1 Brugada ECG presented to the emergency department. A total of 21 individuals (18 males; mean age, 43.7 ± 18.6 years at diagnosis) were divided into symptomatic (resuscitated cardiac arrest in one, syncope in two) and asymptomatic (18, 86%) groups. Sustained polymorphic ventricular tachycardias were inducible in two patients with previous syncope. All 18 asymptomatic patients had no spontaneous type 1 Brugada ECG recorded at second intercostal space and no family history of sudden death. Among asymptomatic individuals, 4 had a total 12 of repeated non-arrhythmogenic febrile episodes all with recurrent type 1 Brugada ECGs, and none had a ventricular arrhythmic event during 116 ± 19 months of follow-up. In the symptomatic group, two had defibrillator shocks for a new arrhythmic event at 31- and 49 months follow-up, respectively, and one without defibrillator therapy died suddenly at 8 months follow-up. A previous history of aborted sudden death or syncope was significantly associated with adverse outcomes in symptomatic compared with asymptomatic individuals (log-rank p < 0.0001). In conclusion, clinical presentation or history of syncope is the most important parameter in the risk stratification of febrile patients with type 1 Brugada ECG. Asymptomatic individuals with a negative family history of sudden death and without spontaneous type 1 Brugada ECG, have an exceptionally low future risk of arrhythmic events. Careful follow-up with timely and aggressive control of fever is an appropriate management option.
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Vitali F, Brieda A, Balla C, Pavasini R, Tonet E, Serenelli M, Ferrari R, Delise P, Rapezzi C, Bertini M. Standard ECG in Brugada Syndrome as a Marker of Prognosis: From Risk Stratification to Pathophysiological Insights. J Am Heart Assoc 2021; 10:e020767. [PMID: 33977759 PMCID: PMC8200706 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.121.020767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Background The 12‐lead ECG plays a key role in the diagnosis of Brugada syndrome (BrS). Since the spontaneous type 1 ECG pattern was first described, several other ECG signs have been linked to arrhythmic risk, but results are conflicting. Methods and Results We performed a systematic review to clarify the associations of these specific ECG signs with the risk of syncope, sudden death, or equivalents in patients with BrS. The literature search identified 29 eligible articles comprising overall 5731 patients. The ECG findings associated with an incremental risk of syncope, sudden death, or equivalents (hazard ratio ranging from 1.1–39) were the following: localization of type 1 Brugada pattern (in V2 and peripheral leads), first‐degree atrioventricular block, atrial fibrillation, fragmented QRS, QRS duration >120 ms, R wave in lead aVR, S wave in L1 (≥40 ms, amplitude ≥0.1 mV, area ≥1 mm2), early repolarization pattern in inferolateral leads, ST‐segment depression, T‐wave alternans, dispersion of repolarization, and Tzou criteria. Conclusions At least 12 features of standard ECG are associated with a higher risk of sudden death in BrS. A multiparametric risk assessment approach based on ECG parameters associated with clinical and genetic findings could help improve current risk stratification scores of patients with BrS and warrants further investigation. Registration URL: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/. Unique identifier: CRD42019123794.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Roberto Ferrari
- Cardiological Center University of Ferrara Italy.,Cardiology Unit Maria Cecilia HospitalGruppo Villa Maria Care & Research Ravenna Italy
| | | | - Claudio Rapezzi
- Cardiological Center University of Ferrara Italy.,Cardiology Unit Maria Cecilia HospitalGruppo Villa Maria Care & Research Ravenna Italy
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