Carlo Pappone1, Josep Brugada2, Gabriele Vicedomini2, Giuseppe Ciconte2, Francesco Manguso2, Massimo Saviano2, Raffaele Vitale2, Amarild Cuko2, Luigi Giannelli2, Zarko Calovic2, Manuel Conti2, Paolo Pozzi2, Andrea Natalizia2, Simonetta Crisà2, Valeria Borrelli2, Ramon Brugada2, Georgia Sarquella-Brugada2, Marco Guazzi2, Alessandro Frigiola2, Lorenzo Menicanti2, Vincenzo Santinelli2. 1. From the Arrhythmology Department (C.P., G.V., G.C., F.M., M.S., R.V., A.C., L.G., Z.C., M.C., A.N., S.C., V.B., V.S.) and Cardiac Surgery Department (A.F., L.M.), IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Italy; Cardiology Department, Cardiovascular Institute, Hospital Clinic and IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Catalonia (J.B.); Cardiology Department, Hospital Trueta, Girona, Spain (R.B.); Department of Medical Sciences, University of Girona & IDIBGI, Spain (); Pediatric Arrhythmias, Electrophysiology and Sudden Death Unit, Cardiology Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Deu, Barcelona, Spain (G.S.-B.); and Cardiology Department, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, University of Milan, Italy (M.G.). carlo.pappone@grupposandonato.it. 2. From the Arrhythmology Department (C.P., G.V., G.C., F.M., M.S., R.V., A.C., L.G., Z.C., M.C., A.N., S.C., V.B., V.S.) and Cardiac Surgery Department (A.F., L.M.), IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Italy; Cardiology Department, Cardiovascular Institute, Hospital Clinic and IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Catalonia (J.B.); Cardiology Department, Hospital Trueta, Girona, Spain (R.B.); Department of Medical Sciences, University of Girona & IDIBGI, Spain (); Pediatric Arrhythmias, Electrophysiology and Sudden Death Unit, Cardiology Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Deu, Barcelona, Spain (G.S.-B.); and Cardiology Department, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, University of Milan, Italy (M.G.).
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is emerging evidence that localization and elimination of abnormal electric activity in the epicardial right ventricular outflow tract may be beneficial in patients with Brugada syndrome. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 135 symptomatic Brugada syndrome patients having implantable cardiac defibrillator were enrolled: 63 (group 1) having documented ventricular tachycardia (VT)/ventricular fibrillation (VF) and Brugada syndrome-related symptoms, and 72 (group 2) having inducible VT/VF without ECG documentation at the time of symptoms. About 27 patients of group 1 experienced multiple implantable cardiac defibrillator shocks for recurrent VT/VF episodes. Three-dimensional maps before and after ajmaline determined the arrhythmogenic electrophysiological substrate (AES) as characterized by prolonged fragmented ventricular potentials. Primary end point was identification and elimination of AES leading to ECG pattern normalization and VT/VF noninducibility. Extensive areas of AES were found in the right ventricle epicardium, which were wider in group 1 (P=0.007). AES increased after ajmaline in both groups (P<0.001) and was larger in men (P=0.008). The increase of type-1 ST-segment elevation correlated with AES expansion (r=0.682, P<0.001). Radiofrequency ablation eliminated AES leading to ECG normalization and VT/VF noninducibility in all patients. During a median follow-up of 10 months, the ECG remained normal even after ajmaline in all except 2 patients who underwent a repeated effective procedure for recurrent VF. CONCLUSIONS: In Brugada syndrome, AES is commonly located in the right ventricle epicardium and ajmaline exposes its extent and distribution, which is correlated with the degree of coved ST-elevation. AES elimination by radiofrequency ablation results in ECG normalization and VT/VF noninducibility. Substrate-based ablation is effective in potentially eliminating the arrhythmic consequences of this genetic disease. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02641431.
BACKGROUND: There is emerging evidence that localization and elimination of abnormal electric activity in the epicardial right ventricular outflow tract may be beneficial in patients with Brugada syndrome. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 135 symptomatic Brugada syndromepatients having implantable cardiac defibrillator were enrolled: 63 (group 1) having documented ventricular tachycardia (VT)/ventricular fibrillation (VF) and Brugada syndrome-related symptoms, and 72 (group 2) having inducible VT/VF without ECG documentation at the time of symptoms. About 27 patients of group 1 experienced multiple implantable cardiac defibrillator shocks for recurrent VT/VF episodes. Three-dimensional maps before and after ajmaline determined the arrhythmogenic electrophysiological substrate (AES) as characterized by prolonged fragmented ventricular potentials. Primary end point was identification and elimination of AES leading to ECG pattern normalization and VT/VF noninducibility. Extensive areas of AES were found in the right ventricle epicardium, which were wider in group 1 (P=0.007). AES increased after ajmaline in both groups (P<0.001) and was larger in men (P=0.008). The increase of type-1 ST-segment elevation correlated with AES expansion (r=0.682, P<0.001). Radiofrequency ablation eliminated AES leading to ECG normalization and VT/VF noninducibility in all patients. During a median follow-up of 10 months, the ECG remained normal even after ajmaline in all except 2 patients who underwent a repeated effective procedure for recurrent VF. CONCLUSIONS: In Brugada syndrome, AES is commonly located in the right ventricle epicardium and ajmaline exposes its extent and distribution, which is correlated with the degree of coved ST-elevation. AES elimination by radiofrequency ablation results in ECG normalization and VT/VF noninducibility. Substrate-based ablation is effective in potentially eliminating the arrhythmic consequences of this genetic disease. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02641431.
Authors: Edmond M Cronin; Frank M Bogun; Philippe Maury; Petr Peichl; Minglong Chen; Narayanan Namboodiri; Luis Aguinaga; Luiz Roberto Leite; Sana M Al-Khatib; Elad Anter; Antonio Berruezo; David J Callans; Mina K Chung; Phillip Cuculich; Andre d'Avila; Barbara J Deal; Paolo Della Bella; Thomas Deneke; Timm-Michael Dickfeld; Claudio Hadid; Haris M Haqqani; G Neal Kay; Rakesh Latchamsetty; Francis Marchlinski; John M Miller; Akihiko Nogami; Akash R Patel; Rajeev Kumar Pathak; Luis C Saenz Morales; Pasquale Santangeli; John L Sapp; Andrea Sarkozy; Kyoko Soejima; William G Stevenson; Usha B Tedrow; Wendy S Tzou; Niraj Varma; Katja Zeppenfeld Journal: J Interv Card Electrophysiol Date: 2020-10 Impact factor: 1.900
Authors: D M Haanschoten; A Elvan; P G Postema; J J J Smit; A Adiyaman; R M A Ter Bekke; N Asaad; W T J Aanhaanen; A R Ramdat Misier; P P H M Delnoy; H J G M Crijns; A A M Wilde Journal: Clin Res Cardiol Date: 2019-09-02 Impact factor: 5.460
Authors: Edmond M Cronin; Frank M Bogun; Philippe Maury; Petr Peichl; Minglong Chen; Narayanan Namboodiri; Luis Aguinaga; Luiz Roberto Leite; Sana M Al-Khatib; Elad Anter; Antonio Berruezo; David J Callans; Mina K Chung; Phillip Cuculich; Andre d'Avila; Barbara J Deal; Paolo Della Bella; Thomas Deneke; Timm-Michael Dickfeld; Claudio Hadid; Haris M Haqqani; G Neal Kay; Rakesh Latchamsetty; Francis Marchlinski; John M Miller; Akihiko Nogami; Akash R Patel; Rajeev Kumar Pathak; Luis C Sáenz Morales; Pasquale Santangeli; John L Sapp; Andrea Sarkozy; Kyoko Soejima; William G Stevenson; Usha B Tedrow; Wendy S Tzou; Niraj Varma; Katja Zeppenfeld Journal: Europace Date: 2019-08-01 Impact factor: 5.214
Authors: Peter J Schwartz; Michael J Ackerman; Charles Antzelevitch; Connie R Bezzina; Martin Borggrefe; Bettina F Cuneo; Arthur A M Wilde Journal: Nat Rev Dis Primers Date: 2020-07-16 Impact factor: 52.329