Michael Papadakis1, Efstathios Papatheodorou1, Greg Mellor1, Hariharan Raju1, Rachel Bastiaenen2, Yanushi Wijeyeratne2, Sara Wasim2, Bode Ensam1, Gherardo Finocchiaro1, Belinda Gray2, Aneil Malhotra1, Andrew D'Silva1, Nina Edwards2, Della Cole2, Virginia Attard2, Velislav N Batchvarov2, Maria Tome-Esteban2, Tessa Homfray2, Mary N Sheppard2, Sanjay Sharma3, Elijah R Behr2. 1. Cardiology Clinical Academic Group, St. George's, University of London and St. George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom, European Reference Network for rare and low prevalence diseases of the heart, Guard-Heart; University Hospital Lewisham, Lewisham, United Kingdom. 2. Cardiology Clinical Academic Group, St. George's, University of London and St. George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom, European Reference Network for rare and low prevalence diseases of the heart, Guard-Heart. 3. Cardiology Clinical Academic Group, St. George's, University of London and St. George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom, European Reference Network for rare and low prevalence diseases of the heart, Guard-Heart; University Hospital Lewisham, Lewisham, United Kingdom. Electronic address: sasharma@sgul.ac.uk.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Familial evaluation after a sudden death with negative autopsy (sudden arrhythmic death syndrome; SADS) may identify relatives at risk of fatal arrhythmias. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the impact of systematic ajmaline provocation testing using high right precordial leads (RPLs) on the diagnostic yield of Brugada syndrome (BrS) in a large cohort of SADS families. METHODS: Three hundred three SADS families (911 relatives) underwent evaluation with resting electrocardiogram using conventional and high RPLs, echocardiography, exercise, and 24-h electrocardiogram monitor. An ajmaline test with conventional and high RPLs was undertaken in 670 (74%) relatives without a familial diagnosis after initial evaluation. Further investigations were guided by clinical suspicion. RESULTS: An inherited cardiac disease was diagnosed in 128 (42%) families and 201 (22%) relatives. BrS was the most prevalent diagnosis (n = 85, 28% of families; n = 140, 15% of relatives). Ajmaline testing was required to unmask the BrS in 97% of diagnosed individuals. The use of high RPLs showed a 16% incremental diagnostic yield of ajmaline testing by diagnosing BrS in an additional 49 families. There were no differences of the characteristics between individuals and families with a diagnostic pattern in the conventional and the high RPLs. On follow-up, a spontaneous type 1 Brugada pattern and/or clinically significant arrhythmic events developed in 17% (n = 25) of the concealed BrS cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Systematic use of ajmaline testing with high RPLs increases substantially the yield of BrS in SADS families. Assessment should be performed in expert centers where patients are counseled appropriately for the potential implications of provocation testing.
BACKGROUND: Familial evaluation after a sudden death with negative autopsy (sudden arrhythmic death syndrome; SADS) may identify relatives at risk of fatal arrhythmias. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the impact of systematic ajmaline provocation testing using high right precordial leads (RPLs) on the diagnostic yield of Brugada syndrome (BrS) in a large cohort of SADS families. METHODS: Three hundred three SADS families (911 relatives) underwent evaluation with resting electrocardiogram using conventional and high RPLs, echocardiography, exercise, and 24-h electrocardiogram monitor. An ajmaline test with conventional and high RPLs was undertaken in 670 (74%) relatives without a familial diagnosis after initial evaluation. Further investigations were guided by clinical suspicion. RESULTS: An inherited cardiac disease was diagnosed in 128 (42%) families and 201 (22%) relatives. BrS was the most prevalent diagnosis (n = 85, 28% of families; n = 140, 15% of relatives). Ajmaline testing was required to unmask the BrS in 97% of diagnosed individuals. The use of high RPLs showed a 16% incremental diagnostic yield of ajmaline testing by diagnosing BrS in an additional 49 families. There were no differences of the characteristics between individuals and families with a diagnostic pattern in the conventional and the high RPLs. On follow-up, a spontaneous type 1 Brugada pattern and/or clinically significant arrhythmic events developed in 17% (n = 25) of the concealed BrS cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Systematic use of ajmaline testing with high RPLs increases substantially the yield of BrS in SADS families. Assessment should be performed in expert centers where patients are counseled appropriately for the potential implications of provocation testing.
Authors: Gherardo Finocchiaro; Harshil Dhutia; Belinda Gray; Bode Ensam; Stathis Papatheodorou; Chris Miles; Aneil Malhotra; Zeph Fanton; Paulo Bulleros; Tessa Homfray; Adam A Witney; Nicholas Bunce; Lisa J Anderson; James S Ware; Rajan Sharma; Maite Tome; Elijah R Behr; Mary N Sheppard; Michael Papadakis; Sanjay Sharma Journal: Europace Date: 2020-04-01 Impact factor: 5.214
Authors: Arthur A M Wilde; Christopher Semsarian; Manlio F Márquez; Alireza Sepehri Shamloo; Michael J Ackerman; Euan A Ashley; Back Sternick Eduardo; Héctor Barajas-Martinez; Elijah R Behr; Connie R Bezzina; Jeroen Breckpot; Philippe Charron; Priya Chockalingam; Lia Crotti; Michael H Gollob; Steven Lubitz; Naomasa Makita; Seiko Ohno; Martín Ortiz-Genga; Luciana Sacilotto; Eric Schulze-Bahr; Wataru Shimizu; Nona Sotoodehnia; Rafik Tadros; James S Ware; David S Winlaw; Elizabeth S Kaufman; Takeshi Aiba; Andreas Bollmann; Jong-Il Choi; Aarti Dalal; Francisco Darrieux; John Giudicessi; Mariana Guerchicoff; Kui Hong; Andrew D Krahn; Ciorsti Mac Intyre; Judith A Mackall; Lluís Mont; Carlo Napolitano; Pablo Ochoa Juan; Petr Peichl; Alexandre C Pereira; Peter J Schwartz; Jon Skinner; Christoph Stellbrink; Jacob Tfelt-Hansen; Thomas Deneke Journal: J Arrhythm Date: 2022-05-31
Authors: Arthur A M Wilde; Christopher Semsarian; Manlio F Márquez; Alireza Sepehri Shamloo; Michael J Ackerman; Euan A Ashley; Eduardo Back Sternick; Héctor Barajas-Martinez; Elijah R Behr; Connie R Bezzina; Jeroen Breckpot; Philippe Charron; Priya Chockalingam; Lia Crotti; Michael H Gollob; Steven Lubitz; Naomasa Makita; Seiko Ohno; Martín Ortiz-Genga; Luciana Sacilotto; Eric Schulze-Bahr; Wataru Shimizu; Nona Sotoodehnia; Rafik Tadros; James S Ware; David S Winlaw; Elizabeth S Kaufman; Takeshi Aiba; Andreas Bollmann; Jong Il Choi; Aarti Dalal; Francisco Darrieux; John Giudicessi; Mariana Guerchicoff; Kui Hong; Andrew D Krahn; Ciorsti MacIntyre; Judith A Mackall; Lluís Mont; Carlo Napolitano; Juan Pablo Ochoa; Petr Peichl; Alexandre C Pereira; Peter J Schwartz; Jon Skinner; Christoph Stellbrink; Jacob Tfelt-Hansen; Thomas Deneke Journal: Europace Date: 2022-09-01 Impact factor: 5.486
Authors: Martin K Stiles; Arthur A M Wilde; Dominic J Abrams; Michael J Ackerman; Christine M Albert; Elijah R Behr; Sumeet S Chugh; Martina C Cornel; Karen Gardner; Jodie Ingles; Cynthia A James; Jyh-Ming Jimmy Juang; Stefan Kääb; Elizabeth S Kaufman; Andrew D Krahn; Steven A Lubitz; Heather MacLeod; Carlos A Morillo; Koonlawee Nademanee; Vincent Probst; Elizabeth V Saarel; Luciana Sacilotto; Christopher Semsarian; Mary N Sheppard; Wataru Shimizu; Jonathan R Skinner; Jacob Tfelt-Hansen; Dao Wu Wang Journal: Heart Rhythm Date: 2020-10-19 Impact factor: 6.343
Authors: Martin K Stiles; Arthur A M Wilde; Dominic J Abrams; Michael J Ackerman; Christine M Albert; Elijah R Behr; Sumeet S Chugh; Martina C Cornel; Karen Gardner; Jodie Ingles; Cynthia A James; Jyh-Ming Jimmy Juang; Stefan Kääb; Elizabeth S Kaufman; Andrew D Krahn; Steven A Lubitz; Heather MacLeod; Carlos A Morillo; Koonlawee Nademanee; Vincent Probst; Elizabeth V Saarel; Luciana Sacilotto; Christopher Semsarian; Mary N Sheppard; Wataru Shimizu; Jonathan R Skinner; Jacob Tfelt-Hansen; Dao Wu Wang Journal: J Arrhythm Date: 2021-04-08