Magnetocardiographic findings and follow-up
in an asymptomatic Brugada patient. Effects
of Flecainide and of exercise tests
D. Brisinda
a
, G. Bottelli
b
, C. Napolitano
b
,
S.G. Priori
b
, R. Fenici
a,
⁎
a
Clinical Physiology-Biomagnetism Center, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
b
Cardiologia Molecolare, Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri University of Pavia, Italy
Abstract. The Brugada syndrome (BS) is a genetically transmitted arrhythmogenic disease, which
requires risk stratification, especially in asymptomatic subjects. Recent studies have shown that
magnetocardiographic mapping (MCG) at rest can detect abnormal current distribution located in the
RVOT. Here we describe an asymptomatic 28 years old BS patient, studied with 12-lead ECG and
36-channel MCG for three times at rest, under effort and during flecainide (Flec) tests, along a four
years follow-up. He had a type 2 BS ECG at rest, but normal physical examination, echocardiogram
and MRI. Molecular screening of the SCNC5A open reading frame revealed a de novo missense
mutation in the DII–DIII linker, confirming the diagnosis of BS. For MCG assessment of ventricular
repolarization (VR), magnetic field (MF) dynamics and MF gradient orientation, were computed
during the ST interval and at the T wave peak. Current density reconstruction (CDR) and the strength
of the equivalent current dipole (ECD) were calculated during the JT interval, to evidence potentially
arrhythmogenic current flowing. In spite of Flec-induced ECG abnormality (typical type-1 ST
elevation in V1–V3), MCG didn't show clear-cut variation of VR parameters, which didn't differ
from those of healthy controls, at rest and under effort. After Flec, CDR, calculated every 10 ms from
the J point, evidenced a change in the direction of the strongest current toward the right ventricular
outflow tract, without a significant increase of the JT ECD strength. During the follow-up the patient
was asymptomatic and no arrhythmia occurred. Further work is deserved to establish the predictive
value of MCG for non-invasive risk stratification in asymptomatic BS patients with abnormal Flec
test. © 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.
Keywords: Brugada syndrome; Arrhythmogenic risk; Ventricular repolarization; Genetic analysis
International Congress Series 1300 (2007) 459 – 462
www.ics-elsevier.com
⁎
Corresponding author. Largo A. Gemelli, 8, 00168, Rome, Italy. Tel.: +39 06 3051193; fax: +39 06 3051343.
E-mail address: feniciri@rm.unicatt.it (R. Fenici).
0531-5131/ © 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.
doi:10.1016/j.ics.2006.12.079