What Is Brugada Syndrome?
Brugada syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects the heart's electrical system. It causes irregular heart rhythms that can lead to sudden death. People with Brugada syndrome inherit it, meaning it is passed down from parent to child.
Electrical signals make a healthy heart beat at a regular rate and rhythm. Brugada syndrome interferes with those impulses and can cause the ventricles to beat irregularly. The ventricles quiver (fibrillate) and beat too quickly, causing ventricular fibrillation (VFib), a type of arrhythmia that is life-threatening.
In VFib, the heart can't pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body, including the rest of the heart and the brain. VFib is a medical emergency that can cause fainting and sudden death.
Brugada Syndrome Symptoms
Symptoms of Brugada syndrome can appear at any age, but the usual onset is around age 40. They often happen during rest or sleep and include:
- Fainting
- Difficulty breathing
- Irregular heartbeats
- Seizures
- Sudden death
Diagnosis of Brugada Syndrome
If you have Brugada symptoms or a family history of sudden death, talk to an expert in inherited arrhythmic diseases. Even people with no symptoms can have life-threatening symptoms.
If you are evaluated for Brugada syndrome at Penn Medicine, you'll have:
- Physical exam and medical history: We ask you detailed questions about your medical history and family medical history. Then we do a thorough exam to look for features of Brugada syndrome.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG): This test records the electrical impulses in the heart to detect abnormal rate or rhythm.
- Electrophysiology study: An electrophysiologist inserts a thin tube through a blood vessel and into the heart to measure electrical activity. This test can help assess the risk of sudden death.
- Genetic testing and counseling: Brugada syndrome has been associated with changes (variants) in at least 18 genes, most commonly SCN5A. Genetic testing can identify whether you have these variants. Anyone having genetic testing should also have genetic counseling. A trained counselor can help you understand the process and what it might mean for you and your family.
Brugada Syndrome Treatment at Penn
There is no cure for Brugada syndrome, but consistent monitoring can help identify problems before they interfere with your health. Treatment can help control the heart's rate and rhythm, lessen symptoms and prevent complications.
One common treatment for Brugada syndrome is an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). An ICD is a medical device is surgically implanted in the chest. It automatically detects any abnormal heartbeats and delivers an electrical shock to make the heart beat normally. Another cutting-edge treatment for the Brugada Syndrome is catheter ablation, a procedure that eliminates diseased heart tissue and abnormal signals that can increase abnormal heart rhythms.
The Penn network includes specialists with extensive training and experience diagnosing and treating Brugada syndrome. Our world-renowned arrhythmia team performs hundreds of ICDs and ablations every year. And our geneticists and counselors can help you understand the disorder and its effects on your entire family.
Your Penn Medicine team may include experts in:
Penn Programs & Services for Brugada Syndrome
Inherited cardiac disease affects multiple generations. The Penn Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Disease provides comprehensive care for genetic heart conditions.
Internationally recognized program for diagnosing, treating and researching cardiac arrhythmias