Inappropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shocks in Brugada syndrome: Pattern in primary and secondary prevention.

BACKGROUND: Inappropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) shocks is a common complication in Brugada syndrome. However, the incidence in recipients of ICD for primary and secondary prevention is unknown.

METHOD AND RESULTS: We compared the rate of inappropriate shocks in patients with Brugada syndrome that had an ICD for primary and secondary prevention. We studied 51 patients, 86.5% of whom were males. Their mean age at diagnosis was 47 ± 11 years. Eighteen (35%) were asymptomatic, while 25 (49%) experienced syncope prior to implantation. Eight (16%) patients were resuscitated from ventricular fibrillation before implantation. During a mean follow-up of 78 ± 46 months, none of the asymptomatic patients experienced appropriate therapy, whereas 21.6% of symptomatic patients had ≥1 shock. Inappropriate shock occurred in 7 (13.7%) patients, with a mean IS of 6.57 ± 6.94 shocks per patient occurring 16.14 ± 10.38 months after implantation. There was a trend towards higher incidence of inappropriate shock in the asymptomatic group (p = 0.09). The interval from implantation to inappropriate shock occurrence was 13.91 ± 12.98 months. The risk of IS at 3 years was 13.7%, which eventually plateaued over the time.

CONCLUSION: Inappropriate shock is common in Brugada syndrome during the early periods after an ICD implantation, and seems to be more likely in asymptomatic patients. This finding may warrant a review of the indications for ICD implantation, especially in the young and apparently healthy population of patients with Brugada syndrome.