Long-Term Prognosis of Probands With Brugada-Pattern ST-Elevation in Leads V1–V3

Background— The prognosis of patients with saddleback or noncoved type (non–type 1) ST-elevation in Brugada syndrome is unknown. The purpose of this study was to clarify the long-term prognosis of probands with non–type 1 ECG and those with coved (type 1) Brugada-pattern ECG. Methods and Results— A total of 330 (123 symptomatic, 207 asymptomatic) probands with a coved or saddleback ST-elevation ≥1 mm in leads V1–V3 were divided into 2 ECG groups—type 1 (245 probands) and non–type 1 (85 probands)—and were prospectively followed for 48.7±15.0 months. The absence of type 1 ECG was confirmed by drug provocation test and multiple recordings. The ratio of individuals with a family history of sudden cardiac death (14%) was lower than previous studies. Clinical profiles and outcomes were not notably different between the 2 groups (annual arrhythmic event rate of probands with ventricular fibrillation; type 1: 10.2%, non–type 1: 10.6%, probands with syncope; type 1: 0.6%, non–type 1: 1.2%, and asymptomatic probands; type 1: 0.5%, non–type 1: 0%). Family history of sudden cardiac death at age <45 years and coexistence of inferolateral early repolarization with Brugada-pattern ECG were independent predictors of fatal arrhythmic events (hazard ratio, 3.28; 95% confidence interval, 1.42 to 7.60; P =0.005; hazard ratio, 2.66; 95% confidence interval, 1.06 to 6.71; P =0.03, respectively, by multivariate analysis), although spontaneous type 1 ECG and ventricular fibrillation inducibility by electrophysiological study were not reliable parameters. Conclusions— The long-term prognosis of probands in non–type 1 group was similar to that of type 1 group. Family history of sudden cardiac death and the presence of early repolarization were predictors of poor outcome in this study, which included only probands with Brugada-pattern ST-elevation. Received August 22, 2008; accepted July 14, 2009. # CLINICAL PERSPECTIVE {#article-title-2}