NEW STUDY QUESTIONS ICD IN ASYMPTOMATIC BRUGADA SYNDROME CASES

A report posted on February 3 of this year, involving 1029 Brudaga Syndrome patients followed for nearly three years, suggests that perhaps the 2005 guidelines for treating asymptomatic patients might need to be revised.

While maintaining a tentative tone, the study indicates that only 0.5% of asymptomatic patients (no history of sudden cardiac death episodes or syncope) experienced any cardiac events during a 31 month period. Currently certain conditions such as sudden cardiac death among immediate relatives, or inducibile ventricular tachyarrhythmias during E.P. studies warrant treatment with an implantable defibrillator(ICD).

Future studies are recommended.