Fever unmasking the Brugada syndrome

Abstract

This case report describes a 66-year-old woman with severe polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and syncope during a febrile state. The electrocardiogram revealed a right bundle branch block and pattern of elevated ST segment in the anterior and inferior leads similar to the Brugada syndrome. These electrocardiographic anomalies disappeared when the temperature returned to normal. The administration of procainamide reproduced the electrocardiographic changes. An electrophysiological study using two extrastimuli induced ventricular tachycardia. An automatic defibrillator was implanted.