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Brugada syndrome (BrS) is characterized by a high risk of sudden cardiac death. The clinical value of deformation imaging in patients with BrS is unknown. We aimed to assess whether echocardiographic speckle tracking parameters differ between: 1) BrS patients and healthy controls, 2) BrS patients with and without life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. Left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) longitudinal strain and mechanical dispersion (MD) were derived from echocardiography at inclusion. Clinical and ECG data were retrospectively assessed. A life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia was defined as an aborted cardiac arrest or sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmia. We included 175 BrS patients and 82 controls. LV and RV longitudinal strain were lower (−18.1 ± 2.6% vs. −18.8 ± 2.0%, p = 0.01 and − 24.4 ± 5.4% vs. 25.6 ± 3.7%, p = 0.04), while MD was higher [38 ± 11 ms vs. 33 ± 8 ms, p = 0.001 and 15 (8–25) ms vs. 11 (6–19) ms, p = 0.03] in BrS patients compared to controls. BrS patients who experienced a life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia (n = 19) had higher LV MD compared to those without events (43 ± 11 ms vs. 37 ± 11 ms, p = 0.02). An LV MD ≥40 ms was optimally associated with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias [odds ratio 4.62 (95%CI 1.58–13.50), p = 0.005]. BrS patients had lower longitudinal strain and more heterogeneous contractions than healthy controls. Furthermore, BrS patients with a history of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia had more heterogeneous LV contractions than those without. Therefore, LV MD may be a risk marker in BrS and its evaluation in prospective studies is needed. Unlabelled Image • Brugada syndrome patients have an increased risk for sudden cardiac death • Selection of candidates for defibrillator implantation is challenging • Speckle tracking echocardiography shows contraction alterations in Brugada syndrome • Left ventricle mechanical dispersion is higher in arrhythmic Brugada patients • Cardiac imaging might improve risk stratification in Brugada syndrome patients [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atrial fibrillation (AF) can be the first manifestation of latent Brugada syndrome (BS). The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of AF as the first clinical diagnosis in patients with BS and their demographic and clinical characteristics and diagnosis management in a large cohort of patients. The patient group consisted of 611 patients with BS. The data from those with a diagnosis of AF previous to the identification of BS were analyzed (n = 35). Eleven cases were unmasked after the initiation of a class I antiarrhythmic drug and one during the establishment of general anesthesia. In the remaining population, BS was diagnosed using an ajmaline test performed mainly because of younger age in patients with lone AF (n=13), previous syncope or sudden cardiac death (n=3), or a clinical history of sudden cardiac death in the family (n = 5). The mean patient age was 49 ± 15 years, 21 were male patients, 14 had a family history of sudden death, 15 had had previous syncope, and 4 had survived cardiac arrest. Concomitant electrical disorder was found in 13 patients. Remarkably, 21 patients had normal findings on the baseline electrocardiogram. In conclusion, AF could be one of the first clinical manifestations of latent BS in a considerable number of patients. This identification is crucial because the treatment of these patients is subject to relevant changes. The ajmaline test plays an essential role, mainly in young patients with a family history of sudden death, despite having normal findings on a baseline electrocardiogram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]