Brugada phenocopy in a patient diagnosed with acute lymphangitis

Authors

Keywords:

acute myocardial infarction, Lymphangitis, Brugada phenocopy

Abstract

Introduction: Brugada phenocopy is the electrocardiographic expression of several diseases and is characterized by an electrocardiographic pattern indistinguishable from Brugada syndrome.

Objective: To describe the clinical course of a patient treated for an acute myocardial infarction who was found to have Brugada phenocopy caused by acute lymphangitis.

Clinical case: A 58-year-old diabetic male patient presented with clinical and electrocardiographic signs suggestive of acute myocardial infarction. He underwent reperfusion with recombinant streptokinase. Despite symptom relief, the electrocardiographic pattern persisted. During his clinical course, lymphangitis in the right leg was diagnosed and treated with antibiotics. Brugada phenotype caused by the acute infection was suspected. This was subsequently confirmed by clinical and electrocardiographic progress, coronary angiography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Conclusions: Acute lymphangitis may cause an electrocardiographic pattern suggestive of Brugada syndrome, lead to misinterpretation as an acute myocardial infarction, and inappropriate treatment.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

1. Antzelevitch C, Yan GX. J-wave syndromes: Brugada and early repolarization syndromes [Internet]. Heart Rhythm. 2022; 19(5):846-57. DOI: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2021.12.019

2. Campuzano O, Sarquella G, Cesar S, Arbelo E, Fernandez A, Brugada J, et al. Recents advances in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of Brugada syndrome [Internet]. Can J Cardiol. 2022; 38(4):440-51. DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2021.12.007

3. Sieira J, Brugada P. The definition of the Brugada syndrome [Internet]. Eur Heart J. 2021; 42(12):1135-41. DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa959

4. Gourraud J, Barc J, Thollet A, Le Scouarnec S, Le Marec H, Schott J, et al. Brugada syndrome and Brugada phenocopy: The importance of a differential diagnosis [Internet]. Europace. 2021; 23(1):110-8. DOI: 10.1093/europace/euaa277

5. Vutthikraivit W, Rattanawong P, Putthapiban P, Sukhumthammarat W, Vathesatogkit P, Ngarmukos T, et al. Fever-induced Brugada phenocopy: A systematic review [Internet]. J Arrhythm. 2021; 37(4):877-84. DOI: 10.1002/joa3.12568

6. Anselm D, Baranchuk A. Brugada phenocopy: redefinition and updated classification [Internet]. Am J Cardiol. 2013; 111(3):453. DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2012.09.005

7. Dumaine R, Antzelevitch C. Pathophysiological mechanisms of Brugada syndrome and Brugada phenocopies [Internet]. Int J Mol Sci. 2020; 21(19):7051. DOI: 10.3390/ijms21197051

8. Hasdemir C, Payzin S, Kocabas U, Sahin H, Yildirim N, Alp A, et al. Prevalence of Brugada phenocopy in patients with drug-induced type 1 Brugada pattern [Internet]. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2020; 43(7):685-92. DOI: 10.1111/pace.13938

9. Bayés de Luna A, Brugada J, Baranchuk A, Borggrefe M, Breithardt G, Goldwasser D, et al. Current electrocardiographic criteria for diagnosis of Brugada pattern: A consensus report [Internet]. J Electrocardiol 2022; 72:15-22. DOI: 10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2022.02.003

10. Baranchuk A, Nguyen T, Ryu M, Femenía F, Zareba W, Wilde A, et al. Brugada Phenocopy: New terminology and proposed classification [Internet]. Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol. 2012; 17(4):299-314. DOI: 10.1111/j.1542-474X.2012.00525

11. Yan G, Antzelevitch C. Cellular basis for the Brugada syndrome and other mechanisms of arrhythmogenesis associated with ST-segment elevation [Internet]. Circulation. 2019; 140(18):1520-30. DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.119.040073

12. Rattanawong P, Vutthikraivit W, Charoensri A, Jongraksak T, Prombandankul A, Kanjanahattakij N, et al. Fever-induced Brugada phenocopy: A meta-analysis [Internet]. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2020; 31(3):722-9. DOI: 10.1111/jce.14376

13. Cheung C, Mellor G, Deyell M, Wijeyeratne Y, Gray B, Roberts J, et al. Brugada phenocopies in athletes: A systematic review [Internet]. Heart Rhythm. 2021; 18(7):1139-46. DOI: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2021.03.024

14. González M, Sieira J, Pappaert G, De Asmundis C, Chierchia G, Brugada P, et al. Brugada syndrome and Brugada phenocopy: The importance of provocative testing [Internet]. Heart Rhythm. 2021; 18(6):924-31. DOI: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2021.02.020

15. Frederiksen H, Prathivadhi S, London B, Ashwath M. The role of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of malignant ventricular arrhythmias in Brugada syndrome [Internet]. Heart Rhythm Case Rep. 2023; 10(1):26-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.hrcr.2023.10.014

Published

2025-11-17

How to Cite

1.
Delgado Heguy MA, Ravelo Dopico R, Alba Sánchez del Campo Y, Pérez Barreda A, Cárdenas Fernández Y, Medina Rivero G. Brugada phenocopy in a patient diagnosed with acute lymphangitis. Rev. cuba. med. mil [Internet]. 2025 Nov. 17 [cited 2025 Nov. 17];54(4):e025076882. Available from: https://revmedmilitar.sld.cu/index.php/mil/article/view/76882