An Iatrogenically Unmasked Life Threatening Disease: Brugada Syndrome

Brugada syndrome is a life threatening disease that is usually overlooked during emergency service admissions. It is characterized by typical electrocardiography resembling right bundle branch block, static or dynamic ST-segment elevation in leads V 1-3. There is familial tendency in some cases. A majority of patients have a structurally normal heart and are likely to remain asymptomatic, however they may present to emergency departments with syncope and various serious arrhythmias. Therefore it is crucially important for emergency medicine physicians not to omit this potential diagnosis. Herein we report a case with Brugada syndrome which was iatrogenically unmasked after propafenone administration for atrial fibrillation.