brugada syndrome

[malan]

Hello,
I'd be glad for some advice on the problem given below.
I am 48, male, and have had NSVT for around 6 years now. I have seen many cardiologists, who after doing ecg, echo, holter, etc, told me that the heart was structurally normal and I had nothing to worry. Until yesterday, when a cardiologist took my ecg and said it showed Brugada syndrome and told me to do an EP study. How seriously should I take this warning , considering that none of the other cardiologists have ever mentioned this? Could they all have missed it?
Thnx very much.

[malan]

Thnx very much for the reply. I plan to see another cardiologist to get a second opinion. If he contradicts the first cardio, I may then need a third opinion just to be sure.

[is_something_wrong]

You may want to read this answer from the Expert Forum by Dr. Varma:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Heart-Rhythm/Lone-Atrial-Fibrillation-and-Brugada-Syndrome/show/1630804

Brugada Syndrome is a congenital syndrome (not using the word disease or disorder here because it does NOT have to provide any symptoms at all through your life). It manifest on EKG with atypical right bundle branch block and downsloping ST elevation in the right leads, but those changes aren't always present.

During an EP study you will get a substance that blocks sodium channels (ajmaline or maybe flecainide(?)) to look for EKG changes and possibly provoke arrhythmias. But you need to be aware of the following:

1) Brugada that reveals this rarely, often provides little risk (see doctor's reply above)
2) Your last cardiologist may, in theory, be wrong, if all other cardiologist said you did not have Brugada.

If it turns out you do have Brugada, it may be a good idea to watch out for medication that blocks sodium channels (some anti-anxiety drugs have this ability and not all doctors know this, at least that's the case in my country).

[Jerry_NJ]

I can't give you any personal experience but I did find a number of posts on the community/forum.

Take a look at:
http://www.medhelp.org/search?utf8=%26%23x2713%3B&query=Brugada+syndrome&camp=top_nav_search
Those may help you better understand.

My general advice is to do as you cardiologist recommends.  The fact that the syndrome was diagnosed earlier could be for a number of reasons, including you didn't have it (in a detectable form) then.

Good luck, you are still young and I hope in otherwise good health. That will help.