A tricky electrocardiogram: cocaine induced Brugada type 2 phenocopy

Giordano Zampi; Amedeo Pergolini; Daniele Pontillo; Luigi Sommariva

A tricky electrocardiogram: cocaine induced Brugada type 2 phenocopy

Am J Cardiovasc Dis. 2020 Jun 15;10(2):131-135. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Giordano Zampi¹, Amedeo Pergolini², Daniele Pontillo³, Luigi Sommariva¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Cardiology, Belcolle Hospital Viterbo, Italy.
² Department of Cardiovascular Science "S. Camillo-Forlanini" Hospital Rome, Italy.
³ Intensive Coronary Unit, Belcolle Hospital Viterbo, Italy.

PMID: 32685271
PMCID: PMC7364277

Abstract

Background: The pharmacological effects of cocaine have been associated with different types of cardiac dysrhythmias and with Brugada pattern on the ECG, but currently only type 1 pattern has been described. We report a case of a transient Brugada type 2 pattern in a young cocaine abuser.

Method: We report the clinical presentation of a 32-year-old male with a history of cocaine abuse.

Result: The treatment and the resolution of the acute phase have been described; moreover we discuss the pathophysiology of the Brugada phenocopy in this specificclinical setting.

Conclusion: The clinical impact of our case report underscores the necessity of prompt physician awareness of any ECG abnormality besides myocardial infarction in patients with cocaine abuse, such as any Brugada pattern, which could lead to ominous ventricular arrhythmias.

Keywords: Brugada; ECG; ECG alterations; cocaine.

Publication types

Case Reports