COVID-19 Vaccination-Induced Ventricular Fibrillation in an Afebrile Patient With Brugada Syndrome

J Korean Med Sci. 2022 Oct 31;37(42):e306. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2022.37.e306.

Abstract

A 43-year-old man presented with cardiac arrest 2 days after the second coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination with an mRNA vaccine. Electrocardiograms showed ventricular fibrillation and type 1 Brugada pattern ST segment elevation. The patient reported having no symptoms, including febrile sensation. There were no known underlying cardiac diseases to explain such electrocardiographic abnormalities. ST segment elevation completely disappeared in two weeks. Although there were no genetic mutations or personal or family history typical of Brugada syndrome, flecainide administration induced type 1 Brugada pattern ST segment elevation. This case suggests that COVID-19 vaccination may induce cardiac ion channel dysfunction and cause life threatening ventricular arrhythmias in specific patients with Brugada syndrome.

Keywords: Brugada Syndrome; COVID-19 Vaccines; Ventricular Fibrillation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brugada Syndrome* / diagnosis
  • Brugada Syndrome* / etiology
  • COVID-19 Vaccines / adverse effects
  • COVID-19*
  • Electrocardiography / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Vaccination / adverse effects
  • Ventricular Fibrillation / diagnosis
  • Ventricular Fibrillation / etiology
  • mRNA Vaccines

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines