Until recently, the cellular basis for sudden death, the Brugada Syndrome, has largely remained an unknown to modern arrhythmologists and cardiologists, particularly in the absence of any structural heart disease. Detailed observations of age-groups, especially the young, families and populations where sudden death frequently occurs, and improved understanding of its contributory factors and mechanisms are, however, showing the way forward. This addition to the Clinical Approaches to Tachyarrhythmias (CATA) Series, written by the investigators who discovered and probed the Brugada Syndrome, discusses the history, etiology, pathology and clinical manifestations of sudden death. From diagnosis, prognosis, to therapeutic approaches using the latest in cathater ablation techniques, electrophysiological surgery, and genetic appraisal, the work is a testimony to the author's investigation. Using clinical cases in Thailand and Laos, they further unravel the syndrome's molecular mechanisms, studying related syndromes, such as the long-QT syndrome, infant death, and arryhthmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. By being informed of the electrophysiological abnormalities that contribute to familial and genetic diseases, physicians, cardiologists and all those who care for patients with cardiac arrhythmias will be better able to identify and treat patients in whom the Brugada Syndrome may strike next.

Until recently, the cellular basis for sudden death, the BrugadaSyndrome, has largely remained an unknown to modernarrhythmologists and cardiologists, particularly in the absence ofany structural heart disease. Detailed observations of age-groupsespecially the young, families and populations where sudden deathfrequently occurs, and improved understanding of its contributoryfactors and mechanisms are, however, showing the way forward.This addition to the Clinical Approaches to Tachyarrhythmias(CATA) Series, written by the investigators who discovered andprobed the Brugada Syndrome, discusses the history, etiologypathology and clinical manifestations of sudden death. Fromdiagnosis, prognosis, to therapeutic approaches using the latest incathater ablation techniques, electrophysiological surgery, andgenetic appraisal, the work is a testimony to the author'sinvestigation. Using clinical cases in Thailand and Laos, theyfurther unravel the syndrome's molecular mechanisms, studyingrelated syndromes, such as the long-QT syndrome, infant death, andarryhthmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.By being informed of the electrophysiological abnormalities thatcontribute to familial and genetic diseases, physicianscardiologists and all those who care for patients with cardiacarrhythmias will be better able to identify and treat patients inwhom the Brugada Syndrome may strike next.

Contributors.Preface.Dedication.1 Brugada Syndrome: Overview.2 History of the Brugada Syndrome.3 Biophysical Analysis of Mutant Sodium Channels in BrugadaSyndrome.4 Molecular Genetics of the Brugada Syndrome.5 Cellular Mechanisms Underlying the Brugada Syndrome.6 Brugada Syndrome: Diagnostic Criteria.7 Value of 12 Lead ECG and Derived Methodologies in theDiagnosis of Brugada Disease.8 Brugada Syndrome: Relationship to Other ArrhythmogenicSyndromes.9 ST Segment Elevation and Sudden Death in the Athlete.10 Brugada Syndrome Genetics. Genetic Screening- Role inDiagnosis.11 Genotype-Phenotype Relationship in Brugada Syndrome.12 Gender Differences in Brugada Syndrome.13 Predisposing Factors.14 Acquired Forms of Brugada Syndrome.15 Brugada Syndrome and supraventricular tacharrhythmias.16 Prognosis in Individuals with the Brugada Syndrome.17 Treatment of the Brugada Syndrome with the ImplantableCardioverter Defibrillator.18 Pharmacologic Approach to Therapy of the Brugada Syndrome:Quinidine as an Alterative to ICD Therapy?.19 Potential for Ablation Therapy in Patients with the BrugadaSyndrome.Index