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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffAside from a typical physical examination and listening to your heart with a stethoscope, tests to see if you have Brugada syndrome include:
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Electrocardiogram (ECG) with medication. In this noninvasive test, a technician will place probes on your chest that record the electrical impulses that make your heart beat. An ECG records these electrical signals and can help your doctor detect irregularities in your heart's rhythm and structure.
However, because your heart rhythm can change, an electrocardiogram by itself may not detect an abnormal heart rhythm. Your doctor may give you a medication that causes an abnormal heart rhythm in people who have Brugada syndrome. The medication is usually injected by an intravenous (IV) line.
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Electrophysiology (EP) test. If your ECG suggests that you have Brugada syndrome, your doctor may also recommend an EP test to pinpoint where in your heart your arrhythmia occurs and to check the severity of your condition.
In an EP test, a catheter is threaded through a vein in your groin to your heart, similar to cardiac catheterization. Electrodes are then passed through the catheter to different points in your heart. The electrodes then map out any irregular heartbeats. The electrodes don't shock your heart — they just detect the electrical signals running through your heart.
- Genetic testing. While genetic testing isn't required to diagnose Brugada syndrome, your doctor may recommend genetic testing for other family members if you're diagnosed with Brugada syndrome. The available genetic tests for Brugada are reliable.
- Wylie JV, et al. Brugada syndrome and sudden cardiac arrest. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 24, 2008.
- Benito B, et al. Brugada syndrome. Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases. 2008;51:1.
- Benito B, et al. Gender differences in clinical manifestations of Brugada syndrome. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2008;52:1567.
- Antzelevitch C, et al. Brugada syndrome: Recent advances and controversies. Current Cardiology Reports. 2008;10:376.
- The Brugada syndrome. Ramon Brugada Senior Foundation. http://www.brugada.org/about/about.html. Accessed April 14, 2009.
