Localized right ventricular morphological abnormalities detected by electron-beam computed tomography represent arrhythmogenic substrates in patientswith the Brugada syndrome

Aims This study was designed to determine, using electron-beam CT, whether there are morphological abnormalities in patients with the Brugada syndrome and to elucidate the relationship between those abnormalities and arrhythm ogenesis. Methods and Results Twenty-six consecutive patients with the Brugada syndro me and 23 age- and gender-matched control subjects (controls) were evaluate d for morphological abnormalities using electron beam CT. Electron beam CT demonstrated morphological abnormalities of the right ventricle in 21 (81%) of 26 patients, but in only two (9%) of 23 controls. The sites of morpholo gical abnormalities were the right ventricular outflow tract area in 17 pat ients and the inferior wall of the right ventricle in four patients. Of the seven patients with monoform premature ventricular contractions recorded o nly in the acute phase, four of the five patients with premature ventricula r contractions from the right ventricular outflow tract area had morphologi cal abnormalities in the right ventricular out flow tract area, and the oth er two patients with premature ventricular contractions from the inferior w all of the right ventricle had morphological abnormalities in the inferior wall of the right ventricle. Conclusion The sites of morphological abnormalities detected by electron be am CT in patients with the Brugada syndrome were related to the origins of premature ventricular contractions recorded only in the acute phase, which may trigger ventricular fibrillation. These morphological abnormalities may be related to arrhythmogenic substrates in patients with the Brugada syndr ome.