BRUGADA PATTERN IN HEROIN ADDICTION: SYNDROME OR PHENOCOPY?

Brugada phenocopies (BrPs) are clinical entities that show an electrocardiogram (ECG) pattern similar to what is observed in Brugada syndrome (BrS). They are caused by different clinical conditions. We describe a case of BrP in a man that developed acute kidney failure secondary to rhabdomyolysis, after heroin addiction. His initial ECG showed Brugada type 1 pattern resolved after hemodialytic treatment. A provocative test with ajmaline, which resulted negative, was performed to confirm the diagnosis. BrPs can mimic a true BrS and a fast recognition of these clinical and electrocardiographic findings may avoid diagnostic mistakes thus preventing unnecessary or inaccurate treatments