Abstract
Background SCN5A is the most common susceptibility gene
in patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS); however, the interpretation and
management of benign or variants of unknown clinical significance (VUS)
in SCN5A remains a challenge despite the availability of genetic
testing. Objective This study aimed to investigate the
relationship between the SCN5A variants and clinical symptoms of
BrS patients. Methods We resequenced the SCN5A gene in
239 patients diagnosed with BrS at Hiroshima University Hospital and
analyzed the association between the SCN5A variants and clinical
features, 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG) parameters, or
signal-averaged ECG. Results Overall, 84 SCN5A variants
were identified: 55 benign, 7 pathogenic, and 22 VUS . No
significant difference in the incidence of previous cardiac events was
observed between patients with and without SCA5A benign variants.
The female proportion was higher in BrS patients with SCN5A VUS
or pathogenic variants. Moreover, the symptomatic proportion was higher
in BrS patients with SCN5A VUS or pathogenic variants.
Multivariate analyses revealed that the presence of SCN5A VUS or
pathogenic variants, longer r-J interval in lead V1, and the presence of
fragmented QRS were independently associated with the cardiac events in
BrS patients and that positive late potentials, longer LAS40, and lower
RMS40 were significantly associated with symptomatic BrS in patients
carrying SCN5A VUS. Conclusions The SCN5A VUS or
pathogenic variants were found to be independent risk factors for the
cardiac events in the BrS patients. In BrS patients with SCN5A
VUS, the signal-averaged ECG was the key to risk stratification for
cardiac events.