Frequency of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Patients with Brugada Syndrome and Drug-Induced Type 1 Brugada Pattern

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most widely recognized functional bowel disorders (FBDs) with a genetic component. SCN5A gene and SCN1B loci have been identified in population-based IBS cohorts and proposed to have a mechanistic role in the pathophysiology of IBS. These same genes have been associated with Brugada syndrome (BrS). The present study examines the hypothesis that these two inherited syndromes are linked. Prevalence of FBDs over a 12 months period were compared between probands with BrS/drug-induced type 1 Brugada pattern (DI-Type 1 BrP) (n = 148) and a control group (n = 124) matched for age, female sex, presence of arrhythmia and co-morbid conditions. SCN5A/SCN1B genes were screened in 88 patients. Prevalence of IBS was 25% in patients with BrS/DI-Type 1 BrP and 8.1% in the control group (p = 2.34 × 10-4). On stepwise logistic regression analysis, presence of current and/or history of migraine (OR of 2.75; 95% CI: 1.08 to 6.98; p = 0.033) was a predictor of underlying BrS/DI-Type 1 BrP among patients with FBDs. We identified 8 putative SCN5A/SCN1B variants in 7 (12.3%) patients with BrS/DI-Type 1 BrP and 1 (3.2%) patient in control group. Five out of 8 (62.5%) patients with SCN5A/SCN1B variants had FBDs. In conclusion, IBS is a common co-morbidity in patients with BrS/DI-Type 1 BrP. Presence of current and/or history of migraine are a predictor of underlying BrS/DI-Type 1 BrP among patients with FBDs. Frequent co-existence of IBS and BrS/DI-Type 1 BrP necessitates cautious use of certain drugs among the therapeutic options for IBS that are known to exacerbate the Brugada phenotype.