Morocho-Saldarriaga et al. (2026)
La presencia de un patrón tipo Brugada en enfermedad renal exige corregir de inmediato el
trastorno metabólico y repetir el ECG. La desaparición del patrón tras normalización apoya
fenocopia, pero no excluye por completo un sustrato de Brugada verdadero. La persistencia del
patrón tipo 1, síncope arrítmico, fibrilación ventricular, antecedentes familiares de muerte súbita
o positividad a un bloqueador de canales de sodio justifican evaluación especializada. La
evidencia actual se basa principalmente en casos y pequeñas cohortes; son necesarios estudios
prospectivos específicos en enfermedad renal y diálisis.
Palabras claves: síndrome de Brugada; fenocopia de Brugada; enfermedad renal;
hiperpotasemia; hiponatremia; hemodiálisis; electrocardiografía; arritmias ventriculares.
Abstract
Background: Acute and chronic kidney disease predispose to potassium, sodium, and acid-base
disturbances that can alter myocardial conduction and generate electrocardiographic patterns
mimicking or unmasking Brugada syndrome. Distinguishing true Brugada syndrome from
Brugada phenocopy has direct implications for acute treatment, electrophysiological assessment,
and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator decisions. Objective: To synthesize evidence on kidney
disease, electrolyte disturbances, Brugada-like electrocardiographic patterns, and arrhythmic
risk, and to propose a practical cardionephrology diagnostic and management pathway. Methods:
We conducted an updated systematic review with qualitative synthesis. The historical
hyperkalemia evidence base was anchored to the 2025 systematic review that searched PubMed,
Web of Science, Cochrane, and Scopus through July 2024 and included 31 case reports. We
updated the evidence through September 1, 2026 using PubMed/MEDLINE and citation tracking
and broadened the search without date restriction to renal failure, hemodialysis, hyponatremia,
hypokalemia, and acidosis. Systematic reviews, cohorts, registries, series, and case reports with
interpretable metabolic and ECG data were eligible. Meta-analysis was not appropriate because
of marked heterogeneity and overlapping case-level evidence. Results: Hyperkalemia was the
best-supported renal-metabolic trigger. An international registry of 27 cases reported a mean
potassium level of 7.45 ± 0.89 mmol/L, type 1 morphology in 78%, and ECG normalization after
potassium correction without recorded malignant arrhythmias. Conversely, a prospective cohort
of 15 hospitalized patients with severe hyperkalemia and a Brugada phenotype reported
malignant arrhythmias in 40%, emphasizing the danger of the acute metabolic setting. A 2025
systematic review included 31 case reports with potassium levels from 6.1 to 9.5 mmol/L; all
Brugada-like patterns resolved after correction. Renal failure and dialysis repeatedly appeared as
causal or therapeutic contexts. Isolated hyponatremia may also cause Brugada phenocopy,
whereas acidosis and other electrolyte abnormalities frequently coexist. Conclusions: A Brugada-
like pattern in kidney disease should trigger immediate correction of metabolic abnormalities and
repeat ECG assessment. Resolution supports phenocopy but does not completely exclude
concealed Brugada syndrome. Persistent type 1 morphology, arrhythmic syncope, ventricular
fibrillation, family history of sudden death, or positive sodium-channel blocker testing warrant
specialist evaluation. Prospective studies focused on chronic kidney disease and dialysis are
needed.
Keywords: Brugada syndrome; Brugada phenocopy; kidney disease; hyperkalemia;
hyponatremia; hemodialysis; electrocardiography; ventricular arrhythmias.
Desde su descripción inicial en 1992,
1
. Introducción
los criterios diagnósticos han
evolucionado y hoy se reconoce que
el patrón tipo 1, con elevación
El síndrome de Brugada (BrS) es
una canalopatía hereditaria asociada
con fibrilación ventricular y muerte
súbita en ausencia de cardiopatía
estructural que explique el fenotipo.
cóncava
o
descendente
del
segmento ST en las precordiales
derechas, constituye la morfología