Int J Arrhythm.  2020 Dec;21(4):17. 10.1186/s42444-020-00025-5.

In a case of female‑to‑male sex reassignment, testosterone therapy switches on an underlying Brugada

• Vivona P
• Dagradi F
• Ciulla M

• KMID: 2511735
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1186/s42444-020-00025-5

Abstract

Background
The Brugada syndrome, diagnosed by a typical electrocardiographic pattern, is a genetic condition characterised by an increased risk of potentially lethal ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Even if its pathophysiological mechanism is unknown, its prevalence in male suggested a possible hormonal involvement.
Case presentation
In this case involving a woman who underwent a female-to-male sex reassignment, we documented that testosterone administration was able to switch on and, when stopped, to switch off a latent pattern of Brugada.
Conclusions
Our observation strongly supports a possible involvement of testosterone in the ECG manifestation of Brugada syndrome even if the general low prevalence of the Brugada syndrome does not support to screen every female-to-male sex reassignment.

Keyword

Brugada syndrome; Testosterone; Sex change