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

Abstract

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.

Keywords

• Brugada syndrome
• Testosterone
• Sex change