Cardiac conduction defects and Brugada syndrome: A family with overlap syndrome carrying a nonsense SCN5A mutation.

BACKGROUND: Phenotypes often differ even within family members carrying the same SCN5A mutation. We aimed to evaluate the genetic modifiers in a family with Brugada syndrome (BrS) and sick sinus syndrome (SSS) with an SCN5A mutation that causes the truncated alpha-subunit of cardiac Na channel protein.

METHODS: To detect the genetic modifiers, we performed targeted panel sequencing of the coding region of 46 genes that are related to primary arrhythmia syndrome, by using a bench-top, next generation sequencer. Phenotype-genotype relationships were evaluated among the family members.

RESULTS: Index proband was a 13-year old (yo) boy with cardiac conduction defect as well as BrS. Genetic analysis revealed that he and his three asymptomatic family members carried a novel nonsense mutation: SCN5A-Q779X. Both genotype-positive mother and sister exhibited coved type ST elevation and his sister had SSS, whereas his elder brother exhibited saddleback type ST elevation induced by pilsicainide administration. We detected four non-synonymous variants (DSG2-R773K, SCN1B-L210P, -S248R, and -R250T) in the proband, his mother and his sister, but not in his brother.

CONCLUSION: Phenotypic differences between the proband and his brother carrying the same nonsense SCN5A mutation could be explained by modifiers such as SCN1B, and DSG2 gene variants.