An inexpensive drug that can prevent some life-threatening heart rhythm problems is unavailable in most places, according to a new survey of doctors in 131 countries…Only about one in 10,000 people inherits Brugada syndrome and even fewer have symptoms, according to Dr. Michael Ackerman, who studies heart disorders at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota…"Quinidine has been a game-changer for those countries where they don't have similar resources," Ackerman, who was not involved in the new research, told Reuters Health.

Reuters by Genevra Pittman

Tags: arrhythmia, arrhythmia drug, Brugada syndrome, Dr. Michael Ackerman, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Pharmacology, Quinidine, Research, Reuters, Reuters Health, unavailable