Rare syndrome can stop a man’s heart at any moment

This 54-year-old man was diagnosed with a rare genetic syndrome of sudden death. Because his heart could stop at any time arbitrarily.

American Charles Wiggins that day was carrying in the car your mother in the city of liberty, Texas, when he suddenly lost consciousness behind the wheel. Fortunately, sitting next to the woman was able to grab the wheel and avoid accidents. People passing by called an ambulance, and the man began to revive. The paramedics were not able to start the heart of Charles, he was taken to the hospital by helicopter, where doctors were able to bring Carl to life. Soon, however, the heart of the patient stopped again. Followed by a new CPR, then a careful study of the ECG and the diagnosis – Brugada syndrome. This is a rare genetic kind of syndrome of sudden death, with victims unable to deal with any cardiac arrest.

Patients with Brugada syndrome generally do not exhibit any symptoms of ill health, and that’s why their passing is so sudden. Every time for the resurrection of Charles doctors had to restart his heart several times. This inherited type of heart rhythm disorders, associated with pathology of the lower division. The syndrome is caused by mutation of the gene, called SCN5A, which provides instructions on the manufacture of sodium channels.

These channels transporterowych positively charged sodium ions to the cells of the heart muscle that is necessary for normal control of heart rhythm. Many victims of Brugada syndrome do not know it because no symptoms they have. Often, however, signs of this disorder are dizziness, fainting, arrhythmia and shortness of breath. But most often the first manifestation of Brugada syndrome, alas, it becomes sudden death. (READ MORE)