How tragedy of nurse with heart condition saved her family

A nurse died of a heart attack caused by the shock of her alarm clock going off.  Lisa Browne, 27, died in bed next to her husband Stuart when the alarm sounded at 6am. 

Her grieving family have waited years to find out which hereditary heart condition was responsible for her death.  In the meantime, four members have been diagnosed with the same condition – and taken measures which could have saved their lives. 

Mrs Browne’s father, sister and two nephews have all been diagnosed with Long QT Syndrome, which causes the heart rate to raise to dangerous levels without warning.  As a result, her 29-year-old sister Rachel Willn, also a nurse, was fitted with a pacemaker which has already saved her life. 

It kickstarted her heart after it stopped when she was woken by her young son screaming. 

Mrs Browne’s mother Doreen Harley, 58, yesterday called for routine screening for the condition. 

Mrs Browne died in January 1998, Her family have only just received confirmation that she too suffered from Long QT Syndrome.  A pathologist at her inquest said he suspected she had an abnormality in her heart’s electrical rhythm, but said it was not possible to make a proper diagnosis after death. 

The coroner recorded an open verdict and doctors advised the family, from Connah’s Quay, North Wales, to have genetic testing. 

Two years ago, the family were told it was possible for tissue, taken during Mrs Browne’s post-mortem, to be sent to Sweden for DNA tests. 

The results, which came back two weeks ago, finally confirmed that she had the same syndrome they have.  The condition, which affects one in 7,000 people, causes defects in the cell structure of the heart muscle which predispose the carrier to arrhythmia – a very fast heart rhythm.  This can lead to sudden loss of consciousness or cardiac arrest. 

Attacks can be brought on by vigorous exercise, stress, strong emotions or startling events. 

Long QT is detectable only by ECG tests.  Up to a third of sufferers never show any symptoms. 

The charity Cardiac Risk in the Young estimates that up to eight adults die in Britain each week as a result of previously undetected heart conditions. 

“We were absolutely devastated when Lisa died,” said Mrs Harley, who now works for the charity. 

“To be told that doctors had no idea why she died was extremely worrying for the rest of the family. 

“None of us could ever accept that she died for no reason.   Now there is no doubt that the ringing of the alarm clock killed Lisa.  The trigger for sudden deaths with the particular gene our family have been diagnosed with is sudden noise.”  

Although Mrs Browne had visited her GP complaining of palpitations, chest pains and light-headedness, no tests on her heart were carried out.  Instead she was diagnosed with depression. 

Mrs Harley has co-ordinated two free screening sessions in her area in which seven out of the 79 who attended were found to have the condition.  “A lot of deaths could be prevented if the cardiac problems are diagnosed,” she said.  “I’ve no doubt Lisa could have been saved if she had been screened.” 

Find out more about Long QT syndrome