Fred Lange-Nielsen
Fredrik (Fred) Lange-Nielsen (1919-1989) was a Norwegian physician, Jazz musician and humanitarian.
Lange-Nielsen trained in internal medicine and later in lung disease, Lange-Nielsen’s career spanned both clinical innovation and public health reform. He was instrumental in establishing Norway’s first hospital-based clinic for adults with allergic airway diseases, and was a founding figure of the Norwegian Asthma and Allergy Association. His dedication to allergy care culminated in the creation of the country’s first multidisciplinary asthma education program in the 1970s, reflecting his lifelong commitment to patient-centred medicine.
Co-eponym of Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome (JLNS)—a rare autosomal recessive disorder linking congenital deafness to prolonged QT interval and sudden cardiac death. His landmark collaboration with Anton Jervell in 1956 remains one of the earliest recognitions of inherited arrhythmia syndromes, significantly influencing the classification of congenital long QT disorders.
Beyond medicine, Lange-Nielsen was an accomplished jazz musician, performing in leading swing bands and appearing in radio and television. He also stood at the intersection of medicine and humanitarian activism—opposing boxing due to its neurological risks and serving as vice president of the International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF) for Southern Africa in the global anti-apartheid movement. His diverse contributions earned him lasting recognition in Norwegian medical, cultural, and civic history.
Biography
- 1919 – Born September 29, in Kristiania (now Oslo), Norway; eldest of three siblings to Norwegian mathematician Fredrik Lange-Nielsen (1891-1980)
- 1937 – Began medical studies in Oslo.
- 1944 – Arrested during WWII in October; imprisoned for nearly six months.
- 1947 – Graduated in medicine.
- 1953–1956 – Assistant and reserve physician at Vestfold sentralsykehus in Tønsberg, where he collaborated with Anton Jervell (1901-1987) on clinical cases.
- 1956 – Co-authored seminal paper describing a unique syndrome combining congenital deafness and long QT syndrome in four siblings.
- 1957 – Article published in American Heart Journal; later known as Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome (JLNS). Commenced tenure at Ullevål sykehus; remained there for rest of career.
- 1960s–1970s – Pioneered clinical allergology in Norway; established the country’s first hospital clinic for adult allergy and asthma. Co-founded Norwegian Asthma and Allergy Association; advocated for asthma education programs.
- 1964 – Prominent activist against apartheid; vice president of International Defence and Aid Fund for Southern Africa.
- 1989 – Died December 28, in Norway.
Medical Eponyms
Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome (JLNS) (1957)
Congenital (autosomal recessive) long QT syndrome (LQTS) associated with severe, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.Two genetic mutations identified encoding cardiac potassium channels. Due to high risk of sudden cardiac death ICD implantation is usually required
1957 – Lange-Nielsen along with Norwegian Professor of Cardiology, Anton Jervell (1901-1987) described an autosomal recessive syndrome of long-QT interval with deafness and sudden death
Four cases of deaf-mutism combined with a peculiar heart disease have been observed in one family. The parents and 2 other children were healthy and had normal hearing. The deaf-mute children all suffered attacks of fainting, probably Adams-Stokes seizures caused by standstill of the heart. The first attack occurred between the ages of 3 and 5 years, and 3 of the children died in such attacks at the ages of 4, 5, and 9 years, respectively.
Electrocardiographic studies in 3 of the cases revealed a marked prolongation of the Q-T interval.
Am Heart J. 1957
Jervell and Lange-Nielson recounted one case of a young boy, born in 1944 suffering from repeated ‘fainting attacks’ since the age of 3. The attacks usually occurred following effort. Occasionally the boy had complained of palpitations and precordial pains. In July, 1953, he was examined with the only pathologic finding being a prolongation of the Q-T interval in the electrocardiogram, worse following exercise. On Nov. 19, 1953, he had a further attack. He suddenly became pale and fell unconscious and died.
(a) ECG July 20. 1953, during rest. Leads I, II, III. IVR. Q-T = 0.50s. R-R = 0.88s.
(b) ECG July 20, 1953. after stair-running. Leads I. II. III, IVR. Q-T = 0.60s R-R = 0.86s. Jervell A, Lange-Nielsen F. 1957
Key Attributes
Advocacy and Public Health
Lange-Nielsen was an outspoken public health advocate. In the 1950s he campaigned against boxing due to head trauma risks. In the 1960s, he championed allergy awareness, spearheading establishment of clinical services and patient education. His social engagement extended globally; he was a key figure in Norwegian opposition to apartheid.
Artistic Pursuits
Beyond medicine, Lange-Nielsen was a talented jazz musician, active in radio and television performances, and engaged in cultural life alongside his professional and activist commitments. Fred Lange-Nielsen was a bass player and vocalist with:
- String Swing (1937-1941)
- Robert Normann (1942-1954)
- Quartet Hot Dogs
- Swingsters (with Cecil Aagaard)
- Oslo Swing Club Orchestra
- Seven Mintre and the Quintet Sy-We-La (1950-53)
Major Publications
- Jervell A, Lange-Nielsen F. Congenital deaf-mutism, functional heart disease with prolongation of the Q-T interval and sudden death. Am Heart J. 1957 Jul;54(1):59-68.
- Lange-Nielsen F, Retterstol N. Group psychotherapy in bronchial asthma. Acta Psychiatr Scand Suppl. 1959;34(136):187-204.
References
Biography
- Stendahl B, Bergh J. Sigarett Stomp – Jazz i Norge 1940-50. JazzArkivet.no
- Letter From Dr. Fred Lange-Nielsen to MLK. 10 December 1964. TheKingCenter.org
- Fred Lange-Nielsen. Discogs
- Eriksen TL. The origins of a special relationship: Norway and Southern Africa 1960–1975. I: Eriksen TL, red. Norway and National Liberation in Southern Africa. Uppsala: Nordiska Afrikainstitutet, 2000: 33-34
- Portrait: Fred Lange-Nielsen (1919–89) malt av Ville Aarseth (1899–1985) i 1979. Maleriet henger i bygg 3 (medisinsk bygning), Ullevål sykehus. Foto: Svein Skog, Oslo universitetssykehus.
Eponymous terms
- Levine SA, Woodworth CR. Congenital deaf-mutism, prolonged QT interval, syncopal attacks and sudden death. N Engl J Med. 1958 Aug 28;259(9):412-7.
- Hem E, Gjesdal KT, Tranebjærg L, Nylenna M. Historien om Jervell og Lange-Nielsens syndrom. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2024 Dec 16;144(15).
- The International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF). South African History Online. 14 February 2013
- Eponymythology. History of the Electrocardiogram. LITFL
Eponym
the person behind the name
