Fred Lange-Nielsen

Biography

• Born 28 September 1919
• Physician in internal medicine in Tønsberg, Norway
• 1964 – Vice President of International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF) for Southern Africa
• Died 28 December 1989

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

In 1957 – Norwegian Professor of Cardiology, Anton Jervell (1901-1987) with his colleague and jazz virtuoso Fred Lange-Nielsen (1919-1989) describe an autosomal recessive syndrome of long-QT interval with deafness and sudden death

Key Attributions

Fred Lange-Nielsen was a bass player and vocalist with:

• String Swing (1937-41);
• 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

• 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
• The International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF). South African History Online. 14 February 2013
• Eponymythology. History of the Electrocardiogram. LITFL