A grieving mum whose pregnant daughter died in her sleep from a mystery illness a year ago has accused medics of ignoring a rare genetic disorder she carried.
Jacqueline Sanderson’s world fell apart when she found 22-year-old Rosanna dead in her bed in , near , on September 9 last year.
She was 14 weeks pregnant with a girl she would have named .
Medics tried and failed to establish the mum-to-be’s cause of death and it was recorded by the several months later as “unascertained”.
But as heartbroken Jacqueline pored over her daughter’s medical records, one fact stood out – that she had been a carrier of rare genetic kidney disorder Gitleman’s syndrome, thought to affect just one in 40,000 people.
Jacqueline, 49, who is also a carrier of Gitleman’s, found her daughter’s symptoms in her medical notes were starkly similar to those of people who have the syndrome.
The Scottish Fatalities and Investigations Unit said they would send advice to the in light of Rosanna’s death, “so that if appropriate they could utilise it to increase awareness of this syndrome and the complications (especially during pregnancy)”.
But at recent talks with NHS chiefs, Jacqueline was told that Rosanna should not have been affected by symptoms as she was just a carrier.
Jacqueline said: “I told NHS ’s chief of medicine that I know my daughter died because of Gitleman’s syndrome, yet there’s a question mark on her death certificate. They didn’t take me seriously, which made me angry.
“If the Procurator Fiscal is passing on information to raise awareness of the syndrome it should be taken into account, because this should never ever happen to anybody else’s wee girl or any other family.”
Gitleman’s can cause depletion of the body’s potassium and magnesium levels, known as hypokalaemia.
Some sufferers experience excessive tiredness, low blood pressure and painful joints.
They can also be at risk of developing cardiac problems.
Jacqueline said: “Every symptom Rosanna had leading up to her death was linked to .”
She has complained to the health board that Rosanna was not given further observations when the issue of Gitleman’s was raised at a prenatal appointment.
Jacqueline said she wants more investigations into the syndrome and potential implications for carriers, especially in pregnancy.
She said: “I will fight for her all the way to get this question mark off her death certificate.”
An NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde spokeswoman said: “Our chief of medicine has met with a member of the family and is undertaking a further review. Our thoughts remain with the family at this difficult time.”
