07.08.2026 14:01
Şehmus Doğan, a 41-year-old who applied to the hospital with persistent dizziness and chest pain, had a surprising diagnosis. Detailed examinations revealed an extremely rare genetic disease, seen in only 67 people worldwide to date, which can lead to sudden cardiac death. While Şehmus Doğan was recorded as the 68th case in the world, this disease was seen for the first time in Turkey.
Doğan, 41, living in Mardin, applied to Diyarbakır Selahaddin Eyyubi State Hospital due to persistent dizziness, blackouts, and chest pain. As a result of examinations conducted by cardiology specialist Dr. Ferdi Ekinci and his team, Doğan was diagnosed with Bundgaard Syndrome, a hereditary heart condition rarely seen in the world in medical literature.
The examination revealed that this hereditary disease was also present in Doğan's 4-year-old daughter and some family members. Doğan, who received medication treatment, and his family members were put under health monitoring.
"CAN CAUSE RHYTHM DISORDER LEADING TO SUDDEN DEATH"
Dr. Ekinci told the AA correspondent that the patient came to them with complaints such as dizziness and blackouts, and they detected a very rare disease during their examinations.
Stating that this disease is very little known in the medical world and can therefore be overlooked, Ekinci said:
"There are 67 patients in the world other than this case. We found the 68th patient. We identified it as the first case in Türkiye. This is a disease that can cause rhythm disorders and sudden death. Since it is a familial disease, if it is present in the mother or father, the likelihood of it being present in children is high. This is a disease diagnosed in Denmark in 2018 by Henning Bundgaard and his colleagues. In subsequent studies, 67 patients were identified. Our patient was also recorded as the 68th person. We published the article about this case in the world-renowned cardiology journal JACC. We also determined that this disease is familial in our patient. Because we saw in the ECG results that it was present in his father, his father's uncle, his 4-year-old daughter, his older sister, and his sister. We continue detailed studies on this."
"IF WE SEE HIGH RISK, WE RECOMMEND A PACEMAKER"
Ekinci, explaining that they monitor the frequency of rhythm disorders in patients with a Holter device, said, "If we see high risk, we recommend pacemakers or defibrillators. Our patient currently does not have a serious arrhythmia burden. We saw in the follow-up with the Holter device that the rhythm disorder burden was not very high. Therefore, we are currently only following up with our patient as an outpatient. The patient's complaints have currently resolved with the medication treatment we provided. He is generally stable, and we are also following up his family."
RECOMMENDATION NOT TO CONFUSE IT WITH A HEART ATTACK
Ekinci, stating that the disease can sometimes be confused with a heart attack, shared the following information:
"A heart attack is something caused by the sudden blockage of one of the three vessels feeding the heart, resulting in insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle. In our patient's ECG result, we saw a pattern resembling a heart attack rather than a rhythm disorder. We performed an angiography and saw that the vessels were not blocked. In subsequent studies, we confirmed this diagnosis. Our physician colleagues should pay special attention so that such situations are not overlooked because it can be a fatal disease. Recognizing this disease is important for patients' survival. When this disease is unknown, there can be a risk of sudden cardiac death. Therefore, it is an important disease."
"I HOPE I WILL RECOVER MY HEALTH SOON"
Şehmus Doğan said his symptoms started as dizziness, blackouts, and chest pain, and he came to Diyarbakır after not getting results from the hospital he previously visited.
Doğan, stating that he learned he had a very rare disease during the examinations conducted by Dr. Ferdi Ekinci, said, "It was said that this disease could also be in my family. It was also detected in my 4-year-old daughter. I used the medications our doctor gave, and I saw their effect. My chest pain and dizziness complaints decreased. We are following this disease with our doctor. I hope I will recover and get my health back soon."