Rare disease caused ‘tragic’ death of Mikel Nita

A YOUNG waiter from Holloway who died from heart failure after complaining of breathing difficulties had a rare and incurable disease, an inquest has heard.
Mikel Nita, a 23-year-old Greek national who moved to Cardozo Road two years ago, died on October 8 last year at the Royal Free Hospital when his heart stopped beating.
St Pancras Coroner’s Court heard how in the months before his death Mr Nita made several visits to London hospitals complaining of breathing difficulties and coughing up blood.
He was suffering from pulmonary veno-occlusive disease, a rare condition affecting the heart and lungs. But doctors failed to spot the killer condition until the days before his death.
Dr Stephen Shaw, clinical director of intensive care at the Royal Free, said the disease was “extremely rare” and an earlier diagnosis would have been unlikely to change the outcome.
He said: “Mr Nita was given all the options that could have been given. Most cases of the condition die within two years of diagnosis. Currently there is no specific treatment for this condition, all we can do is experimental treatment. The only real option is a lung, or in this case, heart transplant, which requires waiting for an organ to become available.”
Recording a verdict of natural causes, Coroner Sean McGovern des­cribed the death as “tragic” and passed on his condolences to Mr Nita’s family, who were unable to attend the hearing.
JOSIE HINTON