A 13 YEAR-OLD girl died as a result of a rare genetic disorder which affects the rhythm of the heart.

An inquest heard that the cause of Rebecca Holt's sudden death was only discovered after her twin sister Sophie was tested at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool.

A top paediatric pathologist confirmed that without the living diagnosis Rebecca's cause of death would not have been ascertained. Her sister is now receiving treatment for the condition.

A consultant paediatrician at Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn, said lessons had been learned and revealed that the provision of electrocardiogram (ECG) testing equipment in the department was now being given priority.

The inquest heard that Rebecca, of Rogersfield, Langho, and a pupil at St Augustine's RC High School, Billington, died of Long Q-T Syndrome, a rare disorder of the heart's electrical system after being taken ill in her bedroom.

For three years, doctors had been investigating recurring night-time and early morning seizures.

Dr Meera Lama, a consultant paediatrician at QPH, said epilepsy had always been considered a possibility. While on a skiing holiday in France in 2003, Rebecca suffered three seizures and epilepsy was the favoured diagnosis.

In February this year she was prescribed an epilepsy treatment, but on April 13 suffered another seizure at home. Rebecca suffered respiratory arrest and, despite resuscitation attempts, did not respond.

Dr Lama said Long Q-T had never been considered as a possibility, primarily because cardiac arrhythmia usually occurs at times of physical activity.

He added: "Rebecca was a very sporty girl and nothing happened when activity was being carried out."

Dr Lama said Long Q-T was normally a genetically inherited disease but Rebecca's parents, John and Helen Holt, had been found to be clear.

Dr Lama said there are currently no guidelines suggesting children with suspected epilepsy should be given an ECG, but the department is now looking at whether every child who presents with seizures should have a heart test.

Questioned by Mr Holt, Dr Lama said that, with hindsight, they should have thought about cardiac arrhythmia. She also conceded more notice should have been taken of Mrs Holt's assertion that there was no pulse during the seizures.

Recording a verdict of natural causes coroner Michael Singleton said: "It is always a lot easier when you start with the answer and work back. I am sure that today and every day since your daughter's death has been a nightmare.

"I hope that, like me, you can take some comfort from the knowledge that medical science has been advanced such that in the future some parents will not have to go through the agony you have."