Frank Bassen

Who is Frank Bassen?

Frank Albert Bassen practiced as a haematologist and internist in New York, 1933–1978, in affiliation with Mount Sinai Hospital. He was born 14 November 1903 in St. George, New Brunswick, Canada and graduated from McGill University. He emigrated to the United States via Vanceboro, Maine, in 1928 and was subsequently naturalized as a citizen of the United States. He died in 2003 at the age of 99 years.

In partnership with Abraham Kornzweig, Bassen identified Bassen-Kornzweig disease, a rare autosomal recessive disorder in which the body fails to produce chylomicrons, a low density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein. Individuals with this condition are unable to properly digest fats. Symptoms include ataxia, peripheral neuropathy and other forms of nerve dysfunction. Treatment includes vitamin E.

Characteristics of the syndrome include the presence of acanthocytes, and the reduction or even absence of B-lipoproteins.