MacGregor's Syndrome is a fictional condition in the Batman mythos which is typically affiliated as being the disease that infects Nora Fries, the wife of Victor Fries.
Overview
Mac Gregor's Syndrome is characterized as a disease which filled up the lungs with fluid and made it very hard to breathe. There were four stages of infection of the disease with each stage being more and more incurable.
In the TV shows Arrow and The Flash, it is elaborated that MacGregor's Syndrome is a genetic-condition (similar to cancer) which along with making breathing difficult, causes organ failure. It is further stated that it is common in those with a history of drug abuse.
Appearances
Batman and Robin (film)
Nora Fries, the wife of Victor Fries, suffered from Stage Four of the syndrome, with Victor placing her in cryogenic stasis so that he could find a cure for it. During his research, Fries fell into some of the liquid chemicals that were used for the stasis process and was mutated into his new form of 'Mr. Freeze', but continued his research into MacGregor's Syndrome.
In the course of his confrontation with Freeze, Bruce Wayne learned that Alfred Pennyworth also suffered from MacGregor's Syndrome. When Batman discovered Fries's Lab and the suspended body of Nora, the analysis of the doctor-turned-criminal's notes revealed that he had found a cure for Stage One of the disease and made good progress on a cure for Stage Two; while Freeze was still far from ready to cure Nora's Stage Four MacGregor's Syndrome, he had already surpassed all other work on that disease.
Freeze was briefly manipulated by Poison Ivy into believing that Batman had killed Nora by deactivating her life-support systems, which drove him to agree to Ivy's plan to wipe out all human life to vent his rage against Batman and the society that created him. However, once Freeze's plan was defeated and Ivy was incapacitated, Batman revealed that Nora was still alive and he never killed her. After he appealed to Dr. Victor Fries, Batman asked his 'foe' to show true power by giving life rather than taking it and sharing the cure for Stage One of MacGregor's Syndrome. After he was moved by Batman's appeal to the man that he had once been, Freeze provided him with two vials of the cure, which restored Alfred to full health by the following morning. In return, Batman ensured that Nora would be moved to the Arkham Asylum Labs so that Freeze could continue his research into the disease.
Arrowverse
Arrow
The Clock King has the disease which leads to him committing crimes to obtain money to leave his sister.
The Flash
Francine West contracts the disease due to a history of drug-abuse.
Known Victims
- Nora Fries:
- Clock King (Arrowverse):
- Francine West (Arrowverse):
Notes
- The disease affecting Nora first appeared in Batman: The Animated Series but was never given a name.
- In the New 52 before Rebirth, Nora's condition was described as being an incurable heart disease which she contracted at the age of 23.
- In the Batman: Arkham series, Nora is depicted as suffering from the real-life affliction known as Huntington's chorea.