Punjab health minister confirms Nawaz suffered minor heart attack

Overall platelet count has improved from 30,000 to 40,000 but former PM's doctors decide against angiography

LAHORE: Punjab Health Minister Yasmeen Rashid has revealed that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who has been diagnosed with a bleeding disorder earlier this week, had suffered a ‘minor heart attack” two days ago. However, she added that the attack didn’t cause any damage to the heart of the 69-year-old ailing politician.

Speaking to the media, the provincial minister also said that the blood pressure of the former premier, who is serving a seven-year jail term on corruption charges, is also elevated, while his blood sugar is within normal range.

“Nawaz Sharif also suffered angina pain this morning which caused problems in breathing,” Yasmeen Rashid said. “However, his bone marrow is functioning properly, while the platelet counts in his blood are also increasing.”

The ailing politician, who was granted bail by the Lahore High Court on medical grounds on Friday, has been diagnosed with acute ITP, or immune thrombocytopenic purpura, a bleeding disorder in which the immune system destroys platelets. “Nawaz Sharif’s condition has been diagnosed and his treatment is ongoing,” the minister said.



According to Yasmeen, the platelet counts of Nawaz Sharif, who is on IVIg, have gone up to 45,000 platelets per microliter of blood. A normal platelet count ranges from 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter.

IVIg, or Intravenous Immune Globulin, is a human blood product consisting of antibodies which is used to treat ITP and several other immunodeficiency disorders.

Though the platelet counts have improved, but the medical board treating the former three-time premier at Lahore’s Service Hospital says that it is still not sufficient enough for angiography. Sources say that Nawaz Sharif might be shifted to Karachi for treatment.

The PML-N supremo was rushed to the Services Hospital on October 21 after his health condition deteriorated to a dangerous level.

“Nawaz’s medical board is giving him a blood-thinning drug to cut any risk of stroke since he has a history of heart-related issues,” a source told The Express Tribune.