Ex-PM suffers angina attack, platelet count rises to 45,000.

Byline: Zulqernain Tahir

LAHORE -- The health of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif showed signs of improvement on Saturday with his platelet count rising from 20,000 to 45,000 despite suffering an angina attack. According to doctors, 50,000 platelets and beyond are required for a patient to be declared fit for (air) travel.

'Nawaz Sharif on Friday had an angina attack, but fortunately it did not damage his heart,' Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid told a presser on Saturday.

She, however, stated that Mr Sharif was facing breathing problems, but overall his condition had improved owing to timely treatment.

Mr Sharif's platelet count that was fluctuating and had fallen to a critically low level of 2,000 since his admission to the Services Hospital on Monday night improved to 45,000 on Saturday.

'Mian sahib's platelet count on Saturday increased to 45,000 and it will rise further with time,' the minister said. 'Nawaz Sharif has been a heart patient for a long time. Complication occurs if diabetes and blood pressure of a heart patient go out of control.'

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Dr Saqib Shafiq, a board member treating Mr Sharif, said: 'According to his latest ECG, Mr Sharif's condition is better now. Complication in diseases increases if the heart muscles are affected. The blood pressure of the patient is also normal.'

Mr Sharif's personal physician Dr Adnan Khan said: 'Nawaz Sharif is being managed on the lines of acute ITP (Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura) treatment protocol, on Platelet Transfusions, IV Steroids and IV Immunoglobulins. The definitive diagnosis is yet to be ascertained.'

He also said Mr Sharif has severe atherosclerotic 'coronary and carotid artery disease' with co-morbidities (HTN, DM, CKD) and because of subsequent serious effects of treatment developed NSTEMI (Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction); being managed on ACS protocol.

Dr Khan further tweeted: 'Critical Thrombocytopenia (low platelets count) and NSTEMI (Non ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction), both of serious nature and consequences, has made the clinical...