While Sharif family through their counsel Dr Amjad Pervez has submitted a report in the Lahore High Court about health condition of former premier Nawaz Sharif, doctors treating the PML-N supremo considering his toxicology screening, if no cause or cure is found of his unstable platelets.

University College Hospital and Harley Street Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon and Hematologists at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital have hinted that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's toxicology screening for poisoning may be conducted in London if no cause or cure is found of his unstable platelets.

In the report submitted before the Lahore High Court, Dr David R Lawrence has written: "If the platelet count does not respond, he may be considered for possible toxicology screen. We want to target platelet count between 50-150 to allow safe treatment with anti-platelet therapy."

Sources in Sharif family said that doctors were worried about the platelets issue and especially the fact that Nawaz's platelets count fell sharply and radically from over 75,000 to just about 2,000 within 24 hours while he was in NAB custody.

Dr David R Lawrence wrote in his report: "He (Nawaz Sharif) suffers from various significant ailments and co-morbidities. He has been reviewed by the Hematology Team at the Guy's & St. Thomas' Hospital and London Bridge Hospital and has most likely ITP, the trigger and underlying cause for which is unclear, but he is having a slow response to first and second line therapies."

"There has also been a "recent exacerbation of coronary artery disease" and "there is ongoing persistent lymphadenopathy and bilateral carotid artery stenosis," he said in the report, adding: "A PET scan was arranged at London Bridge Hospital under Hematology at London Bridge, which has to be investigated for lymphadenopathy; a lymph node biopsy has been recommended after the scan. He (Nawaz) initially did very well following his coronary artery bypass surgery but has had a troublesome circumflex vessel which has occluded on at least two occasions. The resultant effect has been persistent ischaemia in the lateral wall of his heart and NSTEMI."

The report says: "Cardiac MRI is booked via Chris Baker's office. The team at the London Bridge has also arranged that he see Professor Simon Redwood who I understand is going to repeat his coronary angiogram as a query proceeds. Sharif is also due for a vascular referral to address the critical carotid artery stenosis (>80% Rt ICA, October 2019) which is a risk for stroke. He has to proceed with cardiac and carotid issues once he stabilises and gets clearance from the haematology team treating him. I will look to review him with the results of his cardiac scans and clinical hematology consults."

The report adds that Nawaz is currently undergoing investigations and is under constant clinical monitoring of the ongoing treatment which is paramount to stabilize his health, also requiring persistent follow up in the United Kingdom until these issues are finally addressed and he is able to resume day to day activity."

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019