Former Afghanistan cricketer Shapoor Zadran, 38, who once sprinted the crease with flowing hair and a menacing left-arm angle, is now battling a life-threatening disease.
Zadran, who was admitted to a hospital in Delhi in January, is suffering from a rare disease known as hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). As his health condition deteriorated, he was admitted to the ICU.
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According to Zadran's brother, the infection has spread throughout the whole body. "It also spread to his brain, which was revealed after MRI and CT scans," said Ghamai Zadran.
What is HLH?
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is a rare, life-threatening immune system disorder where overactive white blood cells damage organs and destroy other blood cells.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, there are two types of HLH: genetic and acquired. If both parents are genetic carriers of HLH, a child has a 25 per cent chance of having the disease, a 25 per cent chance of not having the disease, and a 50 per cent chance of being a carrier.
In adults, many different conditions, including infections and cancer, can cause HLH.
The symptoms of HLH include: enlargement of your liver, swollen lymph nodes, skin rashes, jaundice, lung problems, digestive issues, nervous system problems, including visual disturbances, trouble walking and headache.
Can the condition be cured?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, the only definitive cure for primary (genetic) HLH is a stem cell transplant, which replaces the defective immune system. However, the condition is fatal if untreated, but has high survival rates with early diagnosis and therapy.
Even after treatment, HLH can return, particularly if it's genetic; careful monitoring is required.
Management of the disease focuses on suppressing the immune system and treating underlying causes (infection, malignancy).