KIMS summary contradicts official version

Thiruvananthapuram: Sunanda Pushkar’s treatment summary, issued by Kerala Institute for Medical Sciences, here, on January 14 suspected she might have been suffering from a slew of ailments, including Sjogren’s syndrome- auto immune disorder that affects the body’s capacity to fight infections- and possibly an overlap of syndromes.

But this contradicts KIMS doctors’ earlier version that Tharoor did not suffer from any life-threatening ailment. When she was discharged on January 14, the summary stated she was  ‘haemodynamically stable’ (physical aspects of blood circulation that include the cardiac functions stable). She was not taking any special medicines and needed more examination.

Though Tharoor had told KIMS doctors that she was suffering from lupus, doctors awaited test results. She was put her on a drug for arthritic pain. Besides an acid-retardant and antoxidant, she was advised hydrochloroquine (HCQ), which  has rare but serious side-effects like loss of vision, increasing unusual tiredness, easy bruising, seizures, breathing difficulty and mental changes.
The term Overlap Syndrome is used when many of these diseases coexist. Auto immune disorders have no cure and usually steroids are given for managing flare-ups.

Sunanda Tharoor had a history of lactose intolerance, intermittent fever since her eighth standard with the temperature going up to 104 degrees F, fainting episodes, migraine and muscle pain and bone pain. Once, she was told her headache was due to lupus.

Tests had been done in many countries and her ANA (anti-nuclear body suggesting immune compromise was positive). She was allergic to penicillin and photosensitive. Tests showed she had ulcers and biopsy result was awaited. She was advised medication for seven days and cardiology, rheumatology and neurology reviews. KIMS specialists were expected to review all pending reports and give a report in two weeks.