General Pervez Musharraf, former Pakistan President, has been hospitalised for the last three weeks due to a complication of his ailment (Amyloidosis), his family said. They further quashed reports of his death, saying the  78-year-old was neither on the ventilator, nor dead. 

However, he is in a bad state, they added. 

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“He is not on the ventilator. Has been hospitalized for the last 3 weeks due to a complication of his ailment (Amyloidosis),” wrote Musharraf’s family on Twitter, from the former President’s official handle.

They added that his organs are malfunctioning and he going ‘through a difficult stage where recovery is not possible’. 

“Pray for ease in his daily living,” the statement added.

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Ifzaal Siddique, President of Musharraf’s party All Pakistan Muslim League, Overseas, had also urged people to not believe rumours about the former commander-in-chief’s death.

What is Amyloidosis, the rare disease Pervez Musharraf is suffering from?

Amyloidosis is a disease that occurs due to the build-up of amyloid in one’s organs. Amyloid is an abnormal protein that interferes with the functioning of the body. 

Organs affected include the heart, kidneys, liver, spleen, nervous system and digestive tract. The disease is life-threatening. 

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Symptoms:

Signs and symptoms of amyloidosis may include: (as per mayoclinic.org)

Swelling of your ankles and legs, severe fatigue and weakness, Shortness of breath with minimal exertion, unable to lie flat in bed due to shortness of breath, numbness, tingling or pain in your hands or feet, especially pain in your wrist (carpal tunnel syndrome), diarrhea, possibly with blood, or constipation, unintentional weight loss of more than 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms), an enlarged tongue, which sometimes looks rippled around its edge, skin changes, such as thickening or easy bruising, and purplish patches around the eyes, an irregular heartbeat, difficulty swallowing. 

To treat Amyloidosis, one might have to go for chemotherapy, mayoclinic notes.