The Crown Princess of Norway, Mette-Marit, is likely to face a lung transplant, as her health has deteriorated over the past few months, the Norwegian royal house has announced, the BBC reported.
The 52-year-old princess was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018. This degenerative disease creates scar tissue that stiffens the lungs, making it difficult to breathe and get oxygen into the bloodstream.
Tests carried out in the autumn showed an “obvious deterioration” in her health, the royal palace said on Friday.
– We are reaching the point when a lung transplant will be necessary – said Dr. Martin Holm, head of the department of respiratory medicine at Oslo University Hospital.
Princess Mette-Marit told public broadcaster PRC that her illness had progressed “faster than she had hoped”.
No decision has been made yet on whether she will be put on the transplant waiting list, Dr. Holm said. Dvor added that her doctors have begun the evaluation process for lung transplant surgery.
In Norway, there are usually between 20 and 40 patients waiting for a lung transplant, and Princess Mette-Marit will not have priority if she is put on the list, local media reports.
Although she is not yet on the donor list, Dr. Holm said her medical team is “making the necessary preparations to make a transplant possible when the time comes.”
The royal court said Princess Mette-Marit has an “increasing need” for rest and a targeted exercise regime.
However, she expressed “a strong interest in continuing to perform her duties.” Her royal duties and events will be tailored to her health needs.
Dr. Holm described pulmonary fibrosis as a “dangerous disease” that is often not visible, as it depends on the severity of the individual’s disease. At rest, the patient can breathe normally, but during exertion – for example during exercise – the lungs “can no longer keep up”.
Crown Prince Haakon, the future king of Norway, who is the husband of Princess Mette-Marit, explained in an interview with NRK that the princess can look “perfectly fine” while sitting, but he noticed that her breathing is difficult, she has less energy and she gets sick more often.
The planned transplant itself is demanding because it carries risks, said Mette-Marit, aware of the complications. A successful transplant depends on finding the right match and on the body not rejecting the new organ.
A transplant is considered a last resort, Dr. Holm explained, adding that patients must be significantly ill and have a limited life expectancy before a lung transplant is possible.
The news of the princess’s deteriorating health comes months after her eldest son was charged with 32 offences, including four cases of rape.
Marius Borg Høiby, 28, denies the most serious charges, but plans to plead guilty to some minor offenses when the trial begins, his lawyer Petar Sekulić told Reuters in August.
Høiby is the step-son of the heir to the Norwegian throne, but has no royal title or official duties.
(Vijesti.ba)
