Chediak-Higashi Syndrome patients must cope with coagulation and difficulties in mobility. Since the immune system does not function properly in this disease, blood clotting occurs frequently in the patient, which results in bruising, and weakness in the limbs as well as trouble walking and maintaining stability. Usually when an individual bleeds, the platelets and fibrins in the blood would form a “gel-like mass” (Wedro) to stop the blood. However, the function of the immune system, mainly the white blood cells, are mutated in Chediak-Higashi Syndrome. Therefore the platelets and fibrins are also defective, because these substances are part of the immune system. With defected platelets, blood cannot be stopped properly, so patients will have bruises appear all over their bodies. Or, in some cases, the bleeding itself does not stop. A blood clot varies in severity based on which part of the body it occurs. If it is in the limbs, the results are numbness, pain, swelling, or change in color. Complications with the limbs does not correlate with death. However, when lungs, the heart, and other primary organs are affected by the blood clot, then the patient will demonstrate serious seizures, and this can potentially lead to death if the treatment is too late (Wedro).
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