Hirohito’s Blood Pressure Falls Despite Transfusions

TOKYO — Emperor Hirohito’s blood pressure plunged dangerously and failed to recover Thursday despite two emergency transfusions, indicating a sharp decline in his already frail health, palace officials said.

The 87-year-old Japanese emperor was given 1.72 pints of blood in two transfusions after his systolic blood pressure fell below 70, but it rose only to 74 by evening, Imperial Household Agency spokesman Kenji Maeda said.

Such low levels can permanently damage the kidneys, brain and other internal organs because of the reduced amount of oxygen flowing to them. The average person has a systolic blood pressure of 120.

Sources close to the palace physicians said the level of waste products in Hirohito’s blood has reached dangerous levels because of kidney damage, Kyodo News Service reported.

In the past, transfusions have raised the emperor’s blood pressure in a relatively brief time, but the recovery time lengthened as Hirohito’s strength waned during more than 3 1/2 months of intermittent internal bleeding.

Palace officials have refused to comment on news reports that the emperor is suffering from cancer in his upper intestine or pancreas.

Crown Prince Akihito, 56, the emperor’s elder son, is heir to the throne. Hirohito, the longest-reigning living monarch, marked the beginning of his 63rd year as emperor on Dec. 25, the anniversary of the death of his father, Emperor Taisho.