In what can be called a quantum leap in pediatric hematology and immunology advancement, a five-year-old boy, Master Abbas, diagnosed with a rare and complex condition, underwent a transformative stem cell transplant surgery.
The boy from Waset, Iraq, was diagnosed with a Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID)-like phenotype caused by an IKZF-1 mutation, a rare case in the world.
SHALBY Sanar Hospital, Gurugram conducted the transplantation, recorded as the world’s first Haploidentical Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT), a type of stem cell transplant where the donor is a half-matched (haploidentical) relative.
Patients who don’t have a fully matched donor benefit from this procedure. As a daily reported, essentially it involves high-dose chemotherapy or radiation to destroy diseased bone marrow, followed by the infusion of donor stem cells to restore healthy blood formation.
Dr Vikram I Shah, the hospital’s founder, is headquartered in Gujarat. A decorated replacement surgeon and visionary healthcare entrepreneur, Dr Shah is dedicated to providing extraordinary care and treatment at par with international standards.
“Master Abbas had been suffering from Failure to Thrive (FTT), Severe Chronic Lung Disease (CLD), and Leaky Gut Syndrome (LGS). Abba’s elder brother had died with the same problem at the age of 7 years,” the hospital said.
It added, “Complicating the case further, Master Abbas did not have a 100% HLA-matched donor. The medical team decided to proceed with a 50% HLA-matched Haploidentical BMT. Before the transplant, his CLD and Leaky Gut Syndrome were managed using specialised treatments to stabilise his condition. Bone Marrow Transplant in CVID is rarely reported and at 5 years not even one case has been reported across in the world literature.”
This was a very challenging case, but our team worked together to overcome the difficulties,” Dr. Satyendra Katewa, Director & Head of the Department of Blood & Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapies, SHALBY Sanar hospital., told media outlets.
For patients without fully matched donors, this successful transplant is a testament to medical science advancement. It showcases the heights state-of-the-art therapies have reached and the steadfast dedication of medical personnel to enhance lives.
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