Groundbreaking half-match bone marrow transplants offer new hope for patients
TIL Desk Lucknow/ In a significant stride towards advancing medical treatments, Medanta Hospital Lucknow successfully conducted two groundbreaking bone marrow transplants utilising a half-match donor. This pioneering procedure opens doors for patients previously facing limited options due to the challenges of finding a full-match donor. The half-match bone marrow transplant, also known as a haploidentical transplant, broadens the pool of potential donors, increasing the chances of finding suitable matches for individuals in need of life-saving treatments.
This innovative approach represents a breakthrough in the field of transplant medicine. Dr. Anshul Gupta, Director, Haemato-oncology, overseeing the procedure, said, “We have been successful in performing UP’s first bone marrow transplant with a high donor-specific antibody in a 22-year-old patient with aplastic anaemia, a life-threatening disease. The presence of antibodies specific to the donor can cause antibody-mediated rejection and is therefore considered a contraindication against transplantation in most cases.”
The 22-year-old patient from Gorakhpur is the lone breadwinner for the family and has received the half-match for the transplant from his sister. He has completed three months of follow-up post-transplant and is ready to lead a normal life.
The doctors at Medanta Hospital Lucknow have performed another challenging bone marrow transplant on a 50-year-old male suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, which is a severe category of blood cancer. “To address the risk of rejection with minimal immunosuppresion we performed a ‘Total Body Irradiation’ covering the whole body of the patient. TBI is generally done to suppress the patient’s immune system and prevent rejection of the donor’s bone marrow during the transplant. TBI has been performed for the first time at any centre in the eastern and central parts of Uttar Pradesh, added Dr. Anshul Gupta. The patient is now cancer free and has resumed their usual life.
The success of the half-match bone marrow transplants marks a pivotal moment in the pursuit of more inclusive and effective transplant solution. Medanta Hospital Lucknow remains committed to pushing the boundaries of medical innovation, with a focus on improving patient outcomes and expanding treatment options.
