Narayana Hrudayalaya – Mazumdar Shaw Cancer Centre, Bangalore informed that they have successfully treated a six-month-old girl suffering from infantile leukaemia through ‘unrelated stem cell transplantation’.
Dr Sharath Damodar, Consultant Haematologist and Head – Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, Narayana Hrudayalaya-Mazumdar Shaw Cancer Centre diagnosed the baby with acute lymphatic leukaemia, when she was evaluated for a low blood count and was started on chemotherapy.
As this particular leukaemia carries an extremely poor prognosis at this age group with the survival rate as low as 10 per cent, stem cell transplantation was the only possibility. A worldwide search was initiated as it was difficult to find a donor for stem cells in India (the baby being the only child).
After a period of two to three months, a matched unrelated donor from the US was identified and the stem cells reached Narayana Hrudayalaya in Bangalore.
Dr Damodar explained about the importance of stem cell donation. He said, “In India, it is very difficult to find a donor for stem cells. People were dependent on donors from the US and Europe to get such donors. We need to inspire people around the country to come forward for stem cell donation, which is a little more than blood donation and can save several lives.”
This successful case of the little girl is expected to give a new hope of life for many such children who are suffering from infantile leukaemia.
EH News Bureau