The stem cell banking has once again proved to be a life-saver, this time for a five-year-old boy Moinam from Siliguri. He was detected with ebeta thalassemia at the age of five months and after five years his family has a reason to rejoice, when underwent a successful stem cell transplant. CordLife India, Asia’s largest stem cell bank, had preserved the cord blood of Moinam’s sister and provided it to Moinam at the time of the transplant therapy. CordLife made this announcement today, highlighting the fact that this was India’s first successful mixed stem cell transplant.

The boy had to undergo the painful and elaborate process of blood transfusion and was on medication until stem cell transplant from cord blood and bone marrow gave him a new life. Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder in which the body produces an abnormal form of haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. The disorder results in excessive destruction of red blood cells and causes severe anaemia that can occur within months after birth. If left untreated, severe anaemia can result in insufficient growth and development, as well as other common physical complications that can lead to a dramatically decreased life-expectancy.

On 3rd April 2011, the stem cell transplantation was carried out by Dr. Ashish Mukherjee at the Netaji Subhash Cancer Research Institute and this is the first time that a mixed stem cell transplant (cord blood and bone marrow) has been performed in India. The boy is now in recovery phase and is expected to get completely cured as his blood tests have been very heartening.

The MD of CordLife India,  Meghnath Roy Chowdhury said, “It has given our international presence and superior technology in preserving stem cells, the parents approached us to preserve their second child’s cord blood during her birth. We are happy that we have been part of this path breaking transplant case, which has given a new lease of life to the child.”

The medical director of CordLife India, Dr Prosanto Chowdhury elaborated that “When stem cells are needed to treat a life-threatening disease, doctors can effectively predict transplant success by evaluating two factors - HLA compatibility and stem cell count. A transplant unit’s stem cell count in relation to the recipient’s body weight is called the cell dose, and it is the most significant predictor for overall transplant survival. In situations, like haematological malignancies, the clock is ticking and the stem cells are to be procured and transplanted at the earliest, so keeping the stem cells, and using them on as and when required basis, is the key to success. Transplants like these confirm CordLife’s technology and our assurance to parents who bank with us their baby’s cord blood. CordLife has added another feather to its cap in its history of successful transplant cases including treating diseases like cerebral palsy and leukaemia through stem cell transplants”.

“This successful transplant case would further enhance the confidence of the parents and stem cell therapy and cord blood banking would be looked up as a possible measure for treatment against such life threatening diseases” according to Meghnath Roy Chowdhury.

There are about 10,000 thalasaemic children born each year in India, and most of them do not live beyond 10 years of age. Thanks to this revolutionary development in the healthcare industry which will help the nation to fight against the life threatening diseases like thalassemia, leukaemia etc.