First successful bone marrow transplant for a child from a biological mother with incompatible blood types

(Chinhphu.vn) - For the first time in Vietnam, a successful allogeneic bone marrow transplant for a child with Thalassemia using bone marrow from the biological mother, with incompatible blood types, was performed.

This is the first time in Vietnam that a successful allogeneic bone marrow transplant for a child with Thalassemia has been performed with bone marrow from the biological mother, with incompatible blood types.

On the evening of September 8, Hue Central Hospital announced that it had just held a discharge ceremony for the 11th Thalassemia bone marrow transplant with bone marrow taken from the mother, with incompatible blood types.

According to Hue Central Hospital, Vu Quynh C, 6 years old, from Bac Ninh , was diagnosed with Beta-Thalassemia at 6 months old and had to be hospitalized for monthly blood transfusions. She has been treated with iron chelation drugs since she was 3 years old. Liver MRI showed moderate iron overload in the liver. After hearing about successful Thalassemia bone marrow transplants at Hue Central Hospital, she and her family traveled from Bac Ninh to Hue to undergo bone marrow transplants.

After testing HLA, Vu Quynh C was found to be compatible with HLA 11/12 with her biological mother. The Hospital Board of Directors held a consultation meeting with departments, centers in the hospital, and experts from Italy to plan a transplant for the child on August 11, 2025.

According to doctors, this is a special transplant for two reasons: Incompatibility between mother and child, the baby has blood type A, and the mother has blood type AB. Previously, in Vietnam, for cases with incompatibility between blood types, red blood cells would be separated after collecting bone marrow stem cells or peripheral blood, some hospitals would use Rituximab. At Hue Central Hospital, a new technique has been applied, immune tolerance by transfusing the donor's blood type into the recipient's body with increasing volumes. The first day is 5 ml, the second day is 10 ml, the third day is 20 ml and the fourth day is 40 ml. In parallel with the blood transfusion, the patient also received multiple IV fluids and anti-allergy drugs.

Doctors used advanced immune tolerance techniques in this bone marrow transplant.

In addition, this is the first Thalassemia bone marrow transplant in Vietnam with bone marrow taken from the mother. According to statistics, 20% of siblings in the family have HLA compatibility. However, only 5% of children will have HLA compatibility with their father or mother. For Thalassemia bone marrow transplants with donors from parents, a different conditioning regimen will be used compared to bone marrow taken from siblings.

During the transplant, baby Vu Quynh C suffered from complications of infection, bladder bleeding and mild GVHD in the skin. With the spirit of "fighting to the end for the patient's survival", doctors at Hue Central Hospital closely monitored every moment, every clinical development, coordinated with other specialties, and took advantage of modern equipment systems. The patient gradually improved, with platelet and granulocyte lines recovering on the 20th and 24th days.

Today is the 28th day after the transplant, baby C was discharged from the hospital.

The patient was discharged from the hospital 28 days after bone marrow transplant.

Thalassemia is a common genetic hematological disease, with approximately 2,000-2,500 children in Vietnam diagnosed with the severe form each year. Children with the disease must undergo lifelong treatment with blood transfusions and iron excretion, leaving many complications in the heart, liver, kidneys, endocrine system, bones, and physical and mental development. Children's lives are closely tied to the hospital, becoming a burden for their families and society.

As a special-class hospital under the Ministry of Health , Hue Central Hospital has been a pioneer in advanced medical techniques for many years, especially organ and stem cell transplantation. The hospital has successfully performed more than 2,400 organ and tissue transplants. Since 2019, the hospital has deployed stem cell transplantation techniques in children, starting with transplantation on solid tumors such as high-risk neuroblastoma, metastatic retinoblastoma, relapsed lymphoma, then to allogeneic stem cell transplantation on Thalassemia.

From September 2024, the hospital officially implemented stem cell transplantation to treat Thalassemia. This is the first unit in the Central Highlands region, and the second in the country to perform this advanced technique. To date, the hospital has performed 61 stem cell transplants in children, including 11 allogeneic transplants for children with thalassemia. The hospital is also the first unit in the country to perform 11 allogeneic transplants for children with thalassemia in just 1 year. Currently, all children are healthy and no longer dependent on blood transfusions. Each successful transplant is not only a medical miracle but also a hope for life that is lit up in every family.

Currently, with the increasing demand for bone marrow transplants, the hospital has expanded its transplant rooms. Last August, the hospital inaugurated two new transplant rooms. Thus, the hospital can perform transplants on 4 children at the same time. In the very near future, the hospital will conduct half-matched transplants for children with Thalassemia who are not completely HLA compatible with their siblings and parents, expanding the chance of a healthy life for more Thalassemia children, especially in cases where there were previously no radical treatment options.

Nhat Anh

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/lan-dau-ghep-tuy-thanh-cong-cho-tre-tu-nguon-tuy-me-ruot-co-bat-dong-nhom-mau-102250908202522911.htm