Army hospital successfully performs first life-saving bone marrow transplant on 7-year-old
The procedure aimed to replace the defective immune cells with healthy cells, offering a renewed chance for a healthy and vibrant life.
Indian Army does it again: In an extraordinary medical achievement, doctors from the Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation at Army Hospital (Research and Referral) in Delhi Cantonment have for the first time successfully performed a life-saving bone marrow transplant (commonly known as BMT) for a child diagnosed with a rare primary immunodeficiency disorder. The groundbreaking procedure, performed on Master Sushant Paudel, has opened new doors of hope for children and families facing similar challenges.
Sepoy Pradip Paudel’s 7-year-old son Sushant was diagnosed with ARPC1b, a very rare form of immune deficiency, at the age of one, a condition that severely compromised his immune system, making him prone to repeated life-threatening infections and other complications. The patient was referred to Army Hospital (R&R) six months ago but did not have an HLA-matched sibling. The hospital’s hematology team began an arduous journey to find a suitable donor and organize a carefully planned bone marrow transplant.
The Matched Unrelated Donor (MUD) transplant, performed on 30Nov23, involved harvesting healthy stem cells from an HLA-compatible donor, in this case a voluntary, unrelated donor, and infusing them into Sushant Paudel’s bloodstream , after his defective cells were removed. destroyed by a very high dose of chemotherapy. The procedure aimed to replace the defective immune cells with healthy cells, offering a renewed chance for a healthy and vibrant life.
Speaking after the successful transplant, the Commander of AHRR, Lieutenant General Ajith Nilakantan said, “It is a moment of great pride and satisfaction for the entire medical fraternity at AHRR and this patient is a success story through team effort.” The HOD of Hematology Department, Brig Rajan Kapoor said, “Sushant Paudel’s journey has been nothing short of miraculous. This achievement is a testament to the collective efforts of our dedicated medical team, the continued support of Sushant’s family and the generosity of the donor. To our knowledge, this is the first transplant for this immunodeficiency in India.”
Senior Advisor in the Department of Hematology, Colonel Rajiv Kumar, said, “Only 1 in 5 patients has a sibling with a full HLA match. The availability of HLA-matched, unrelated donor stem cells derived from DATRI in this patient is truly a game changer for such patients suffering from a life-threatening immunodeficiency disorder.”
Pediatric hematologist at AHRR Lt. Col. Sanjeev Khera stated that the presence of multiple active infections at the time of transplant made this a very challenging and risky transplant. Sushant Paudel’s family shared their gratitude and optimism for the future.
The successful bone marrow transplant not only brings hope to Sushant and his family but also serves as a beacon of hope for countless others struggling with rare primary immunodeficiencies and other similar conditions that are curable with a timely bone marrow transplant. Army Hospital R&R remains committed to advancing medical research and treatment options for rare diseases, underscoring its commitment to improving the lives of children and families.