It will be bio-tec’s biggest breakthrough if the cord blood transplant treatment which began in Mumbai’s Jaslok Hospital on a Thalassemic (a genetic blood disorder) 4-year old child Damini Mhatre. This could be the first patient in India to be cured of the genetic condition. The hospital stay for the treatment is going to last for about 2 months. The treatment is very expensive, may cost a few lakhs of rupees.
Generally, thalassemias are prevalent in populations that evolved in humid climates where malaria was endemic, but affects all races. Thalassemic conditions are particularly associated with Arab-Americans, people of Mediterranean origin, and Asians.
The usual treatment for thalassemia is a bone marrow transplant from a donor or stem cells. There are only two hospitals in India which use unrelated cord blood cells to treat leukemia and aplastic anaemia. This may be the first time that it is being used for thalassemia. It is reported that the condition may be cured and Damini will be able to live normal life. However, the parents of the child are also being cautioned about the high chances of rejection/infections occurring in the treatment.
It is the responsibility of all to ensure that the high-tech treatment is encouraged in all the major hospitals in the country and put in place the necessary regulatory framework for the stem cell research. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare should ensure availability of adequate funding for the research and subsidize the treatment for economically poor children. Can one expect to see the thalassemic patients living the normal life again in the near future?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment