Successful 11th Bone Marrow Transplant for Thalassemia at Hue Central Hospital, Using Donor Marrow from the Mother

Little Vu Quynh C. and her father in the transplant room

Previously, C. was diagnosed with Beta-Thalassemia at 6 months old. For many years, she had to receive monthly blood transfusions and began iron chelation therapy at age 3. Liver MRI results showed moderate iron overload. HLA testing revealed an 11/12 match with her mother, so the family brought her to Hue Central Hospital after learning of their many successful transplant cases.

This was a particularly special case due to two factors: the blood group mismatch between mother and child, and the fact that the marrow donor was the mother herself. The child’s blood type was A, while her mother’s was AB. Normally, in such cases of blood group incompatibility, hospitals need to separate red blood cells or use special medications. However, the team at Hue Central Hospital applied an innovative method - immune tolerance induction by gradually introducing the donor’s blood type into the recipient with increasing doses, combined with intravenous fluids and anti-allergy medication. After 4 days, antibody levels dropped below the dangerous threshold, allowing direct infusion of stem cells without the need for red blood cell separation.

This method not only reduced costs but also preserved the maximum number of stem cells for the patient. This was also the hospital’s third Thalassemia transplant involving a blood group mismatch and the first in the country using a mother’s marrow. According to medical statistics, only about 5% of children have HLA compatibility with a parent, compared to roughly 20% with siblings.

The Board of Directors of Hue Central Hospital presented flowers and gifts to congratulate the family of little Vu Quynh C. on her discharge day

During the transplant, C. experienced some complications such as bladder hemorrhage and mild skin graft-versus-host reaction. However, platelet and white blood cell counts recovered after 20 - 24 days. By day 28, her health was stable, and she was eligible for discharge.

This success not only brought new life to the young patient but also opened hope for thousands of children with Thalassemia - a genetic disease requiring lifelong blood transfusions if not definitively treated. After a bone marrow transplant, these children have the chance to grow normally without depending on transfusions.

Hue Central Hospital is now expanding its treatment program by performing haploidentical transplants for pediatric patients without fully HLA-matched donors. This marks an important step forward, affirming the hospital’s position as one of the nation’s leading bone marrow transplant centers, and opening many new treatment opportunities for disadvantaged children.