BANGKOK: Thailand announced what could be the world's first successful case of a stem cell transplant involving a patient infected with Covid-19.
The Ramathibodi Hospital here announced on Tuesday that a young patient with the coronavirus disease, donated his bone marrow to save his ailing sister.
Professor Dr Suradet Hongeng, an expert in stem cell transplants at the hospital, said the procedure was performed in April.
The Bangkok Post reports that 5-year-old boy, Sila "Jio" Boonklomjit, donated his bone marrow stem cells to save his sister Jintanakan, 7, also known as "Jean", who was born with thalassemia.
"This case was very challenging and complicated. Right on the day when we had to collect stem cells from Jio, we found he was infected with Covid-19.
"That made Jio another patient. So, each and every step had to be done with special care.
"The collection of stem cells from bone marrow was surrounded with risks, including the risk of having stem cells infected with Covid-19.
"Procedures also increased because Jio had to be quarantined. In addition, there was the matter of safety for the medical personnel who were at risk during the operation," Dr Suradet said.
He said this was the first case in the world when it came to an operation to collect stem cells from a Covid-19 patient for transplant.
Apart from the Covid-19 risks, doctors also had to race against time because Jean had undergone chemotherapy, and consequently her body had low immunity. Without the urgent stem cell transplant, her life would have been in grave danger, Dr Suradet said.
The transplant was performed by Associate Prof Dr Usanarat Anurathapan, from the Faculty of Medicine in Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University.
Dr Usanarat said it was not easy to find another stem cell donor for Jean because it was rare to find compatible stem cells from a donor who is not genetically related.
Doctors had said that the family was very lucky because there was only a 25 per cent chance that siblings would have the same tissue type.
"The moment when we found that the stem cells were free of Covid-19 and the transplant to Jean was successful, it not only brought the joy of saving the siblings' life, but also marked another milestone in the treatment of patients."
The children's 39-year-old mother, Sasiwimol Boonklomjit, had received prenatal care twice at the hospital.
She was confirmed as Covid-19 positive, which she contracted from a relative, and her son became infected in the lead-up to the transplant. All have since recovered from the disease.