Thalassemia Patient Cured With Mixed Stem Cell Transplant

Five-year-old Moinam Pal has made history by becoming the first e-beta Thalassemia patient to be cured by undergoing a mixed stem cell transplant. This procedure is the first of its kind, and has inspired doctors in other parts of the world to consider similar treatments.

The five year-old was diagnosed with HbE-Beta Thalassemia at just seven months age. The disease was bound to destroy the child’s healthy red blood cells and cause anemia. His parents were told that he would have to regularly undergo blood transfusions if he had any hope of survival unless he could find a stem cell donor.

Moinam’s parents went on a frantic search for a donor, leading them to the NSCB Cancer Research Institute. There, his parents were told that having another child could present Moinam with a perfect stem cell match. In 2009, his system Aloma was born, offering Moinam the necessary stem cells to tret his condition.

The procedure was carried out in three steps. First, Moinam underwent chemotherapy to deplete his existing store of stem cells. He then received a cord blood and a bone marrow transplant using samples provided by his younger sister.

Today, Moinam’s doctors state that he is on the road to recovery and that he will be cured of the disease soon.