Hue Central Hospital: 4 more children discharged thanks to bone marrow transplant technique

The event marked the hospital's steady progress in its journey to save and bring new life to children with serious illnesses.

Specifically, the 50th autologous bone marrow transplant was TTD (5 years old, in Lam Dong ), diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma. After a partial response to the intensive treatment, he received an autologous stem cell transplant on May 6, 2025. Platelets and granulocytes recovered after 28 days. He is currently preparing to enter the post-transplant radiotherapy phase.

The 8th allogeneic bone marrow transplant was for BTD (9 years old, Muong ethnic group, Kon Tum ), who had HbE/Beta-Thalassemia since the age of 6. Bone marrow transplant from an HLA-matched brother on May 19, 2025. Platelets and white blood cells recovered well on the 17th day after transplantation.

The ninth allogeneic bone marrow transplant was for NHH (2 years old, in Bac Giang ), who had alpha-thalassemia since birth. Although the donor was his 7-year-old brother, who also carried the disease gene and had an incompatible blood type, the hospital applied the immune fusion technique, helping platelets and white blood cells recover on days 15 and 26, respectively.

The 10th allogeneic bone marrow transplant was for LNH (10 years old, in Da Nang), who had been dependent on blood transfusions since she was 7 months old, resulting in splenectomy and hepatomegaly. Despite many risk factors, she was confirmed to be a complete HLA match with her younger sister and was successfully transplanted. This was the second incompatible blood transplant. Despite complications of sepsis, she recovered completely with platelets and granulocytes recovering on days 16 and 19.

All cases of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for Thalassemia have had good recovery results. Children who once tied their lives to blood transfusions have now become healthy babies with normal physical development - a true miracle thanks to the advancement of medicine and the dedication of the medical team.

Thus, since starting to perform bone marrow transplantation in November 2019, Hue Central Hospital has successfully performed 60 bone marrow transplants in children, including 50 autologous bone marrow transplants for solid tumors (such as neuroblastoma, metastatic retinoblastoma, relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) and 10 allogeneic bone marrow transplants for Thalassemia.

Stem cell transplantation is a modern medical technique, a breakthrough in the treatment of many blood diseases and cancers, helping children end their dependence on blood transfusions, and prolonging the lives of those with malignant tumors. Hue Central Hospital is proud to be the first medical facility in the Central Highlands region, and the third nationwide, to deploy this advanced technique.

Prof. Dr. Pham Nhu Hiep, Director of Hue Central Hospital, said that in just 10 months since the first allogeneic stem cell transplant in September 2024, the hospital has successfully performed 10 allogeneic transplants. Notably, these include two cases of incompatible blood group transplants - an immunofusion technique applied for the first time in Vietnam, helping to optimize the quality of the stem cells obtained and increase the success rate after transplantation. With incompatible blood group transplants, the hospital does not need to separate red blood cells - which reduces the effectiveness of stem cells - but instead performs a method of infusing the donor's blood group into the recipient's body in small drops, with the amount gradually increasing each day, helping to reduce the antibody titer. When this titer falls below 1/32, separation is no longer necessary, helping to preserve the number of stem cells.

Not only bringing hope to children with thalassemia, these successes also open up great prospects in the treatment of other diseases such as bone marrow failure, congenital immunodeficiency and recurrent cancer requiring allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. In the coming time, Hue Central Hospital will continue to develop and perfect this technique, with the goal of bringing a chance of life to many children with the above diseases nationwide.

Nhat Anh

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/benh-vien-trung-uong-hue-them-4-benh-nhi-xuat-vien-nho-ky-thuat-ghep-tuy-102250721170903283.htm