Rela Hospital

A 23-year-old woman from Chennai diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, an aggressive, high-risk blood cancer, has successfully undergone Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant, a life-saving bone marrow transplant, at Rela Hospital using donor stem cells transported from Poland amid international air transport disruptions linked to the ongoing Iran conflict. Since a matching family donor was unavailable, the hospital sought support from DKMS Foundation, a global non-profit organisation that helps patients with blood cancers find compatible stem cell donors worldwide. The Foundation facilitated the international donor match and coordinated the safe transport of stem cells under specialised conditions despite major logistical disruptions. In a humanitarian gesture, DKMS also waived donor procurement and transportation charges amounting to nearly 11,000 Euros (nearly Rs. 10 lakh) considering the patient’s financial constraints. The patient, an IT professional, initially experienced persistent fever, severe fatigue, weakness, reduced appetite, repeated infections, and prolonged hospitalisation. Evaluation at Rela Hospital revealed severely abnormal blood counts with markedly elevated white blood cell levels. Further investigations, including bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, cytogenetic studies, and advanced molecular testing, confirmed the diagnosis of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. The disease was classified as high-risk due to multiple genetic abnormalities known to make the cancer more aggressive, less responsive to conventional treatment, and more likely to recur. Considering the seriousness of the condition, doctors determined that a Bone Marrow Transplant was urgently required as a potentially life-saving treatment. Before the transplant (‘allogeneic matched unrelated donor hematopoietic stem cell transplant’), the patient underwent induction chemotherapy to bring the disease under control, followed by consolidation chemotherapy to eliminate residual cancer cells. Once stabilised, healthy donor stem cells were infused into her bloodstream to rebuild normal blood-forming cells and restore immune function. The transplant was performed by Dr. Divya M, Clinical Hematologist and Bone Marrow Transplant Specialist at Rela Hospital. The multidisciplinary team that played a crucial role in the patient’s diagnosis, treatment, and recovery included intensive care specialists, infectious disease experts, pulmonologists, cardiologists, the transfusion medicine team, and specialised Bone Marrow Transplant nurses. Following the transplant, the patient was managed in a specialised Bone Marrow Transplant isolation unit under strict infection-control protocols with continuous monitoring, immunosuppressive therapy, blood product support, nutritional care, and antimicrobial treatment. She showed steady clinical improvement, achieved successful neutrophil and platelet engraftment, and was discharged in stable condition. In her comments, Dr. Divya M, Clinical Hematologist & Bone Marrow Transplant Specialist at Rela Hospital, said: “In aggressive blood cancers such as Acute Myeloid Leukemia, the bone marrow starts producing abnormal white blood cells that crowd out healthy blood cells and rapidly impair the body’s normal functioning. In this patient, advanced molecular genetic testing revealed several high-risk abnormalities, making early stem cell transplantation essential. Since there was no matching donor in her family, we searched and identified a suitable matched donor through the international donor registry. The donor stem cells were collected at Poland and safely transported to India for transplantation. We are happy that the patient achieved successful engraftment and recovered well after the transplant. The treatment involved months of intensive chemotherapy, advanced molecular diagnostics, HLA matching, stem cell cryopreservation, and highly specialised transplant care.” In his comments, Mr. Mohammed Farouk, Chief Operating Officer, Rela Hospital, said, “This case demonstrates how global medical collaboration and timely access to advanced transplant care can save the lives of patients with aggressive blood cancers, even when a matching family donor is unavailable. One of the most remarkable aspects of this treatment was the successful transportation of donor stem cells from Poland during major international logistical disruptions linked to the Iran conflict. Despite the transport challenges, the stem cells safely reached India through coordinated international efforts. We are also deeply appreciative of the humanitarian support extended by the DKMS Foundation that waived donor procurement and courier charges. This case should give hope to patients that suitable unrelated donors can still be identified through international stem cell registries, and that curative treatment remains possible with early referral to specialised hematology and bone marrow transplant centres.” The patient continues to remain under regular hematology follow-up and is recovering well with ongoing supportive care and infection precautions.

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