LAHORE: On Monday, the spokesman of Children Hospital informed that the two kids suffering from beta thalassemia major Bilal and Ashir, who underwent bone marrow transplant (BMT) procedure last month, succumbed to their post-transplant complications.
The spokesman said that Bilal developed post condition mucositis (painful inflammation and ulceration of the mucous membranes lining the digestive track) which continued to worsen along with swelling in neck and high grade fever after infusion of stem cells. Despite of all the combination of antibiotics to control the infection and swelling in the neck, he continued to deteriorate requiring ventilator support on 12th day of BMT and died on October 2 (day 13 post-transplant).
He further said that the 4-year-old Ashir, who underwent the transplant procedure on the same day, showed no evident of bone marrow engraftment (primary graft failure). He continued to receive blood transfusions to stabilise him, while also being re-infused with more stem cells. However, the procedure was unsuccessful and Ashir passed away on October 13, 2017.
A review committee led by Dr Huma Arshad Cheema has been constituted which will submit its report within 48 hours. The transplant unit has been closed for necessary cleanliness to bring it to zero bug level & will be re-opened once ready as per protocol, the spokesman concluded.
