Manipal :

The first ever paediatric bone marrow transplantation in coastal Karnataka has been done at Kasturba Medical College and Hospital, Manipal. The autologous bone marrow transplant (BMT) was performed on a four year old female child.

Parents of the girl child, a resident of Korangarapadi, Udupi, Initially she came with swelling in her skull and neck. Later she was diagnosed as stage 4 neuroblastoma in Kasturba Hospital, Manipal. Neuroblastoma is a most common solid cancer of childhood that frequently originates in one of the adrenal glands, but can also develop in nerve tissues in the neck, chest, abdomen, or pelvis. Soon after the diagnosis, the child received eight cycles of chemotherapy for which she responded well. This was consolidated with autologous bone marrow transplant which lasted for 36 days from January 7 to February 12.

This was done under the leadership of Medical Oncologist Dr Karthik S Udupa, Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Oncology, Shirdi Sai Cancer Hospital, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal.

Dr Udupa said that bone marrow transplant involves three major steps – Stem Cell Collection., High dose Chemotherapy and Stem Cell Transfusion. The child was admitted on January 5 and her normal stem cell were collected and stored. The patient was give high dose Chemotherapy on January 6 and the previously collected stem cell was transfused on the next day. Subsequently she had a period of Neutropenia i.e. low WBC count which was then complicated by high grade fever and persistent loose stools and electrolyte imbalance. The doctor said all complications were managed with appropriate medicine and strict aseptic measures for next 25 days. During the procedure the child was made to stay in an isolated sterile environment and strict barrier nursing was followed.

Presently the child has no fever and loose stools and electrolyte are within the normal range. He also said child is perfectly healthy and is fit to perform her normal daily activities like any other normal child.

Stem cell collection (Apheresis); which is required for BMT, was done under the leadership of Dr. Shamee Shastri , Head, Transfusion medicine and specialist Paediatric advice was obtained from Dr. Srikiran Hebbar, head, Paediatrics, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal.