In a major medical achievement, doctors at KLE S. S. Shivanagi Cancer Hospital, Belagavi, successfully performed a rare corrective cancer surgery to save the life of a young girl suffering from a genetic blood disorder.
Led by Paediatric Haematologist Oncologist Dr. S. Abhilasha, a team of specialists carried out an allogenic bone marrow transplant on a child diagnosed with congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia (CAMT), a rare inherited condition. The child had been battling low platelet counts since infancy and had undergone multiple transfusions. Tragically, her elder brother had earlier succumbed to the same disorder.
After a comprehensive evaluation and genetic confirmation, doctors opted for an allogenic transplant. In a remarkable turn, the girl’s elder sister—who did not carry the condition—was identified as a fully HLA-matched donor. Stem cells were collected from her bone marrow through a harvesting procedure and later transplanted into the patient following a planned medical regimen.
The child responded well to the transplant, with successful engraftment and recovery. She has now begun producing healthy blood cells independently.
“This is the first allogenic bone marrow transplant performed on a child at our hospital. It’s a major milestone in paediatric haematology and oncology,” the hospital stated.
This successful surgery is being hailed as a breakthrough for advanced paediatric care in North Karnataka. It demonstrates that complex procedures such as bone marrow transplants for rare genetic and blood-related conditions can be effectively executed with the appropriate medical infrastructure and skilled teams. It also underscores the importance of early diagnosis, genetic screening, and timely access to specialised treatment.
CAMT is marked by a significant deficiency in platelet production from birth, often resulting in severe bleeding issues. If untreated, it can progress to total bone marrow failure. The only definitive treatment currently available is an allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT).
