Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT), or peripheral stem cell transplantation, is the treatment of choice for a number of benign and malignant haematological disorders. Allogeneic BMT is the only curative treatment option for aplastic anaemia and thalassaemia major, blood disorders that are fairly common in Pakistan.
Dr Salman Adil, Consultant Haematologist and Transplant Physician at ‘Signs, Symptoms and Care’ presentation, a public health awareness programme organised by AKUH in Karachi on December 15.
This was stated by Dr Salman Adil, Consultant Haematologist and Transplant Physician at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), during a presentation at 'Signs, Symptoms and Care', a public health awareness programme organised by AKUH in Karachi on December 15.
Allogeneic BMT is also indicated in high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and acute myeloid leukaemia. "An HLA [blood test] matched sibling donor is required for allogeneic transplantation and the chances of finding a suitable match is high in Pakistani given that family size in the country is generally large," explained Dr Adil. Autologous BMT, he added, is the treatment of choice in relapsed Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myleoma. The bone marrow donor is at no risk of developing any significant complications. However, the patient must be kept in a special hospital environment for protection from infection until the marrow starts functioning, said Dr Adil.
"Engraftment usually takes 10 to 15 days and hospital stay is usually between three and four weeks," he elaborated. Excellent nursing care is the backbone of successful transplant, and transfusion services with reliable round-the-clock laboratory support are mandatory requirements. "Irradiated blood components are required throughout the transplantation period and AKUH is the only hospital in the province with this facility. This service is also offered to any hospital that requires irradiated blood or components," Dr Adil remarked.
As part of its outreach programme and societal commitment to creating awareness of early diagnosis and timely treatment, AKUH has organised over 150 'Signs, Symptoms and Care' programmes in Karachi , Hyderabad and the UAE, benefiting more than 33,000 people. Similarly, Aga Khan University Hospital 's Patient Welfare Programme offers financial assistance to those patients who are unable to afford the medical cost of their treatment. In 2003, 74 per cent of all patients treated at the AKUH were from low- to middle-income areas. Since the inception of this welfare programme in 1986, over Rs. 1.05 billion has been disbursed to more than 200,000 needy patients.