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He stated: “After many efforts, we were unable to find a matching bone marrow donor for Karen. Therefore, since her cord blood had been stored by her family at Royan Cord Blood Bank at birth about six years ago, we decided to use her cord blood for treatment.
Dr. Bahoush added: In stem cell transplants, one of the major concerns of treating physicians is graft rejection. However, since the stem cells to be transplanted into this 6-year-old child were her own, the risk of rejection was eliminated.”

This hematology and oncology specialist continued: “Other transplant experts considered the chance of success very low or even impossible, but the transplant was carried out. Five months after the cord blood stem cell infusion, Karen’s treatment is progressing well.”

Dr. Bahoush further explained: “Karen’s treatment is an extraordinary event in medical science, as she was referred to us with severe aplastic anemia. Globally, the preferred treatment protocol for bone marrow failure is allogeneic transplantation — stem cells from another individual such as a sibling. However, since only one previous case of autologous cord blood transplant had been performed worldwide, we proposed this approach to major transplant centers in the country. They opposed it, so despite very limited resources, we performed the transplant ourselves at Ali Asghar Hospital.”

He added: “Three weeks after the infusion, her platelet count — which is very important in cord blood transplants — started to rise. After one month, other tests returned to normal.”

Dr. Bahoush emphasized that Karen’s disease was acquired: “The success of Karen’s transplant was by the grace of God and may represent a breakthrough and a new step forward in treating patients.”

The hematology and oncology specialist at Hazrat Ali Asghar Hospital stressed the need to increase equipment and improve transplant facilities at the hospital, stating: “Currently, we only have one transplant room.”

He invited philanthropists to help equip the transplant ward at Hazrat Ali Asghar Hospital so that more patients can be served.