Vineeta Gupta

Doctors at Banaras Hindu University’s Institute of Medical Sciences have once again demonstrated their medical excellence by successfully performing an allogenic bone marrow transplant on a 9-year-old boy suffering from Severe Aplastic Anemia. Treatment for this rare and life-threatening condition is available only at select medical institutions equipped with advanced technology and specialized expertise.

The child, a resident of Varanasi, required frequent transfusions due to dangerously low blood and platelet levels prior to receiving this critical treatment. Aplastic anemia is a serious blood disorder in which the bone marrow fails to produce sufficient blood cells. It can affect anyone but is especially dangerous in children, leaving them extremely vulnerable to infections and bleeding. Patients often become severely anemic and require regular blood and platelet transfusions to survive. Without a successful bone marrow transplant, long-term survival is rarely possible.

The boy’s extremely high transfusion needs posed a major challenge. However, with meticulous planning, careful monitoring, and round-the-clock care, the medical team successfully carried out the transplant and guided him through the critical post-transplant period. This achievement underscores BHU’s growing capabilities in advanced pediatric hematological care and brings hope to many children in Eastern Uttar Pradesh and adjoining regions suffering from life-threatening blood disorders.

The life-saving procedure was carried out by a dedicated team from the Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology/BMT, Department of Pediatrics, and the Department of Pathology and Radio diagnosis. The team included Professor Vineeta Gupta, Professor In-charge, Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology/BMT, Department of Pediatrics; Dr. Priyanka Aggarwal, Associate Professor, Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology/BMT, Department of Pediatrics; Dr. Sandeep Kumar, Professor, Department of Pathology and In-charge, Blood Bank; Dr. Ishan Kumar, Professor, Department of Radiodiagnosis; Professor Neha Singh, Professor In-charge, Flow Cytometry Lab, HBCH; Dr. Naveen, Fellow (Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology/BMT); and Dr. Chandradeep, Senior Resident, Department of Pediatrics, along with technicians from the blood bank, junior residents, and nursing officers.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Prof. Vineeta Gupta informed that this child is one of two patients with aplastic anemia who have successfully undergone bone marrow transplants at BHU. To date, a total of 35 patients with conditions including hematological malignancies such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia, pediatric solid tumors, and aplastic anemia have been transplanted under the pediatric bone marrow transplant program — a significant milestone for the institution and the region.

With only a limited number of centers in India equipped to handle such complex procedures, this success is a testament to the expertise and commitment of BHU’s medical professionals.

Professor Vineeta Gupta, who led the transplant team, said, “This success showcases not just the medical expertise at BHU, but also the compassionate, coordinated effort required to manage complex pediatric conditions. We are proud to offer such advanced care to families in our region, and our aim is to expand the pediatric bone marrow transplant program to include children suffering from Thalassemia major, rare genetic and metabolic disorders like mucopolysaccharidoses, storage disorders, and more. Our goal is to ensure that no child in this region is denied a second chance at life.”

The child is now recovering well, with blood counts returning to normal and no major complications post-transplant.

Prof. S.N.Sankhwar, Director, Institute of Medical Sciences, congratulated the team of doctors on this milestone procedure and reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to upgrading medical care for those in need.