In vitro

Hi
Has anyone thought or done an in vitro to get a perfect match for a transplant?
Is there any complications to the baby? & if all is well, how soon after the birth can u do the transplant?

Yes, IVF is used with PGD (pre-implantation genetic diagnosis) to pick an exact thal-free match.

According to the FAQ at curethalassemia.org

What is the minimum age for a BMT?
Thalassemic patients with an HLA identical donor should be transplanted as soon as possible.

Did Prof. Lucarelli and Dr. Sodani have performed BMTs on very young children i.e. between the age of 13 months –24 months?
Yes,and the the younger the patient,the better are the results.

It is most successful when the child has had as few transfusions as possible.

How old does the baby have to be to donate marrow?

Hi Pooja,

Lately I have spent lot of time finding out about PGD for matched sibling. PGD is not done in India as of now, however there is a clinic in Bangkok, Superiod ART, which specialises in PGD.

Regards,
Himanshu

Please be sure its  IVF +PGD+HLA.
IVF + PGD = thal free child but not match. You need HLA also for that. Many places do PGD but not HLA.
Zahra

Yes I agree. When I referred to PGD I meant PGD + IVF + HLA match. I know a couple of people in India who have been to Superior ART in bangkok for PGD for HLA matched sibling. Recently a thal major successfully underwent a transplant from a HLA matched sibling born through PGD in Bangkok.

How old does the baby have to be to donate marrow?

the FAQ of Dr. Sodani at www.curethalassemia.org
After 1 year of age.

Thank you all for the info.. Himanshu, I live in the US so am hoping to find a center here. & zahra I'll be sure it's Ivf pgd & hla..
If the new born can only donate marrow after 1 year of age, I know we can use the cord blood as soon as birth.. Is there any difference in the result with the transplant between the marrow & cord blood?
The little I could find out, with the cord blood there are more complications.. True??

I am too planning for a cord blood transplant for my daughter who will be turning 2 in september. With cord blood there are lesser complication and GVD is limited to skin. With BMT GVD damages intesting, Gut and several other organs. The digestive system goes for a toss in BMT.

However, there are higher chances of rejection with CBT and it takes painfully long time for the engraftment to happen. Well once you have a matched sibling then both cord blood as well as bone marrow can be used for transplant. There are several transplant specialist who prefer a cocktail. It the specialist who will decide based on patients weight, cell count etc. 

In US you can contact Reproductive Genetic Institute in Chicago for PGD. You may contact Dr. Tur Kapsa.

If the new born can only donate marrow after 1 year of age, I know we can use the cord blood as soon as birth.. Is there any difference in the result with the transplant between the marrow & cord blood?
The little I could find out, with the cord blood there are more complications.. True??

I paste you another FAQ of Dr. Sodani at www.curethalassemia.org:
We prefer to use the bone marrow and not the cord blood(CB),because with CB there is a higher risk both of rejection and to have a graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).

Hi Himanshu,

Yes I agree. When I referred to PGD I meant PGD + IVF + HLA match. I know a couple of people in India who have been to Superior ART in bangkok for PGD for HLA matched sibling. Recently a thal major successfully underwent a transplant from a HLA matched sibling born through PGD in Bangkok.

Can you please provide us more detail about Superior ART from your known's? How much will it cost? I am also from India having a thal major baby of 1.2 years.

Hi Anshul
We underwent the procedure at Superior ART,the cost is between 4-5 lakhs.....you need to stay for about a month.
aabha

Tropicana Medical Centre in Malaysia too seem to be offering PGD + IVF, however I am not sure if they do HLA match also with the sibling.
http://www.tropicanamedicalcentre.com/