Bone marrow is the site of production of new blood cells from a highly specialized and unique group of cells known as ‘stem cells’. These stem cells are seeds and have the capability to multiply and replenish all types of blood cells. In certain diseases, bone marrow fails to produce blood cells (eg: aplastic anemia) or produces abnormal hemoglobin (eg: sickle cell anemia, thalassemia) or is replaced with cancer cells that did not get cleared with chemotherapy (leukemia, lymphoma). These children require new healthy bone marrow to fight these fatal conditions. The process by which healthy marrow from a donor is infused into a patient is called ‘Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT)’. BMT is also known as hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) and is a lifesaving treatment for many children suffering from blood disorders, cancers, immunodeficiencies, and metabolic diseases. Aster Hospitals Bangalore provides tertiary referral services for Paediatric BMT for all the above diseases. Our center is unique and equipped to perform even high-risk BMT procedures including allogeneic BMT for infants below 12 months of age, haploidentical (half-matched) transplants from a parent, and BMT for primary immunodeficiency disorders.
The group of diseases in which children are prone to recurrent infections due to a defect in the immune system is called PRIMARY IMMUNODEFICIENCY DISEASES. One in 2000 children may have an immune deficiency. The city of Bangalore alone may have around 5000 children with immune deficiency, but many remain undiagnosed due to a lack of awareness of these diseases. Children with serious immune deficiencies usually die if BMT is not performed early on in life. Only a handful of centers in India have the expertise to treat immunodeficiency diseases. The Paediatric Immunology department at Aster Hospitals Bangalore is well-reputed and renowned nationally, with the expertise and infrastructure to diagnose and treat even rare forms of such inherited disorders.
The Paediatric BMT unit at Aster Hospitals Bangalore is led by a team of highly qualified full-time specialists well-versed in the diagnosis and management of highly complex childhood diseases requiring BMT. The most advanced technology and equipment, up-to-date infrastructure, leading experts in the field, and above all, the willingness to take risks and cure have all come together at Aster Hospitals Bangalore.
