The National Pediatric Hospital in Hanoi said Saturday it had successfully conducted a bone marrow stem-cell transplant on a 4-year-old boy, suffering from acute epidermolysis bullosa, a connective tissue disorder.
The boy underwent a bone marrow stem-cell transplant to stimulate the production of healthy skin cells. His 10-year old sister donated the stem-cells, said doctor Nguyen Thanh Liem, director of the National Pediatric Hospital.
Four-year-old Nguyen Viet Anh from Vinh Tuong District in the northern province of Vinh Phuc was born with blisters all over his body, with toes stuck together and skin peeling ulcers in his mouth.
After the surgery, the affected skin area on Anh’s body has reduced and is rapidly healing, while ulcers on his back and mouth have healed. He is expected to be discharged from the hospital in two weeks.
This is the second successful case worldwide in which a bone marrow stem-cell transplant has been used to treat the epidermolysis bullosa disease and Viet Anh is the youngest to have undergone such a transplant.
The cost of the transplant was VND300 million (US$15,000) which was covered by insurance and the ministry research fund.
