19-year-old comes to mom’s rescue with ABO-incompatible kidney transplant

BENGALURU: A 19-year old youth donated his kidney to save his mother through an ABO-incompatible blood group transplantation in Manipal Hospital in Yeshwantpur. The hospital has completed 27 ABO incompatible kidney transplants in Karnataka.

The Manipal hospital has completed 27 ABO incompatible kidney transplants in Karnataka.

Ayan was 16 years old when his mother Musrat Khan suffered kidney failure. Though he offered to donate his kidney, he could not do so until he turned 18 years old. Later, the doctors came to know about incompatible blood groups. The doctors informed them about ABO incompatible kidney transplantation, and a team of surgeons successfully completed the procedure.

“The general stereotype is that if the blood groups are different, a kidney transplant is not possible, but that was ten years ago. Now, we can do the kidney transplantation even if the blood group is different and the success rate is similar to same blood group transplantation,”said Dr Deepak Kumar, Nephrologist and Transplant Surgeon.

Dr Deepak Kumar, Nephrologist and Transplant Surgeon.

“ABO kidney transplantation is definitely challenging because we remove the antibodies from the donor’s body through a procedure prior to the transplantation. We administer the necessary medications to avoid antibodies, and patients must be vigilant for any infection for up to three months. Awareness regarding the transplant is important. ABO transplantation cannot be done from brain-dead patients because the procedure takes a longer duration,” he added.

Ayan, the son.

“She is my mother and she needed me the most. I didn’t have any anxiety or panic attacks, and the doctors encouraged me the most. I’m healthy and I have not had any problems so far. The doctors were positive and the pain was minimal. My father tried to donate, but he could not do it because of his illness. I went with my father to talk to the doctors, and they said age was a problem, but then it took a year to convince my mother. Even the doctors convinced her and finally, she agreed, “said Ayan.

Musrat Khan, the recipient.

“My sister came forward to donate her kidney, but I dissuaded her. Ayan told me that he would give his kidney, and he was trying to convince me by showing me articles about transplantation. Then, my family members started convincing me to go in for the procedure. After Ayan turned 19, I underwent the transplantation,” said Musrat Khan, the mother.