First-of-its-kind kidney transplant for Emirati

Hamad Nasser became the first Emirati to undergo a successful kidney transplant with assistance from a donor with a different blood group.

The 23-year-old, with blood group 'O negative', received a kidney from his mother who is in 'A plus' blood group, reported 'Gulf News'.

The operation was performed in December and so far there have been no signs of rejection, Hamad's doctors said.

An O negative patient can receive an organ only from an O negative donor.

However people who are O negative can donate an organ to people of any other blood group.

The young man would soon return to Al Ain University. "He has one course left," said his mother, Qadria Al Malik.

Transplant nephrologist Dr Mustafa Ahmad Kazim said this should encourage others who have incompatible blood groups to come forward to donate organs.

He said Hamad was given a special injection which depleted the antibodies and helped "accommodate" the mother's kidney.

The transplant operation was done in Barcelona, Spain, and was managed by Dr Kazim and Dr Saeed Salem Al Shaikh, transplant director at City Hospital.

Dr Kazim said she and Hamad would be able to lead normal live.

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