Stem cells of unborn test-tube baby to save Dubai brother

Doctors at the Dubai Gynaecology and Fertility Centre have completed a procedure for a couple trying to conceive their second child - so that stem cells saved after its birth, can be used for bone marrow transplant for the couple's thalassaemic elder child.
 
According to reports published by local dailies, doctors at the centre have completed a pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) screening for a human leukocyte antigen (HLA) match for a couple trying to conceive their second child. The HLA plays an important part in the body's immune response to foreign substances.
 
The baby was conceived in-vitro, or outside the body, after the screening was done to see if the baby's stem cells would not be rejected by the boy who is suffering from thalassaemia.
 
Stem cells saved after the birth of the test-tube baby will be used for a bone marrow transplant to cure the elder child since they are a perfect match.
 
"The couple could have tried to conceive normally but chances could be high that the second child would also be born thalassaemic," said Dr. Bassel Noah, senior fertility specialist at the centre.
 
The couple's four-year-old son requires regular blood transfusions to survive. "They wanted to use IVF technology and genetic screening methods to have a second child whose stem cells could be used to cure their elder child," said Dr. Noah.
 
To ensure the transplantation process is a success, the couple needed their second child's HLA to match their first child's. "At least 15 three-day old embryos were tested for the implant, only two to three matched," said the doctor.
 
Donor cells need to be HLA-matched so that the recipient's body would not reject the transplanted cells.
 
"We used all the necessary medical technologies, IVF, screening of embryos for thalassaemia and immune system genes, HLA screening etc. to ensure the woman conceives a baby whose stem cells can be used to carry out bone marrow transplantation for her elder child." Thalassaemia is an inherited blood disorder that produces less haemoglobin and fewer red blood cells in the body than normal.
 
 Image from shutterstock

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