Abu Dhabi's Burjeel Medical City Successfully Performs Complex Kidney Transplant

In a significant medical achievement, a team of transplant nephrologists at Burjeel Medical City in Abu Dhabi has successfully completed a complex ABO incompatible kidney transplant. This procedure, where the blood types of the donor and recipient do not align, challenges conventional norms in organ transplantation, where compatibility is typically essential to prevent rejection.

The 32-year-old patient had been suffering from kidney failure since 2018. Her condition worsened until last year when she reached a late stage of the disease, necessitating continuous dialysis. At a critical juncture, it required a kidney transplant.

Dr. Ishthiaque Ahamed, Specialist Nephrologist and Transplant Physician at Burjeel Medical City, confirmed the complexity of the condition. He highlighted the development of medical research over the past 25 years that has made transplanting organs that are not completely identical between the recipient and the donor possible and safe. This advancement has resulted in a high survival rate for other cases of identical organ transplants.

Dr. Ahamed explained, "In an ABO incompatible kidney transplant, the patient undergoes medical treatment before and after the kidney transplant to decrease antibody levels in the blood, thereby mitigating the risk of antibodies rejecting the donor kidney."

He further elaborated that in this case, the titers were on the lower side, favouring a positive outcome. Additionally, plasmapheresis was performed to eliminate pre-existing antibodies, and the formation of new antibodies was suppressed through special injections before the transplant. Given the urgency, they decided to proceed with the incompatible kidney transplant after explaining the pros and cons to the family. The patient was also very keen to go ahead with the transplant.

According to the doctors, the patient will undergo regular follow-ups initially scheduled twice a week. This frequency will be adjusted to monthly visits after six months. Ongoing monitoring includes dietary adjustments, lifestyle modifications, and routine lab tests.

With inputs from WAM