India’s First Blood Group-Incompatible Liver Transplant for Rare Genetic Disease in Kerala
7 Aug 2025 10:38 AM IST7 Aug 2025 10:38 AM IST
With no fully matched donor available, Umar’s mother Saniya volunteered to donate a portion of her liver
Umar is now on a normal diet and showing remarkable improvement (Photo by arrangement)
Kochi: In a first-of-its-kind medical milestone in India, a two-year-old boy suffering from a rare genetic disorder, Methylmalonic Acidemia (MMA), successfully underwent a liver transplant at Rajagiri Hospital, Aluva — despite a blood group mismatch with the donor.
The child, Umar from Okhla, New Delhi, had been battling severe complications since birth. After a desperate call for help on social media by Dr. Sharath of AIIMS, New Delhi, liver specialist Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips of Rajagiri Hospital responded, offering both medical and financial support.
With no fully matched donor available, Umar’s mother Saniya volunteered to donate a portion of her liver. The transplant, performed by a multidisciplinary team led by Dr. Biju Chandran, was a collaborative effort between Rajagiri Hospital and AIIMS — marking the first liver transplant in India for MMA.
Given the blood group incompatibility, doctors employed advanced immunosuppressive therapy and plasmapheresis to prepare Umar’s body for the transplant. Rajagiri Hospital provided Rs. 40 lakh in financial support to cover the costs.
Dr. Biju Chandran credited the seamless collaboration between Rajagiri and AIIMS teams for the surgery’s success. Rajagiri’s Medical Director, Dr. Gigy Kuruttukulam, added that precise planning and strict adherence to protocols played a critical role in completing this landmark procedure.
Umar is now on a normal diet and showing remarkable improvement, with his MMA levels dropping from 32,000 to a healthy 600.
( Source : Press Release )
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