Fathers liver donation gives new lease of life to Uzbek infant

Doctors at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Patparganj, have successfully treated a one-year-old baby boy from Uzbekistan suffering from Alagille syndrome – a rare genetic liver disorder – by performing a living donor liver transplant, with the child’s father donating a part of his liver.

The operation was conducted last October, with the baby being discharged a month later. The baby came for a follow-up this month and is doing well, according to doctors.

Ajitabh Srivastava, director of the hospital’s HPB surgery and liver transplant department, said that the baby

had developed jaundice soon after birth and required neonatal intensive care. At two months of age, he was misdiagnosed with biliary atresia, a condition that blocks the normal flow of bile from the liver, and underwent a Kasai procedure- a surgery performed in infancy to help restore bile flow from the liver. His condition continued to worsen. He suffered from persistent jaundice, severe itching, poor weight gain, delayed growth, and pale stools, all indicating progressive liver failure.

At the hospital, a detailed assessment of the child confirmed Alagille syndrome, a rare inherited condition that can affect multiple organs, including the liver and heart.

“After a successful transplant at the hospital, the child with complex conditions now has a chance at a healthier future,” Mr. Srivastava added.