Bone Marrow Transplantation When and How?

Thalassemia Major is common in India. Every year, about 10000 new patients are diagnosed in India. Treatment requires lifelong monthly transfusions, iron chelation therapy, and other care. A large number of children die before 20 years of age, even before 10 years of age in many rural areas. Average cost of care is Rs. 15,00,000 (fifteen lac) by age 15. Cost goes up with increasing age of child, due to increase in doses of iron chelation, blood transfusion, complications like diabetes, increase in need for investigations and more. Also, about 30% of India’s voluntary blood donation supply is used for thalassemia major transfusion support.