Yas Clinic Khalifa City, in partnership with Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center (ADSCC), has successfully carried out an urgent bone marrow transplant on a two-year-old child diagnosed with Hyper IgM syndrome through the Abu Dhabi Bone Marrow Transplant Program (AD BMT®).

The child, Kai, experienced recurrent and severe infections from an early age and later developed critical complications, including cytomegalovirus infection and Pneumocystis pneumonia. Despite infection treatment and regular immunoglobulin replacement therapy, his immune system remained severely compromised, requiring repeated blood and platelet transfusions.

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Following a multidisciplinary evaluation, doctors determined that transplantation was necessary to address the underlying immune deficiency. Kai’s mother was identified as a half-matched, or haploidentical, donor, allowing the medical team to proceed despite the absence of a fully matched donor.

Dr. Maysoon Al Karam, Chief Medical Officer at Yas Clinic Khalifa City, said “successful transplantation requires specialized expertise, infrastructure and the ability to respond quickly to changes in a patient’s condition.”

The transplant was completed successfully, with the donor cells beginning to engraft and restore immune function. Kai’s condition has since improved, with no current signs of active infection, and he remains clinically stable while preparing to return home.

Hyper IgM syndrome is a rare inherited immune disorder that can leave children vulnerable to serious and recurrent infections.

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