VIETNAM: Historic Kidney Transplant Saves 11-Year-Old Girl’s Life After Battle With Rare Genetic Disorder

WORLD NEWS – VIETNAM: In a groundbreaking achievement, the Children’s Hospital No. 2 in Ho Chi Minh City has successfully performed a kidney transplantation for an 11-year-old girl from Lam Dong province, suffering from end-stage renal failure due to a rare mutation of the WT1 gene. This case marks a significant milestone as it is the first kidney transplant at this hospital for a pediatric patient affected by such a rare genetic disorder.

The young girl had been battling nephrotic syndrome, which proved resistant to conventional immunosuppressive treatments, leading to her kidney’s total failure by 2020. With three weekly dialysis sessions draining her quality of life, her situation became dire, prompting the hospital’s transplant committee to explore the possibility of a living donor: her mother stepped up to provide a kidney.

On the first day of last month, surgeons meticulously removed the girl’s right kidney—a necessary precaution due to the risk of tumor development linked to her genetic condition—before successfully implanting her mother’s kidney. Medical experts, including Associate Professor Dr. Pham Ngoc Thach, have indicated that this operation could significantly alter the trajectory of her life, freeing her from the clutches of dialysis.

Post-surgery, the patient is reported to be stable, recovering well and returning to normal eating habits. As she progresses, medical staff plan to support her with hormone replacement therapy at puberty, ensuring her development isn’t hindered by her earlier health challenges. This remarkable case underscores the importance of early genetic testing for children exhibiting similar symptoms, as timely diagnosis can lead to life-changing interventions and improve the quality of life for young patients grappling with rare genetic disorders.

First published 2025-07-07 23:47:23