On August 23, 2013, the National Center for Child Health and Development in Tokyo said that liver cells have been successfully transplanted into a baby and this has become the first such case in Japan. These experiments are usually rare on a global scale.
Akira Matsui, the NCCHD hospital chief said, “We have safely conducted an operation that could develop into regenerative medicine using embryo-stem or induced pluripotent stem cells”. The center used surplus liver cells which were left frozen after living liver transplantations – 14 of them in total – that it conducted in and after May 2011.
The participating donors agreed to keep those liver cells frozen. On August 10, 2013, the liver of a baby boy failed to function normally when he was 11 days old, on August 13, 2013. The center said that the baby in question received cells which matched his blood type. Due to the subsequent transplant, the liver of the baby started functioning again normally.
After the successful transplant, the center said that it is possible that the baby may get a discharge from the hospital in a month and a half. The center also assured that it is keeping a close eye on the health condition of the baby, so that no chances are taken regarding his health.
Photo Credits: IBN
