Re: liver transplant patient develops donors immune sy

[Guest guest]

Here's a link to the full story and video...

http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,26278,23106284-5007185,00.html

> >

> > > Here's a story that was on the news here in Australia just now...

> > >

> > > http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23101945-2,00.html

> > >

> > > A YOUNG transplant patient has defied medical science by

> spontaneously

> > > switching blood types and taking on her donor's immune system

> > >

> > > NSW teenager Demi Brennan is believed to be the first person in the

> > > world to completely accept a donated organ to the extent where her

> > > immune system entirely changed.

> > >

> > > Demi, now 15, suffered liver failure and had a liver transplant

> at the

> > > age of nine in 2001.

> > >

> > > Several months on from the transplant, her doctors at Westmead

> > > Children's Hospital say theywere shocked to discover her blood type

> > > had changed to match the blood type of her deceased male donor.

> > >

> > > On closer inspection, specialists found that stem cells from the

> donor

> > > liver had penetrated her bone marrow, effectively resulting in a

> > > naturally occurring bone marrow transplant.

> > >

> > > Her doctor, Stormon, said she was able to come off the

> > > anti-rejection drugs which most transplant patients needed to

> take for

> > > the rest of their lives.

> > >

> > > " We were stunned, absolutely stunned, and also very puzzled, "

said Dr

> > > Stormon, who reported the case in the New England Journal of

> Medicine.

> > >

> > > " Even going through the literature and seeking advice

internationally

> > > we weren't able to find any other cases like it. "

> > >

> > > Demi's mother, Kerrie Mills, described it as " miraculous " , and Dr

> > > Stormon agreed it was " still highly difficult to explain at this

> stage " .

> > >

> > > " We're not sure the reasons behind why this has happened but it

> may be

> > > that a complex range of circumstances have aligned to bring it

> about, "

> > > he said.

> > >

> > > " Now the task is to find out what those are so we can replicate

them

> > > and allow other transplant patients to has such a complete

> acceptance. "

> > >

> > > A team of scientists has started research into the case, with hopes

> > > their findings will improve treatments and outcomes for other

> > > transplant patients.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

> > --

> > Jan H

> >

> >