18-Year-Old Son Donates Kidney to Father in Rare ABO-Incompatible Transplant

When 49-year-old Abid Raza was told that both his kidneys had failed and a transplant was his best chance at a normal life, his family searched for a donor. Only his youngest son, 18-year-old Ali Raza, was found to be a suitable match, despite a blood group mismatch.

Ali, who had just completed his Class XII exams, did not hesitate. 'I was his only hope and I didn't think twice about becoming a donor to save his life. He gave me life, and I chose to give something back,' said Ali.

The transplant was further complicated by Abid's rare autoimmune disease, which caused his kidney failure, rather than more common causes like diabetes or hypertension. This required careful planning by the medical team at Max Super Speciality Hospital in Patparganj, led by Dr Paresh Jain, senior director of Urology and Kidney Transplant Surgery.

Blood group mismatch, known as ABO-incompatible transplant, once meant that family donation was not possible. However, advances in transplant medicine now allow such procedures, expanding the donor pool. Dr Jain explained that plasmapheresis, which filters antibodies from the recipient's blood before surgery, combined with a stronger immunosuppressive regimen, reduces the risk of organ rejection.

Ali's age was another factor. National guidelines permit kidney donation from age 18, but donors between 18 and 21 undergo extra scrutiny. Before approval, Ali underwent a CT renal angiogram to map his kidney anatomy and a DTPA scan to measure the function of each kidney separately. Doctors confirmed that his remaining kidney would sustain his health.

Both father and son are recovering well. The case highlights the possibilities of ABO-incompatible transplants, offering hope to many patients who struggle to find a matching donor.