Published
December 19, 2023
Case Study: Eli Cured of Sickle Cell by Stem Cells from Brother
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When Eli came into the world in 2010, his parents were overjoyed to welcome their long-awaited child. The journey to parenthood had been marked by years of attempting to conceive and undergoing numerous fertility treatments. However, their elation was tempered when Eli was diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease shortly after birth. This genetic condition causes red blood cells to take on a sickle shape, leading to stiffness rather than the normal round and flexible form. The altered cells struggle to carry oxygen efficiently, resulting in chronic fatigue for the affected individual. Additionally, the sickle cells can clump together, causing painful blockages in blood vessels, posing potential dangers depending on their location in the body.
Contrary to a common misconception that Sickle Cell Disease is solely an issue in Africa, it is, in fact, the most prevalent inherited disease in the United States. This condition is brought about by a genetic mutation, with a 25% chance of a child inheriting the disease when both parents are carriers. Currently, the CDC estimates that 1 in 13 African Americans are carriers, and 1 in 365 African American babies are born with the disease. However, Sickle Cell affects individuals across various ethnic groups, with a total of 100,000 patients in the US.
Moreover, many may not realize that Sickle Cell can significantly impact the overall health-related quality of life for the patient's entire family, particularly the parents of a child with the disease. Eli's case turned out to be more severe, leading to frequent anemia, susceptibility to illness, and painful crises requiring emergency room visits and hospital stays.
To combat Eli's condition, his parents sought the expertise of doctors at Boston Children’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. They devised a treatment plan aimed at giving Eli a chance at a normal life. Recognizing that a stem cell transplant could cure Eli, his parents welcomed a new addition to the family, baby Gus, and ensured the preservation of his cord blood at birth. Gus not only provided cord blood but also proved to be a close enough genetic match to serve as a bone marrow donor.
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Eli finally underwent his stem cell transplant in May 2021, utilizing both cord blood and bone marrow from Gus. Remarkably, within a year post-transplant, Eli exhibited normal blood counts, and there was no evidence that he had ever been diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease. Eli's life transformed, free from pain crises and hospital visits since the successful transplant.
Eli's family received support through Americord Registry's Americord Cares program, which provided free cord blood banking and storage. As a leading cord blood bank, Americord offers a comprehensive range of services, including preservation of cord blood, cord tissue, placental tissue, and exosomes. Their commitment to newborn health extends to the myNewborn Advanced Health Screening service, testing for nearly 20% of conditions treatable with cord blood stem cells.
In a significant move towards advancing their capabilities, Americord recently relocated to a state-of-the-art laboratory in Somerset, New Jersey. Equipped with pharmaceutical-grade clean rooms and nearly triple the size of their previous space, this new facility positions Americord to deepen their commitment to innovation and expand the array of services they provide.
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