Aplastic anaemia registry launched in RGGGH

A State-wide Tamil Nadu Aplastic Anaemia Registry (STAR) was recently launched at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH).

According to a press release, the focus is to facilitate early referral and diagnosis of suspected aplastic anaemia cases across the State. It is to ensure access to advanced diagnostic tools, including HLA typing, chromosomal breakage studies, Next-generation sequencing and karyotyping early evaluation for bone marrow transplantation (BMT), reducing complications and improving outcomes. It will also focus on promoting early evaluation for bone marrow transplantation, reducing complications and improving outcomes.

RGGGH’s dean K. Shantharam and expert faculty members launched the registry during a continuing medical education programme on aplastic anaemia, a life threatening blood disorder. Speaking on the occasion, Aruna Rajendran, associate professor and haemato-oncologist, Department of Haematology, BMT Unit, RGGGH and Madras Medical College highlighted the need for increased awareness and accessibility to advanced diagnostic and therapeutic options for underserved patient populations.

The registry is a part of a larger Indian Council of Medical Research-led initiative for early diagnosis of aplastic anaemia in India. The registry will provide crucial data to guide clinical decisions, policy frameworks and research funding, while ensuring that no patient is denied due to geography or affordability.

RGGGH’s BMT Unit, which was inaugurated in January 2018 and funded by the Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project, has performed 152 bone marrow transplants till date, with 92% transplant survival rate. In the last three years, 133 BMTs were carried out, averaging around 45 transplants per year. The patients were aged from five months to 68 years. The unit has completed various transplant procedures including 39 autologous transplants, 69 allogeneic matched sibling/matched family donor transplants, 29 matched unrelated donor transplants and 15 haplo-identical transplants.

The Paediatric BMT Unit at the Institute of Child Health, which was established in September 2024, has completed 10 transplants. In addition, a new Institute of Paediatric Haematology Oncology and Transplantation, currently under construction, will add 14 BMT beds to meet the growing demand, the release said.