LUTH launches bone marrow transplant program for sickle cell disease

October 07, 2024

By Samuel Ogunsona

The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), in partnership with the Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria (SCFN), has introduced a bone marrow transplant program to provide a cure for sickle cell disease.

According to a joint statement by LUTH’s Chief Medical Director, Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo, and SCFN’s National Director, Dr. Annette Akinsete, the program aims to meet international standards and address the high burden of sickle cell disease in Nigeria.

Nigeria has the world’s largest burden of sickle cell disease, with many patients experiencing life-threatening complications from childhood.

The program builds on previous efforts, including the establishment of a post-transplant clinic in 2019, the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa.

Bone marrow transplant, using a donor from a family member, is considered a cure for sickle cell disease but carries risks such as infection, infertility, and graft-versus-host disease.

Advances in the procedure have significantly improved outcomes, making bone marrow transplant an approved therapy for children and adults with severe sickle cell disease.

The first patients began receiving treatment at LUTH in late August 2024, undergoing exchange blood transfusions, chemotherapy, and anti-infective treatments before stem cell infusion from family donors.

The program is supported by experts from Vanderbilt University Medical Centre and Imperial College London, with plans to expand access to this life-saving procedure.

LUTH and SCFN expressed gratitude to partners, including Chevron, Lagos State Government, and other contributors, for their support in launching the initiative.