Lu Daopei team worked seamlessly to minimise patient misery

Maisha, a 4.5-year-old girl from Pakistan. In September 2014, the first symptoms were "fever and cough". At the Aga Khan University Hospital (Pakistan), she was diagnosed with "acute B-lymphoblastic leukaemia". One course of "VP" chemotherapy was given, and the re-examination of the bone marrow morphology revealed a remission of the disease, and 8 courses of regular chemotherapy were followed, and the bone marrow morphology and immunity residue were not monitored during this period.

In May 2017, she developed fever again. 3.16% were malignant blast B lymphocytes. The result of blood routine and bone marrow morphology in the local hospital showed a relapse of the disease.

On 18 August 2017, after comparing the BMT success rate and expenses of many medical centres worldwide, the patient came to our hospital for the first time for further treatment. The bone marrow biopsy test showed that she is not in complete remission, which means that her condition is not ready for blood and bone marrow transplantation.

After a multidisciplinary consultation, our haematologists suggest she take part in the CAR-T clinical trial before BMT. This is because CAR-T has a great chance of putting her into complete remission, which is the best condition for BMT. In our 300 CAR-T cases, the complete remission rate is about 90%.

On the 1st of September, CD19 CAR-T cells infusion was done as cellular immunotherapy, three reviews followed all showed that she got complete remission, and there were no malignant blasts seen in the immune residual. This is the basis for the next step - blood and bone marrow transplantation.

The China Marrow Donor Programme (CMDP) donated haematopoietic stem cells to a Pakistani patient for the first time.

The CMDP found an unrelated female donor with a 10/10 HLA match to Maisha. 5 December 2017 is a miraculous day for Maisha. She underwent allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Leukocyte graft survival at +15 days, platelet graft survival at +6 days. Onset of infectious diarrhoea on -3 days, stool returned to normal after positive local anti-inflammatory treatment. On 22 December she was finally discharged from the laminar air flow room. She is currently in a disease-free state.

Pakistani embassy official visits Maisha's family

Mr. Ahmad Bilal Malik, the Pakistani Embassy Deputy, was invited by our International Centre to visit Maisha in the hospital. He went to Maisha's room with a gift and wished her a speedy recovery. "The environment, equipment and medical staff of Lu Daopei Hospital give me a very good impression. I can see the humanitarian spirit everywhere in this hospital. I believe Maisha could get the best treatment and services here. More and more Pakistanis are coming to China to see doctors. I know they can get good care and treatment. Thank you China for your help, thank you doctor, thank you Lu Daopei Hospital," said Mr Ahmad Bilal Malik.