PGD with HLA matching offers a realistic option to treat sick sibling.
We learned from the previous cycle article in this series that Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) can be used to analyze the genetic health of embryos prior to implantation with the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. But did you know that PGD, combined with HLA matching using PCR technique, also constitute a radical treatment for existing affected siblings?

Parents who have a child with a single gene disorder like thalassemia and needs stem cell transplant in order to rejuvenate the child's blood system, are today offered an alternative approach to cure their affected child- PGD with HLA matching. Well-matched sibling donors are the best candidates. To this end, parents often consider having a second child with the hope that it will be a suitable donor for the existing child.

The most effective way to ensure that the second child is a close match and free of disease is to undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) with PGD. With IVF-PGD for the purpose of HLA matching, parents would have a healthy baby who would be a suitable HLA matching for tissue donation to the affected child. PGD gives greater certainty of a matched sibling than random birth and is more easily acceptable than prenatal diagnosis and abortion.

Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) are proteins or markers on white blood cells found on most in our body. Our immune system uses these markers to recognize which cells belong to our body and which do not. HLA matching is usually performed when doctors are trying to find a bone marrow or cord blood match for a child requiring stem cell transplant. It can help reduce the risk that the affected child's immune cells will attack the donor's cells to that the donor's immune cells will attack the child's body after the transplant.

Superior A.R.T., one of the best providers of PGD-PCR in Southeast Asia, also provided the APGD for HLA matching as part of its services. The centers offers an alternative method to coupled using in vitro fertilization (IVF) to find an HLA matched embryos for the treatment of their children with blood cell disorders like thalassemia and leukaemia. By analyzing embryos produced from the IVF, the centre's scientists can employ PGD to identify embryos that are healthy and suitable match to a sibling requiring a marrow transplant and transfer them to the uterus. After delivery, the cord blood, which is a rich source of stem cells, from the matched newborn will be used for the transplant to the existing affected brother/sister. As such, the centre can significantly increase the chance of a couple having a child that is HLA-matched to the sick child.

PGD for the purpose of HLA matching process is not complicated. Superior A.R.T. always provided couples with the most effective and the best possible clinical practice. From the counseling to biopsy and analysis to interpretation, every procedure is performed by professionally trained scientists, specialists and geneticists.

The first step is to consult with the centre's genetic counselor, who will give couples comprehensive explanations and advice about PGD for the HLA matching process. The couple and their affected child will then be asked to undergo blood tests. During this period, they will learn if the PGD process will be feasible for them. If these tests show that PCD is possible, the parents will undergo an IVF cycle to form embryos.

Unlike common PGD technique which samples only a single cell on day 3, the embryos to be tested with PGD-PCR technique are sampled on day 5 of the embryo's development, when the embryo processes over a hundred cells. At this stage, three to five cells are removed for the test. PGD-PCR is performed on cells from each embryo for the purpose of testing for embryos for the purpose of testing for embryos which is HLA-matched and unaffected with disease. Only those embryo(s) that are unaffected and are HLA-matched to the sick child are transferred to the uterus for further development resulting in pregnancy.

The worst news for the parents to know is that their child is facing serious or terminal illness. No parent should have to watch their child suffer under awful circumstances. To avoid such an impossible situation, come and discuss with the geneticist or genetic counselor. We will serve as a bridge to help you bring your own child to help your other child.

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