Bangalore: Two HIV positive patients from East Africa, who were suffering from renal problems, have got a new lease of life after kidney transplantation surgeries at a private hospital here.
29-year-old Ojus Paul of Togo and 35-year-old Mohammed Sayeed, a nurse by profession, (both names changed) underwent the surgery at the Narayana Hrudalaya Hospital recently.
Briefing reporters on the surgeries, Narayana Hrudalaya`s Senior Consultant Nephrologist and Clinical Dialysis Director Llyod Vincent today said that while mortality on dialysis was approximately 50 percent at two years, patient survival post- transplant was about 90 percent.
"This indicates that transplantation is the best way forward for HIV positive patients on dialysis," he said adding awareness of the advantages of transplantation on HIV patients was low in India compared to Africa.
Only two such transplants have been done earlier in Delhi and Chennai, Vincent said.
"Compared to African nations, awareness about kidney transplantation on HIV positive patients is low. Therefore the incidence of transplants are less in India," he added.
However, world over kidney transplantation in HIV positive patients were on the rise in well-established centres. "HIV is not an issue, but the associated illness that occur with the immune-compromised state are the issue," he said.
The transplantation was done by a team of doctors including Vincent and Prashanth Kulkarni.
Paul, an Army official, said he had renal problems before the transplantation, but feeling `healthy` after the surgery.
"I am thrilled to have undergone kidney transplantation. I am feeling healthy," he said.
PTI
