11-year-old Iraqi girl battles Wilson's disease, gets lifesaving transplant in India

After nearly a year of repeated jaundice, weakness and hospital admissions, the child underwent a complex living donor liver transplant at Paras Health Gurugram. Doctors said the transplant was particularly challenging because of her advanced liver disease, young age and the need to carefully select a graft suited to her body size.

In Short

• Wilson's disease caused copper build-up, leading to severe progressive liver damage
• Repeated treatment and hospital admissions in Iraq failed to halt decline
• Her cousin brother donated a left lobe graft after matching assessments

An 11 year old girl from Iraq, who had been battling worsening liver disease for nearly a year, has returned home after undergoing a complex living donor liver transplant at Paras Health Gurugram. The child, identified as Zainab, was diagnosed with Wilson’s disease, a rare genetic disorder that causes excess copper to build up in the body and can seriously damage the liver.

Her illness had gradually affected her health, leaving her with recurrent jaundice, weakness and fatigue. Despite receiving treatment in Iraq, her condition continued to deteriorate. She eventually developed advanced liver failure, hepatic encephalopathy and problems with blood clotting, making a liver transplant the only option for her.

WILSON’S DISEASE LED TO PROGRESSIVE LIVER DAMAGE

Wilson’s disease is a genetic condition in which the body is unable to properly remove excess copper. Over time, copper can accumulate in organs such as the liver and brain, leading to serious complications.

In Zainab’s case, the disease had caused severe liver damage. Her condition became increasingly difficult to manage with medicines, and repeated hospital admissions failed to stop the progression of the disease.

Her family eventually travelled to India after doctors advised that she needed specialised care and a liver transplant.

At Paras Health Gurugram, a detailed medical assessment confirmed that the child had advanced liver disease and required transplantation. Her cousin's brother was evaluated as a potential living donor and was found suitable for donation.

DOCTORS USED A LEFT LOBE LIVER GRAFT

The child underwent a living donor liver transplant using a left lobe graft with the middle hepatic vein. During surgery, doctors found that her liver was enlarged and nodular, with fluid accumulation in the abdomen.

The transplant was performed by Dr Vaibhaw Kumar, Director, Liver Transplant and GI Surgery, Paras Health Gurugram, along with a multidisciplinary team of 18 doctors.

The recipient surgery took around eight hours, while the donor surgery took approximately four hours. The transplanted liver graft weighed around 364 grams and had a graft recipient weight ratio of 0.9.

Doctors carefully reconstructed the blood vessels after implantation and used Doppler ultrasound to confirm satisfactory blood flow to the new liver.

“This was a complex paediatric liver transplant because the child had advanced liver disease with jaundice, hepatic encephalopathy and impaired blood clotting by the time she reached us,” Dr Vaibhaw Kumar said.

He added that timely transplantation was important because further deterioration could have affected other organs, including the brain and kidneys.

CHILD SPENT FIVE DAYS IN ICU AFTER SURGERY

Following the transplant, Zainab was shifted to the ICU for close monitoring. She initially required mechanical ventilation and medicine to support her blood pressure.

A postoperative Doppler examination showed good blood flow to the transplanted liver. Doctors then gradually reduced her ventilator and blood pressure support.

She also started on immunosuppressive medicines to prevent rejection of the transplanted liver. Her diet was gradually advanced from liquids to normal food, and she began walking during her recovery.

Doctors later performed a contrast-enhanced CT scan of the abdomen to check for possible complications. Her medicines were adjusted according to drug levels and her clinical response.

The child remained in the ICU for around five days and spent approximately two weeks in the hospital. At the time of discharge, she was eating normally, had normal bowel and bladder function, and her liver function tests were normal.

IRAQI GIRL RETURNS HOME, PLANS TO RESUME SCHOOL

Zainab has now returned to Iraq and is reportedly doing well, with normal organ function. She is able to carry out routine activities independently and is expected to gradually return to regular childhood activities and school within around two months.

Her family said seeing her communicate normally and regain her independence had brought them significant relief after months of illness.

Since Wilson’s disease is a genetic condition, doctors have also advised that her two younger brothers undergo screening for the disease.

The case highlights the importance of identifying progressive liver disease early in children and seeking timely specialist care. In children with advanced liver failure, careful donor selection, appropriate graft sizing, precise surgery and close monitoring after transplantation can be crucial to recovery and a return to everyday life.

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