In a remarkable medical breakthrough, a 26-year-old woman with catastrophic antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APLA) and critically low hemoglobin levels of just 2 g/dL successfully delivered a healthy preterm baby at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road. The life-saving intervention was led by Dr. Rajashri Tayshete Bhasale, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, alongside a multidisciplinary team including Nephrologist Dr. Puneet Bhuwania and Hematologist Dr. Muralidaran C.
The patient, Isha (name changed), was in her eighth month of pregnancy when she arrived in critical condition. Emergency measures included plasmapheresis therapy, multiple blood transfusions, and steroids to stabilize her and improve the baby’s lung maturity. Following an emergency cesarean section, the baby, weighing 1.2 kg, was delivered safely.
“This was one of the most challenging cases I’ve encountered,” said Dr. Tayshete Bhasale. “The patient had severe anemia, pulmonary edema, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Despite these challenges, the team worked tirelessly to stabilize her condition and deliver the baby.”
Catastrophic APLA syndrome, a rare and life-threatening immunological disorder affecting 1 in 2–5 lakh individuals, caused the patient’s body to destroy hemoglobin. Plasmapheresis, a specialized procedure to remove harmful proteins, proved instrumental in her recovery.
Dr. Bhuwania highlighted the significance of rapid diagnosis and advanced therapies: “This case demonstrates how a holistic approach can save lives in critical situations. The patient’s history of unexplained anemia two years ago may indicate an earlier undiagnosed episode of APLA.”
As per the press release, the baby received three weeks of preterm care in the NICU before being discharged alongside the mother. Expressing her gratitude, the patient said, “I was so weak that I feared for my life, but the team at Wockhardt Hospitals never gave up on me. They treated me with care and compassion, and today, my baby and I are alive because of them.”
This case underscores Wockhardt Hospitals’ expertise in handling complex medical conditions and the importance of multidisciplinary teamwork in achieving extraordinary outcomes.