Treatment in India heals Zambia baby with ABS

A 15-months-old baby from Zambia, Zinnia Munthali was experiencing occasional swelling and itching in her lower left leg and the fingers of her right hand. A diagnosis revealed that she was suffering from a case of Amniotic Band Syndrome (ABS) which occurs in around one in every 1,200 live births as per epidemiologic data.

ABS is a group of congenital malformations which occur due to an early rupture of the amniotic sac. According to Munthali’s parents, at the age of seven weeks, she underwent her first corrective surgery and another at the age of five months to remove the fibrotic bands in her limbs, however, there was no further improvement in her condition.

After Munthali’s parents heard about Cellular Therapy in India, they travelled here for her further treatment. In India, Zinnia underwent three sessions of autologous cell-based therapy with platelet-rich plasma injected locally to the affected areas.

Dr Pradeep Mahajan, Regenerative Medicine Researcher, said, “Diagnosis of ABS is usually missed and there are no treatments. Corrective surgeries are difficult and do not give desired results. Zinnia is a rare case and is under treatment using Regenerative Medicine and cell-based technology. Within a month, the fibrotic bands are less visible. Zinnia’s leg movements are free and no swelling is observed.”

“Cell-based therapy is proving to be promising even in rare conditions thanks to the inherent healing ability of our body’s cells and tissues. She will require maintenance dose therapy after further evaluation to ensure complete healing,” added Dr Mahajan.