CARE Hospitals Performs Complex ABO-Incompatible Kidney Transplant on 60-Year-Old Teacher

Doctors at CARE Hospitals, Hitech City successfully performed a complex ABO-incompatible kidney transplant on a 60-year-old teacher with high antibody levels and multiple underlying health conditions, giving him a new lease of life after two years of dialysis. His wife stepped forward as the donor despite their incompatible blood groups.

The patient had been suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) for three years and undergoing dialysis three times a week for the past two years, leading to frequent hospitalisations and significantly affecting his quality of life. Despite these challenges, he continued working as a teacher.

Finding a suitable donor was difficult due to his age, high antibody titres, hypertension and diabetes. When his wife volunteered to donate her kidney, their blood-group incompatibility presented an additional challenge.

The multidisciplinary transplant team at CARE Hospitals planned an ABO-incompatible kidney transplant using a specialised desensitisation protocol. The patient underwent multiple sessions of plasmapheresis to reduce antibodies, along with immunosuppressive therapy to prevent rejection.

The key clinical challenge was balancing the higher immunosuppression required to prevent rejection with the increased risk of infections, particularly given his age, diabetes and history of recurrent infections. Following successful preparation, the patient underwent the living-donor kidney transplant and was closely monitored during recovery.

Dr. B.R.G. Aravinda Reddy, Consultant – Nephrology, CARE Hospitals, said, “Blood-group incompatibility does not always rule out kidney transplantation. In appropriately selected patients, specialised desensitisation can help overcome this barrier. In this case, high antibody levels, age, diabetes and hypertension made the transplant particularly challenging, requiring careful preparation and close monitoring.”

Dr. Sushanth Kulkarni, Sr. Consultant – Renal Transplant & Urology, CARE Hospitals, Hitech City, said, “This was a challenging transplant due to the blood-group mismatch, high antibody levels and the patient’s other health conditions. With careful preparation and close coordination between the nephrology and transplant teams, we were able to successfully perform the transplant.”

Dr. J. Al Ranganath, Consultant – Nephrology, CARE Hospitals, said, “After two years of dialysis three times a week, this transplant gives the patient an opportunity to return to a more independent and active life. The challenge was to prevent rejection while carefully managing the increased risk of infection.”

Dr. Pramod Gupta, HCOO, CARE Hospitals, Hitech Citysaid, “This case combines advanced medical expertise with an extraordinary act of family support. His wife came forward to donate despite the blood-group mismatch, and our multidisciplinary team worked together to make the transplant possible. It reflects our commitment to providing advanced treatment options even in complex cases.”

ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation can be considered for selected patients with end-stage kidney disease who have a willing living donor but face a blood-group mismatch. It requires specialised desensitisation, immunosuppression and close monitoring to minimise rejection and infection risks.

The case highlights an important message for patients and families: a blood-group mismatch does not always mean that living kidney donation is impossible. For the 60-year-old teacher, the successful transplant offers an opportunity to move beyond years of dialysis and return to a better quality of life.

About CARE Hospitals:

CARE Hospitals is part of Aster DM Quality Care Limited, one of India’s leading integrated healthcare providers, formed through the merger of Aster DM Healthcare Limited and Quality Care India Limited. The combined entity brings together four leading healthcare brands — Aster DM, CARE Hospitals, Evercare and KIMSHEALTH — creating a scaled and diversified healthcare platform with a network of 39 hospitals across 28 cities and more than 10,600 beds.

CARE Hospitals, one of India's leading healthcare providers, is committed to delivering world-class medical services across a range of specialties. With a strong focus on patient-centric care, innovation, and community health initiatives, CARE Hospitals continues to play a pivotal role in advancing healthcare standards in India. CARE Hospitals Group operates 17 healthcare facilities serving 7 cities across 6 states in India. The network has its presence in Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar, Visakhapatnam, Raipur, Nagpur, Indore & Aurangabad. A regional leader in South and Central India and counted among the top 5 pan-Indian hospital chains, CARE Hospitals delivers comprehensive care in over 33 clinical specialties, with over 3000+ beds.