Casablanca: Success of the First Kidney Transplant with ABO Blood Type Incompatibility in Africa
The Mohammed VI Foundation for Science and Health in Casablanca has announced the successful completion of the first kidney transplant with ABO blood type incompatibility on the African continent. The procedure was performed between a donor and a recipient who did not match in blood type, marking an unprecedented medical achievement.
This surgical intervention was made possible through coordination among various medical specialties, including anesthesia and resuscitation, nephrology, urology, hematology, and medical biology, alongside the Mohammed VI Blood Transfusion Center and the vascular surgery team, with scientific support from French Professor Lionel Rousting, an expert in such operations.
Professor Abd El Bar Ou Baiz, General Director of a hospital affiliated with the foundation, affirmed that the operation represents a national and continental precedent, noting that preparing the patient before the transplant poses the biggest challenge and requires cooperation among multiple specialties. The surgery was entirely conducted by a Moroccan medical team. He explained that the patient’s condition, who underwent a one-month preparation prior to the transplant, shows noticeable improvement and positive indicators for the success of the transplanted kidney.
Ramadhani Ben Younes, Director of Nephrology at the foundation, highlighted that about a quarter of patients eligible for kidney transplants are incompatible in the ABO blood type system, stating that the patient has completely ceased dialysis and is enjoying normal kidney function just 16 days post-operation. He believes this achievement opens new horizons for expanding organ transplant opportunities and overcoming immunological limitations, reaffirming the foundation’s commitment to developing exceptional medicine that serves Morocco and the African continent.
