Umbilical blood transfusion saves infant's life

An infant in Shanghai who received an umbilical cord blood transfusion when she was 6 months old to fight congenital genetic defects has become the youngest beneficiary of such a transfusion in the country.

The baby suffered serious diarrhea together with fever, vomiting and inflammation one week after she was born and was diagnosed with genetic defects. The only remedy for her was to transfuse umbilical cord blood stem cells to make up for the defects and control the disease.

Shanghai-based Children's Hospital of Fudan University in June found a blood match for her from the Shanghai Cord Blood Bank and made the transfusion on July 31. Doctors said the baby girl has conquered post-operation rejection and infection so far.