Doctors at the National Center for Child Health and Development decided to try a "bridge treatment" until the baby was big enough, injecting 190 million liver cells derived from embryonic stem cells (ES cells) into the blood vessels of the baby's liver. SEE ALSO: Japan newborn gets liver stem cells in world firstFollowing the treatment, "the patient did not see an increase in blood ammonia concentration and was able to successfully complete the next treatment", namely a liver transplant, the institute said in a press release. The baby, whose sex has not been disclosed, received a liver transplant from its father and was discharged from the hospital six months after birth. It noted that in Europe and the United States, liver cells are often available after being removed from brain-dead donors, but the supply in Japan is more limited. The national institute is one of two organisations in Japan allowed to establish ES cells to study new medical treatments.

Source: Standard Digital May 21, 2020 14:03 UTC