RESTORING HOPE THROUGH PLASMA: SRMS TRANSFUSION MEDICINE TRANSFORMS LIFE OF 73-YEAR-OLD GUILLAIN-BARRE PATIENT

In a shining example of precision medicine and compassionate care, the Department of Transfusion Medicine at SRMS Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS), Bareilly, successfully brought 73-year-old Suneshwari Devi back on her feet after she was diagnosed with a severe neurological condition — Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS).

Suneshwari Devi came to SRMS with progressive weakness in all four limbs, struggling with basic daily tasks like walking, standing, or even eating. After expert evaluation by Professor Dr Sharat Johri, HOD, Department of Neurology at SRMS IMS, she was diagnosed with AMAN variant of GBS, characterized by both proximal and distal muscle weakness and areflexia. In collaboration with the Department of Transfusion Medicine, led by Dr Milan Jaiswal, the team initiated Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) — a highly specialized procedure to remove harmful antibodies responsible for nerve damage in GBS.

Over five TPE sessions, her condition steadily improved. By the time of discharge, she could stand and walk with support. Today, she walks short distances independently, marking a powerful recovery story in elderly care.

“This case underlines the lifesaving role of timely plasma exchange in acute neuromuscular illnesses like GBS. At SRMS, we combine state-of-the-art technology with a multidisciplinary team approach to give patients like Suneshwari Devi a second chance at life”, shares Dr Milan Jaiswal, HOD, Department of Transfusion Medicine at SRMS IMS, Bareilly.

Well, such a case speaks volumes about institute’s commitment to early diagnosis, expert coordination, and advanced interventions — all aimed at restoring not just health, but hope.