Father’s Liver Saves Toddler: Rare PFIC Transplant at Pune’s Jupiter Hospital

Pune, Maharashta, September 12, 2025 : A one-and-a-half-year-old boy from Karad, Satara, has survived a rare liver disease after a successful transplant at Jupiter Hospital, Pune. Doctors confirmed that the child, diagnosed with Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis (PFIC), is now stable, jaundice-free, and steadily gaining weight.

The boy had been suffering from persistent jaundice, severe itching, weight loss, and growth delays since infancy. His condition worsened this year, with biopsy reports revealing liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Doctors advised that a liver transplant was the only way to save him.

Tests showed the father was a perfect donor match, and he volunteered immediately. The child was admitted on July 29, and the transplant was performed the next day at Jupiter Hospital. The surgery used a portion of the father’s liver and was carefully planned to minimize risk.

Dr. Snehavardhan Pandey, paediatric hepatologist at Jupiter Hospital, said the surgery was complex because of the child’s small size and advanced liver damage. The procedure required a coordinated team of surgeons, anesthetists, ICU staff, dieticians, and physiotherapists.

Following the transplant, the boy’s symptoms resolved. A child of this age normally weighs around 12 kg, but the boy only weighed 8.5kg. Post the transplant, the doctors expect him to reach that milestone soon.

The boy was discharged on August 18. Since then, he has been sleeping through the night, eating better, and showing steady weight gain. His liver tests have returned to normal.

PFIC is a rare hereditary liver disorder that affects roughly 1 in 50,000–100,000 births. It causes chronic liver damage, severe itching, and jaundice from infancy. In this case, genetic tests did not reveal a mutation, but doctors relied on clinical evidence and biopsy results to make the diagnosis. ¹

The family expressed relief and gratitude after doctors confirmed the transplant had succeeded. Pediatric liver transplants can restore normal growth and development even in advanced cases.

This successful surgery gives hope to other families dealing with rare liver disorders and highlights the life-saving power of organ donation.

Reference

Johns Hopkins Medicine. “Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis.” Johns Hopkins Medicine, accessed September 2025. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/progressive-familial-intrahepatic-cholestasis.

(Rh/Eth/ARC)