Savior sibling

A saviour baby or savior sibling (see spelling differences) is a child who is born to provide an organ or cell transplant to a sibling that is affected with a fatal disease, such as cancer or Fanconi anemia, that can best be treated by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

The savior sibling is conceived through in vitro fertilization. Fertilized zygotes are tested for genetic compatibility (human leucocyte antigen (HLA) typing), using preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), and only zygotes that are compatible with the existing child are implanted. Zygotes are also tested to make sure they are free of the original genetic disease. The procedure is controversial.[1][2][3]

Indications

A savior sibling may be the solution for any disease treated by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. It is effective against genetically detectable (mostly monogenic) diseases, e.g. Fanconi anemia,[4] Diamond-Blackfan anemia[5] and β-thalassemia, in the ailing sibling, since the savior sibling can be selected to not have inherited the disease. The procedure may also be used in children with leukemia, and in such cases HLA match is the only requirement, and not exclusion of any other obvious genetic disorder.

Procedure

8-cell human embryo, 3 days after fertilization

Multiple embryos are created and preimplantation genetic diagnosis is used to detect and select ones that are free of a genetic disorder and that are also a HLA match for an existing sibling who requires a transplant. Upon birth, umbilical cord blood is taken and used for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Laws

Ethical considerations

Arguments for or against the use of PGD/HLA tissue typing are based on several key issues including the commodification and welfare of the donor child.[1]

The main ethical argument against is the possible exploitation of the child, e.g. potential adverse psychological effects on a child born not for itself but to save another.[5]

A survey of 4,000 Americans showed that 61% approved of PGD use for savior siblings.[6]

History

Yury Verlinsky and collaborators described the first case in 2001.[7]

Popular culture

The novel My Sister's Keeper, later adapted into a film, is about a child who was born as a savior sibling to her sister Kate who is affected by acute promyelocytic leukemia.

In the British soap opera Emmerdale, Debbie Dingle gave birth to her son Jack who would serve as a saviour sibling to his older sister Sarah who was suffering from Fanconi anemia.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Liu, Crystal K. (2007). "'Saviour Siblings'? The Distinction between PGD with HLA Tissue Typing and Preimplantation HLA Tissue Typing". Journal of Bioethical Inquiry. 4: 65. doi:10.1007/s11673-007-9034-9.
  2. ↑ Sui, Suli; Sleeboom-Faulkner, Margaret (2010). "Choosing offspring: Prenatal genetic testing for thalassaemia and the production of a 'saviour sibling' in China". Culture, Health & Sexuality. 12 (2): 167–75. doi:10.1080/13691050902914110.
  3. ↑ Bennett, B (2005). "Symbiotic relationships: Saviour siblings, family rights and biomedicine". Australian journal of family law. 19 (3): 195–212. PMID 17058348.
  4. ↑ Moore, Pete (2007). The Debate About Genetic Engineering (Ethical Debates). New York, NY: Rosen Central. p. 29. ISBN 1-4042-3754-2.
  5. 1 2 3 "Saviour sibling". worldwidewords.org. 2007-08-11.
  6. ↑ Genetic testing of embryos to pick 'savior sibling' OK with most Americans medicalnewstoday.com, Article Date: 4 May 2004 - 0:00 PDT
  7. ↑ "Preimplantation Diagnosis for Fanconi Anemia Combined With HLA Matching", Yury Verlinsky et al. The Journal of the American Medical Association.

External links

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