Bone Marrow Transplant: Types, Procedure & Risks - GlobalHospitals01/GlobalHospitals GitHub Wiki

The blood components for the body are produced within the hollow of the bones containing a semi solid substance known as the bone marrow. The production of the blood components is aided by the hematopoietic stem cells. There are various types of bone marrow transplants that are employed based on the need of the diseased individual and after the assessment of the risks involved.

Major types of bone marrow transplant include – the autologous bone marrow transplant, the allogenic bone transplant and the umbilical bone marrow transplant.

The autologous bone marrow transplant refers to the procedure wherein Stem cells are removed from the patient before the high dose chemotherapy is given. After the chemotherapy, stem cells are given back intravenously. This method is employed to treat various kinds of blood cancers – leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma as well as certain solid tumors - breast cancer, testicular cancer, osteosarcoma and others. Autologous transplants allow the use of high dose chemotherapy, which provides some people with a better chance of cure or long-term control of their disease.

In an allogenic bone marrow transplant the stem cells are obtained from a donor who must have the same genetic makeup as the patient. Typically, a close relative such as the brother or sister of the patient is most likely to be a good match. Special blood tests are done to determine if a donor is a good match. In case no sibling is available, some other close relative can be identified as a possible donor.

An allogeneic transplant offers the best chance of curing a number of blood cancers and other serious diseases such as leukemia, some types of lymphoma, myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes, aplastic anemia and other rare bone marrow diseases. Most of the side effects of an allogeneic transplant are caused by the conditioning therapy used. While many of these side-effects last for a short time, some can last longer. Some side-effects persist for months and occasionally years after the transplant.

For an Umbilical Cord Transplant the stem cells removed from the umbilical cord immediately after the birth of the baby are stored and used as and when it is needed in the later life of the individual. This is a relatively new and advanced method that requires parents to save the child’s stem cells at the time of birth.