Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation [MUD, Haploidentical Transplant]

To replace bone marrow that is not generating enough healthy blood cells, an allogeneic stem cell transplant employs healthy blood stem cells from a donor. An allogeneic bone marrow transplant is another name for an allogeneic stem cell transplant. Patients will get strong doses of chemotherapy or radiation prior to an allogeneic stem cell transplant in order to eradicate sick cells and get the body ready for healthy donor cells.

The secret to a successful allogeneic stem cell transplant is finding a compatible donor. A donor might be a member of the patient’s family, a friend, or even no one related or known. Donor registries are often used to discover the best match through tissue typing. Tissue typing employs proteins called Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA), which are present in tissues and white blood cells, to ascertain if a donor’s stem cells are a good match. Pathologists use an HLA test to compare the patient’s blood and tissue type to blood samples from donors.

Haploidentical Transplant

A Haploidentical Transplant is a form of allogeneic transplant. It substitutes healthy blood-forming cells from a donor who is only partially matched for the damaged cells. The doctor will do a blood test to determine Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) type before any allogeneic transplantation. Doctors search for umbilical cord blood or donor blood that closely matches the recipient’s HLA.

They often fail to locate a precise HLA match, though. An alternative would therefore be a Haploidentical Transplant. The donor matches exactly half of the recipient’s HLA in this particular allogeneic transplant. The recipient’s mother, father, or child are often the haploidentical, or half-matched, donors. There is extremely little chance that other relatives (such as cousins, aunts, or uncles) would be a partial match.

Who is a good candidate for Allogeneic Stem cell transplantation?

Before proposing allogeneic stem cell transplantation to treat cancer or blood problems, doctors take into account a number of criteria. These elements consist of:

• A donor with a high degree of HLA compatibility with the recipient.
• Patient’s overall well-being and medical state.
• Previous treatments – Transplantation may be affected by certain medical treatments taken in the past.

What is MUD in Transplant?

If the patient has any of the following conditions, a transplant from a Matched Unrelated Donor (MUD) may be a possibility when:

• A blood cancer that is not expected to respond to chemotherapy or other forms of treatment, such as leukaemia, lymphoma, or myeloma
• A condition that affects the ability to produce healthy blood cells on their own. They consist of Aplastic Anaemia, Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS), and a few additional hereditary diseases.

What happens before the Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation procedure?

If a patient qualifies for a stem cell transplant, the doctor will do tests to make sure he/she can handle the potential adverse effects of the surgery, such as the intense chemotherapy that comes before the transplant. These tests might consist of the following:

• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Echocardiogram
• Complete Blood Cell Count (CBC)
• Biopsy

One of the big veins in the upper chest may be used by the doctor to insert a Central Venous Catheter (CVC). Providers utilise CVCs, which are tubes, as central lines to draw blood, administer medicine, and provide fluids. Through the course of the transplantation procedure, CVCs do away with recurrent needle sticks for blood collection or intravenous tube insertion.

During Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation

Donated stem cells are injected into circulation by doctors using the CVC. The patient’s bone marrow receives the given stem cells so that they may begin making new blood cells there.

After Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation

To allow the doctor to monitor the recovery and administer any necessary care, the patient will stay in or near the hospital. What to anticipate following an allogeneic stem cell transplant is as follows:

• The patient’s immune system’s capacity to defend against infections is impacted by pre-treatment chemotherapy. The patient will be alone in a spotlessly clean room with little to no physical contact with other individuals in order to curtail the potential complications.
• To lessen the possibility that the body would reject the donated stem cells, the patient will be given immunosuppressant medicine.
• Some transplant recipients have nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. The doctor will administer medicines to lessen those symptoms and fluids to replenish them.
• To replenish the red blood cells (RBCs) and platelets, the patient could require blood transfusions.

Risks/Complications

Depending on the patient’s general health, age, and past treatment for cancer, there are different potential consequences. Graft-versus-host disease may develop after allogeneic stem cell transplants. This disease develops when the immune system destroys healthy cells after a transplant. The adverse effects are-

• Diarrhoea
• A sensitive and dry mouth.
• Shortness of breath.
• Joint pain
• An itchy rash
• Feeling and being sick.
• Dry, flaky skin.
• Dry eyes

The doctor will describe all the potential risks if you’re thinking about having an allogeneic stem cell transplant so you can be prepared.

Recovery after Transplant

It may take several months to recover from the transplantation process, including recovery from pre-transplantation conditioning. It may take a year or two for the immune system to heal while the new stem cells produce new blood cells.

Why choose Apollo Hospitals, Karnataka?

Apollo Hospital, Karnataka, is regarded as one of the top bone marrow transplant hospitals in Bangalore, India since it is well-equipped with tools and cutting-edge technology to manage any emergency condition that may arise during the surgery. Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation, medical oncology, and haemato-oncology experts on our distinguished team of experienced and globally qualified doctors are supported by a world-class unit and a highly skilled staff of trained nurses who provide round-the-clock medical care. Our staff of highly qualified oncology experts administers every treatment with great care and accuracy for higher success rates.