Verified By July 16, 2020
Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is meant for patients with specific types of cancer or other life-threatening conditions. This procedure involves stem cells – they are taken from the bone marrow, filtered, and then given back to either the patient they were taken from or to any other person. The objective of BMT is to infuse healthy bone marrow cells into an individual after his/her unhealthy bone marrow has been removed. Here is a detailed guide on the bone marrow transplantation to let you know about bone marrow transplantation in more detail:
First, let’s address what bone marrow is. It is the soft, spongy tissue that is rich in stem cells found within the bones. The most primitive of these stem cells are the pluripotent stem cells (master cells). These stem cells are of prime importance in Bone Marrow Transplantations and are different from the other cells in the following aspects:
Various other sources of stem cells have also gained popularity in the last decade, as their harvesting is better tolerated by patients and deliver almost identical success rates when compared to bone marrow transplants. These include peripheral blood stem cells and cord blood stem cells.
The conditions which necessitate a BMT can be broadly classified into 2 groups:
Undergoing a Bone Marrow Transplant is a five-stage process.
Routine diagnostic tests such as complete haemogram, X-ray, and urinalysis are performed. In addition, HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) typing and blood grouping are done to evaluate recipient/donor compatibility. This compatibility evaluation is most vital to reduce the risk of transplant rejection.
Other donors for allogeneic bone marrow transplantations may include:
Donors are injected with Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (GCSF) for a duration of 4 days to stimulate stem cell proliferation.
The stem cells from the donor are collected using a process called apheresis and administered intravenously to the patient. The stem cells of the donor have the property of stem cell homing whereby they migrate to the bone marrow of the patient and override his/her defective stem cells. This restores the ability of bone marrow of the patient to produce blood elements.
The conditioning procedure involves radiation (sometimes) and high doses of chemotherapy. It is carried out for three reasons:
The bone marrow transplant process does not involve the insertion of the marrow stem cells physically into the marrow of the recipient and is more of a delicate and intricate blood transfusion method. The stem cells that are harvested are administered through a central venous catheter into the bloodstream. From there, these harvested stem cells find their way to the marrow by a property of stem cells known as stem cell homing.
The patient is monitored continuously to ascertain the success of the transplant. But, the procedure involves a few risks such as:
There are two types of GvHD:
With any surgery/procedure like bone marrow transplantation (BMT), prognosis and long-term survival may vary significantly from patient to patient. Constant follow-up care is necessary for the patient after a BMT.
Ongoing medical developments and carrying out a number of transplants for an increasing list of diseases have significantly improved the outcome for BMT in adults and children. The discovery of new procedures and methods to improve treatment therapies and reduce complications and side effects of transplantation are constantly taking place as well.
June 16, 2022