Bone Marrow Transplant

What is Bone Marrow Transplant?

Bone marrow transplant, also known as hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), is a medical procedure used to treat various conditions related to the bone marrow. The bone marrow is the soft, spongy tissue found inside certain bones, and it is responsible for producing blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

A bone marrow transplant involves replacing damaged or abnormal bone marrow with healthy stem cells. These stem cells can come from the patient themselves (autologous transplant), a matched donor (allogeneic transplant), or umbilical cord blood from a newborn baby (umbilical cord transplant).

benefits of bone marrow transplant;

• Treatment for Serious Conditions: Bone marrow transplant is a life-saving procedure for individuals with certain blood disorders, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and other conditions that affect the bone marrow's ability to produce healthy blood cells.

• Replacement of Damaged Cells: The procedure involves replacing damaged or abnormal bone marrow cells with healthy ones, allowing the body to generate healthy blood cells.

• Higher Chance of Cure: For certain diseases, a bone marrow transplant offers a higher chance of cure compared to other treatments. It can lead to long-term remission or even complete recovery in some cases.

• Regeneration of Immune System: The transplant can regenerate the immune system, which is crucial for fighting infections. This is particularly important for patients with compromised immune systems due to certain diseases or treatments.

• Potential for Donor Matches: With advancements in medical science, finding suitable donors, including family members or unrelated donors, has become more feasible, increasing the chances of a successful transplant.

What are the top 5 Transplant Surgery hospitals in India?

• Manipal Hospitals

• Max Hospital

• Apollo Hospital

• Fortis Hospital

• Artemis Hospital

Pre-Transplant

• • Evaluation: The patient undergoes a thorough medical evaluation to determine their eligibility for a bone marrow transplant. This assessment includes tests to assess the condition of the bone marrow, overall health, and compatibility with potential donors.

  • Donor Selection: For allogeneic transplants, a suitable donor is identified. The donor's tissue type is matched with the recipient to minimize the risk of rejection.

  • Conditioning: Before the transplant, the patient may receive high-dose chemotherapy or radiation therapy to eliminate diseased bone marrow cells and prepare the body for the new stem cells.

Transplant Procedure

• • Stem Cell Collection: In autologous transplants, the patient's own stem cells are collected from the blood or bone marrow. In allogeneic transplants, stem cells are obtained from the donor's bone marrow, peripheral blood, or umbilical cord blood.

  • Infusion: The collected stem cells are infused into the patient's bloodstream through a central venous catheter, similar to a blood transfusion.

  • Engraftment: Once infused, the stem cells travel to the bone marrow and begin to produce healthy blood cells, a process called engraftment.

Post-Transplant

• • Recovery: After the transplant, the patient is closely monitored for complications and side effects of the procedure and the conditioning treatment.

  • Immune Suppression: In allogeneic transplants, the patient may receive medications to suppress the immune system and prevent rejection of the donor's stem cells.

  • Immune Reconstitution: As the new stem cells start producing blood cells, the patient's immune system gradually recovers.