Stem cells are a major development in medical treatments for difficult diseases, and scientists still expect more and more from them. Learn more information about stem cell transplantation in the following article.
In the following article, we highlight information and details about stem cell transplants, or what is known as bone marrow transplants:
Stem cell transplantation
It is a medical procedure in which healthy stem cells are transferred to the patient instead of damaged cells. These healthy stem cells are obtained from the bone marrow or placenta, and they are special cells that divide and differentiate into other types of body cells.
It is worth noting that before the operation, the patient is exposed to high-dose chemotherapy or radiotherapy, in order to prepare the body for the transplantation process, then the stem cells are injected into the patient’s blood and from there they move to the bone marrow to form new cells.
Types of stem cell transplants
We will show in the following two main types of stem cell transplantation operations
1. Self-cultivation
In this type, stem cells are used from the patient''s own body. Doctors withdraw stem cells or bone marrow from the patient''s blood before starting cancer treatment, and then these cells are returned after treatment. Thus, the body regains its immunity and its ability to produce blood cells and confront infection.
This type is also called autotransplantation or stem cell rescue.
2. Hidden cultivation
In this type, stem cells are obtained from another person or a healthy donor. This means that matching is required, as it is important that the donor’s blood proteins match the blood proteins of the recipient, who is usually full brothers.
If doctors do not find a matching donor, umbilical cord blood is transplanted if it is preserved, or cells from a parent or sibling are transplanted, even if they are not a complete match.
What is the purpose of stem cell transplant?
Stem cell transplants are used when the bone marrow is damaged and unable to produce healthy blood cells. It is also used to replace damaged blood cells resulting from cancer treatments. Stem cell transplants are usually resorted to when other treatment methods fail and the benefits of transplantation outweigh the harms and risks.
We will now detail the cases in which stem cell transplantation is used
Severe aplastic anemia.
Leukemia, a type of cancer that affects white blood cells.
Lymphoma, also a type of cancer that affects white blood cells.
Multiple myeloma, a cancer of plasma cells.
Certain blood, metabolic, and immune system disorders, such as: sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), and Hurler syndrome.
How is the farming process done?
We will briefly explain below what the patient is expected to go through from preparations until after the operation:
1. Pre-operative
The patient is expected to undergo a number of tests to evaluate the health condition and the body’s readiness for the transplant, and these tests and evaluations may take several days.
A catheter is implanted, which is a thin, long tube that is implanted through one of the large veins in the chest and neck, and remains in place throughout the treatment period.
2. The process of collecting stem cells
If the planned procedure for stem cell transplantation is autologous, the patient will undergo a number of growth factor injections to increase cell collection, then blood will be drawn from a vein and passed through a machine to separate the stem cells.
If the stem cells are from a donor, the cells are collected from the person’s vein or marrow according to an evaluation by doctors, and then the stem cells are separated.
3. Initialization process
At this stage, the patient''s body is prepared for transplantation through chemotherapy or radiation therapy, with the aim of destroying cancer cells, suppressing the immune system, and preparing the bone marrow to receive the new cells.
4. Transplantation process
The cells are injected through a catheter that has been implanted in the patient''s vein, which is a painless process that does not require anesthesia for the patient.
Risks of stem cell transplantation
Stem cell transplants can cause many risks, some of which may be mild, but others may be serious and cause hospitalization and be life-threatening. The risks depend on the disease that necessitated undergoing the stem cell transplant, the type of operation, age, and the general health of the patient.
Expected side effects and risks include the following
Graft versus host disease.
Stem cell transplant failure.
Organ damage.
Infection.
eye lens darkening.
Infertility.
New types of cancer.
Death.
