Bone marrow transplantation
Blood cells originate from a cell in the bone marrow called the hematopoietic stem cell. It has the potential to differentiate into all the blood cells that originate in the bone marrow, and when these stem cells are destroyed beyond a certain point, they cannot regenerate, and the production of blood cells is impaired. Bone marrow transplantation involves obtaining such cells from another person -and sometimes the same person before starting a treatment for another condition that will potentially or inevitably destroy the bone marrow-, processing them and then infusing them through a catheter. Bone marrow stem cells can be obtained from the bone marrow itself, from peripheral blood just like a normal blood sample or umbilical cord blood -although the latter 2 methods yield less and are not suitable for all cases-.
Bone marrow transplantation is used in the following conditions:
- Hereditary diseases when either red cell production or immunity are severely impaired.
- Some red cell disorders as Thalassemia and sickle cell anemia.
- Immunodeficiency disorders, especially AIDS.
- Malignancy and premalignant conditions of the bone marrow.
- Bone marrow failure and aplastic anemia.