Bone Marrow Transplant

Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplant: The Word "allo" says others. Bone marrow cells are taken from another person who is also called a Donor. Most of the times, the Donor's genes must atleast match partly with Patient's genes. Blood tests for % of Matching are done to find if a Donor is a good match. Direct Siblings like Brothers & Sisters are mostly found to be good Match. At times parents, children, and other relatives also could be good matches. Donors who are not related may also be found through National Bone Marrow Registries.

Umbilical Cord Blood Transplant: This is a type of Allogeneic Transplantation. Bone Marrow cells are taken from a Newborn Baby's umbilical cord right after Birth. The stem cells are then frozen and preserved until they are required for a Transplant. Umbilical cord blood cells are immature so there is less need for matching. However, Blood counts take longer to recover

Before the Transplant, Chemotherapy, radiation Therapy or both may needed. This may be done in two ways:

Ablative Treatment: High-dose Chemotherapy, Radiation therapy , or both are given to Target & kill any cancerous cells. This also may kill all healthy Bone marrow that remains, and allows new Stem Cells to grow in the Bone marrow.

Reduced Intensity: Treatment also called a mini transplantation: Patients receive lower dose of Chemotherapy before moving ahead for Transplant. This allows old age Patients, and those with other health disorder to have a transplant.

A stem cell transplant is done after Chemotherapy and radiation is completed for the Patient. The Stem Cells are given into Patient's bloodstream usually through a Tube which is called a central venous Catheter. The Process is very much similar to getting a Blood Transfusion. The Stem Cells moves through the blood into the Bone Marrow.

Donor Stem cells can be collected through 2 Ways

Bone marrow Harvesting: This minor procedure which is done under General anesthesia, The donor will be asleep and pain-free during the procedure. The bone marrow is taken away from the back of both hip bones. The amount of marrow taken totally depends on the weight of the person who is recipient.

Leukapheresis: First, the Donor is given 5 days of shots to help Bone Marrow cells travel from the Bone marrow into the blood stream. During leukapheresis, blood is taken from the donor through a IV line in a vein. The portion of of White Blood Cells that contains stem cells is then separated in machine and later given to the recipient. The Red Blood Cells are given back to the donor.

Why is the Procedure Performed?

A Bone Marrow Transplantation reallocates bone marrow that either is not functioning properly or has been ruined (ablated) by Chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Medical Doctors trust that for many cancers, the Donor's White Blood Cells can attach to any remaining Cancer cells, as similar to when white cells attach to bacteria or viruses when fighting an infection.

Bone Marrow Transplantation is suggested when a patient has below mentioned health issues:

• Certain Cancers Like Leukemia, Lymphoma, and multiple Myeloma.
• Diseases Like aplastic anemia, Congenital neutropenia, Severe Immunodeficiency Syndromes, Sickle Cell Anemia, thalassemia.
• Chemotherapy that ruined your Bone Marrow.

Risks of Bone Marrow Transplantation

A bone marrow Transplantation may cause the following symptoms:

Chest pain, Chills, Fever, Flushing, Headache, Nausea, Pain & Shortness of Breath.

Complications of a Bone Marrow Transplant or Stem cell Transplant depend on many things which Include :

• Dosage of Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy
• Individuals Own Health Status
• Age of Patient
• Matching with Donor

Complications May Include:

• Anemia may be a Complication.
• Bleeding in lungs, Intestines & Brain.
• Cataracts
• Clotting in the veins of the liver.
• Damage of kidneys, liver, lungs, and Heart.
• Delayed growth in childrens who accept Bone marrow.
• Graft failures, which meant that the new cells which are put in the Recipient Body do not settle into the body and start producing stem cells.
• Graft-versus-host disease, a condition in which the donor cells attack your own body
• Infections which can be Serious.
• Inflammation and soreness in the mouth, throat, esophagus, and stomach, called mucositis.
• Stomach Disorder, including diarrhea, nausea, and vomitings.

What is done before the Procedure?

Your Doctor would ask about history and do a physical assessment. Patient will have to do many tests before Treatment starts.

Post Procedure

A Bone Marrow transplant is usually done in a Hospital or medical center that specializes in such treatment. Most of the time, you stay in a specialized bone marrow Suitsin the center. This is to limit your chance of getting an infection though the Hospital Environment.

Stay in the Hospital depends on how much Chemotherapy or Radiation a Patient receives, the type of Transplantation, and Centers procedures. While Patient is in the hospital, Patient would be isolated because of the increased risk of infection rate. The health Care Team closely monitors blood counts and vital signs with the help of Trained Nursing Staff.

During Your Hospital stay :

• Receiving medications to prevent or treat infections, including antibiotics, antifungals, and antiviral drugs.
• Patient would need many blood transfusions.
• Feeding through a vein (IV) until Patient eat Orally and stomach side effects and mouth sores have gone away, Mouth Sore may come due to Chemotherapy.
• Medications to prevent graft-versus-host disease

Prognosis

How well you do after Transplantation depends on:

• Type of bone marrow transplant.
• How well the Donor's Cells match Patient's Cell.
• The Type of Cancer & illness.
• Age and Overall health.
• Dosage of Chemotherapy or Radiation therapy Patient underwent.
• Any complications.

A Bone marrow Transplant (Stem Cell Transplant) may completely or partially Cure your Sickeness. In case, the transplant is a success, a patient can go back to most of your normal activities as soon he feel well enough. Usually it takes up to 6 to 12 year to recover fully.

We at GHN has treated number of successful cases from different parts of the Globe. We are associated with Topmost Hospitals in India, doing Bone Marrow Transplantation with most advanced Infrastructure