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Bone marrow transplant in Yeshwanthpur, Bangalore

Bone marrow transplant

Bone marrow transplant in Yeshwanthpur, Bangalore

Bone marrow is a spongy tissue found at the centre of most bones that contains stem cells. Stem cells are special cells produced by the bone marrow that can turn into different types of cells, namely,

  • RBC – which carries oxygen to various parts of the body

  • WBC – which helps to fight infection as a part of the immune system

  • Platelets – which help in stopping bleeding

A Bone marrow transplant, also known as a Stem cell transplant, is a non-surgical procedure to infuse healthy stem cells to replace cancerous or faulty blood cells.

Types of bone marrow transplant

There are three types of Bone marrow transplants, namely,

  • Autologous transplant

An autologous transplant is made using cells from own body. Stem cells are removed from the patient’s body before they undergo chemotherapy or radiation and are stored in a freezer. After completion of the treatment, the stem cells are infused back to make normal blood cells. This transplant can be done if the patient has healthy bone marrow.

  • Allogeneic transplant

An Allogeneic transplant is done from a donor's stem cells who may be related or unrelated. A special HLA test is done to see if the donor stem cells match the patient's. In most cases, siblings are found to be the most matching donors.

  • Umbilical cord blood transplant

Right after birth, stem cells are removed from a newborn baby and are preserved in cord blood banks. When the patient is in need of a transplant, these stem cells are injected back. But due to the smaller number of stem cells, it takes much longer to recover.

When is a Bone marrow transplant recommended?

A bone marrow transplant is recommended to treat conditions in which the bone marrow is damaged, or there is a shortage in the number of blood cells.

  • Bone marrow cancer

  • Lymph node cancer

  • Blood cancer

  • Aplastic anaemia

  • Sickle cell anaemia

Procedure steps

Preparation

  • Donor Identification – In the case of an allogeneic transplant, a matched donor must be identified. It is checked by HLA testing among family members and voluntary donors if needed.

  • Collecting the stem cells – Once the donor is identified, the stem cells will be collected from the bloodstream or bone marrow. In the former case, the donor is given daily shots to increase the WBC count a few days before collection. Then the stem cells are collected and stored. In the latter case, a special procedure called bone marrow harvest is done.

Conditioning (For cancer patients)

  • In cancer patients, chemotherapy and/or radiation destroy the damaged or cancerous cells before stem cell transplant. It weakens your immune system so your body can accept the donor’s cells without attacking them. Visit Manipal Hospitals for Bone marrow transplant in Yeshwanthpur, Bangalore.

Transplant

  • The stem cells are infused into the patient through a central venous catheter.

  • The transfusions are done at regular intervals till the desired blood count is reached.

Recovery

  • Regular blood tests are done till cancer-free healthy blood cells start growing.

  • It takes around 2 to 6 weeks to reach a normal blood count.

After procedure

  • Take prescribed medicines

  • Avoid infections

  • Have a healthy and well-balanced diet

  • Maintain personal and oral hygiene

Risks associated with bone marrow transplant

Despite having a higher recovery rate, Bone marrow transplants have significant risks associated with them as follows,

  • Graft vs Host disease – This occurs in the case of an allogeneic transplant where the donor’s cells start attacking the host cells

  • Reduced number of blood cells – Before preparing for a stem cell transplant, one has to undergo chemotherapy to destroy the damaged or cancerous cells. It leads to a shortage of blood cells until the bone marrow starts working to produce new cells. It may lead to anaemia, excessive bleeding, or infections.

  • Chemotherapy can lead to various side effects such as loss of appetite, tiredness, hair loss, etc. Book an appointment with us at Manipal Hospitals.

Experience world-class healthcare at Manipal Hospitals. Our expert team of doctors and state-of-the-art facilities ensure personalized and advanced treatments. Take the first step towards wellness. Book an appointment today.

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