From the National Transplant Organization they have published that the effective donations of people registered in the Spanish Registry of Bone Marrow Donors go from 34 to 276 in just a decade.
When we talk about a bone marrow transplant, we mean a treatment that replaces the bone marrow with healthy cells. The cells that are replaced can be from your own body or from a donor.
Did you know that bone marrow transplant is also called stem cell transplant?
The first bone marrow transplant is recorded in 1957 and today, we also call it a stem cell transplant or, more specifically, a hematopoietic cell transplant.
In order to answer the question of how a bone marrow transplant is carried out, we need to know that stem cells are special cells that can reproduce themselves and become different types of cells that the body needs.
Stem cells make red blood cells , white blood cells, and platelets . This type of blood cells have very precise functions that allow us to stay alive.
What diseases are cured with bone marrow transplant?
Stem cells can be used to treat certain types of cancer , such as leukemia, myeloma, lymphoma, and other blood and immune system diseases that affect the bone marrow.
Bone marrow transplants are better known for cancer treatments since they can damage hematopoietic stem cells, which are the ones that become blood cells such as red and white blood cells and platelets.
Where can we find stem cells?
Bone marrow is the soft, spongy tissue in the body that contains hematopoietic stem cells. They are found primarily in the center of most bones.
It is a procedure that requires specific conditions by the health team through which healthy stem cells are transplanted into the bone marrow or blood. This restores your body’s ability to make the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets it needs.
How many types of bone marrow transplant are there?
There are different types of transplants but the main ones would be the autologous transplant and the allogeneic transplant.
The autologous transplant or also known as autologous transplant aims to recover bone marrow function as soon as possible. Cancer is sometimes treated with high-dose chemotherapy or radiation treatment that damages stem cells and the immune system.
For this reason, stem cells are removed prior to treatment and returned to your body after treatment, restoring your immune system and the ability to make blood cells and fight infection.
In an allogeneic transplant, the stem cells come from another person whom we call a donor, but how can we know if you are a compatible donor?
A matched donor is a healthy donor whose blood proteins, called human leukocyte antigens (HLAs), match yours.
Generally, siblings from the same parents are often the most compatible donor, but another family member or an unrelated volunteer may also be.
I want to be a bone marrow donor, what can I do?
When it comes to bone marrow transplants, the phrase “ will is power ” is often not enough. Finding a “ matched donor ” is a necessary step for this type of transplant. If you are interested, you can obtain more information about the National Bone Marrow Donation Plan by calling the information telephone number 900 102 688.
In 2021, Spain registered its historical maximum of this activity. In total, 3,610 hematopoietic stem cell transplants were performed, obtained from bone marrow, peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood (UCS), which represents a growth of 7% compared to 2020.
How is a bone marrow transplant performed?
Stem cells for transplantation can be obtained through multiple punctures in the bone marrow , through peripheral blood and the umbilical cord.
It should be noted that the bone marrow has nothing to do with the spinal cord, located inside the spinal column. Therefore, the bone marrow transplant technique has no risk of neurological injury.
In the case of bone marrow , the stem cells are obtained through multiple punctures in both posterior iliac crests (bones located in the posterior superior part of the hip).
General anesthesia is recommended and between 2 and 4 small holes are made in the skin to aspirate the stem cells. Part of the blood volume must be replaced by autotransfusion during the same procedure.
The most frequent side effect caused by bone marrow donation is a slight discomfort in the puncture areas that stops after a few days.
If we talk about peripheral blood , people receive a daily injection of a drug capable of mobilizing stem cells from the bone marrow to the blood for four or five days.
After this, the donor’s blood is extracted through a vein in the flexure of the elbow and is processed in a machine that separates the stem cells and returns the remaining elements of the blood to the donor through a vein in the other arm. This procedure is called apheresis .
The latest procedure for bone marrow transplantation is the best known, umbilical cord blood . It contains a large number of stem cells that can be used for transplantation.
After childbirth, once the umbilical cord has been cut, it is possible to collect the blood together with the placenta. These cells are frozen and cryopreserved for a potential donor. This procedure does not carry any risk for the mother or the father.
Spain is currently the fifth country in the world in number of cord blood units stored in the 7 public banks and 2 private banks in our country.
To end the article and following the instructions of the Josep Carreras Foundation against leukemia. Bone marrow donation is :
- Offer your anonymous and altruistic help to any patient in the world who needs it
- A commitment to yourself and to others
- The only donation that can be made in life and in which the donated cells regenerate 100%
- The only possible cure for hundreds of people who need it
- is to give life
Bibliographic references:
American Association of Oncology. 2020. What is Stem Cell Transplantation. https://www.cancer.net/es/desplazarse-por-atenci%C3%B3n-del-c%C3%A1ncer/c%C3%B3mo-se-trata-el-c%C3%A1ncer/q% C3%BAe-is-the-transplant-of-c%C3%A9lulas-mother-transplant-of-m%C3%A9dula-%C3%B3sea
Josep Carreras Foundation. 2022. Bone marrow donation. https://www.fcarreras.org/es/donamedula
Josep Carreras Foundation. 2022. Bone Marrow Transplantation Guide. http://medulaosea.ont.es/informacion/guia-del-trasplante-de-medula-osea-f-carreras/
National Transplant Organization. 2022. Latest data on donations in Spain. http://www.ont.es/prensa/NotasDePrensa/20220510_SANIDAD_ONT_ampliada.pdf
