When do we need a bone marrow transplant?
Marrow is present deep in your bones which produces red, white blood cells and platelets. They represent the healthy state of your body. If you have health issues such as blood cancers and other genetic diseases your health may suffer as these conditions will affect your bone marrow.
A bone marrow transplant can correct your health issue by infusing the healthy blood stem cells that can regrow a healthy marrow. The transplant process is easier to both donors and the recipients, unlike any organ transplants.
What are the conditions that may need you to have a bone marrow transplant?
The conditions that may generally require a need for bone marrow transplantation include :
- Blood cancers destroy the bone marrow. It has to be replaced to continue treating the disease.
- Genetic disorders are another reason why bone marrow suffers. Healthy bone marrow from the donor can correct this condition.
- Statistics state that around 95% of bone marrow transplants are conducted to cure blood cancers while the 5% are to treat the genetic disorders.
What are the different kinds of bone marrow transplants?
Bone marrow transplantation is basically of two types. They are :
- Autologous Transplant: A patient when treated with his or her own stem cells which was stored much earlier when he was in a healthy state.
- Allogeneic Transplant: The patient will have to get the stem cells matched with his close relative. He could be his sibling, family member or an unrelated donor.
Is it easy enough to find allogeneic transplants?
Most of the times, it is tough to find a donor within your family. If you have a large family you may find the donor within your family or one among your relatives. Otherwise you have to find it among many of the unrelated donors who have registers to donate the bone marrow worldwide.
How is the bone marrow extracted from the donor?
The donor’s bone marrow should be harvested from his pelvic spine. This is done under anaesthesia. Donors receive injections for four days to boost its production. A machine is connected for three to four hours to your body and the marrow is extracted from his blood. In most of the transplants, when the blood is extracted from the donor, white cells are spinned through a process called leukapheresis and then the rest of the blood is returned to the donor. After the bone marrow is extracted the blood will make up for its loss in a couple of weeks. There are no side effects for the donors.
How is the bone marrow transplant to the recipient conducted? Are they successful?
The transplant is given through a process called infusion. There are 99% success rates.
How can you enrol yourself for a bone marrow donor registry?
The donor is tested to see if he can be a part of the registry. He will take a tissue sample from your mouth. If it matches with any of the patients who have registered for a donor transplant, you will be informed to do further blood tests and physical exam and finally, if everything is suitable you can donate your bone marrow.
Why KIMS Hospitals?
KIMS Hospitals is one of the best bone marrow transplant hospitals in Hyderabad. They are also actively participating and offering support to other organizations in creating the awareness and importance of bone marrow transplants to propagate donating the bone marrows actively. This initiative has and in future will bring a lot of likeminded people together to donate their bone marrows. Hence, KIMS Hospitals is also one of the best bone marrow transplant centres in Hyderabad.