9 unknown facts to know about bone marrow transplantation

Bone marrow transplantation is a medical procedure of replacing the bone marrow. Sometimes one’s own stem cells are used, or in most of the cases, the stem cells are embedded from a donor. There is one-fourth chance that there will be a match of stem cells between you and your sibling. There are many rumours about this life-saving procedure. Here are nine unknown facts about this procedure. To know about the detailed information, it is advised to consult with the specialist bone marrow transplant in Bangalore. There are many donors who are available in these bone marrow transplantation hospital in Bangalore.

What is a bone marrow transplantation?

Within our hollow bones, soft and spongy material is present, which is known as bone marrow. It is responsible for the production of healthy red blood cells along with white blood cells and platelets. The process of replacing a cancerous, destroyed, or faulty bone marrow is called bone marrow transplantation. Some times, as a result of radiation or chemotherapy, bone marrow gets highly affected and fail to produce enough amount of blood cells and platelets. So, in this case, a bone marrow transplant is mandatory.

Is there any difference between a bone marrow transplant with a stem cell transplant?

Since bone marrow produces the hematopoietic stem cells and also healthy stem cells that are required for the patient, bone marrow is often also called a stem cell. Though there is a technical difference in the donation procedure of the bone marrow transplant and stem cell transplant.

The basic difference of a bone marrow transplant and a stem cell transplant is the place from where the stem cells are collected. In the case of stem cell transplant, the stem cells are collected directly from the victim’s bloodstream or from the donor’s bloodstream. While the bone marrow transplant, the stem cells are collected from the donor’s or victim’s bone marrow.

Who needs a bone marrow transplant?

Those patients, who are diagnosed with lymphoma, leukaemia, multiple myeloma, myelodysplasia or other severe blood diseases or some immune deficiency diseases may need a bone marrow transplant.

What is the difference between autologous and allogeneic transplants?

“Auto” means “self”, in the autologous transplant procedure, the patient’s own stem cells are harvested from the blood.

“Allo” means “other”, in the case of an allogeneic procedure, stem cells are collected from a donor, who has similar HLA tissue with that of the patient.

What are the risks of bone marrow transplant?

In allogeneic transplants, there is a chance of the patient’s healthy cells being attacked by the donor’s healthy cell. If the patient’s immune system is weaker, then it can cause a serious infection. In order to avoid this risk, the patient is prescribed to take drugs which suppress the immune system.

What is the benefit of bone marrow transplant?

A bone marrow transplant replaces a damaged or diseased stem cell with a healthy one and also helps directly in killing cancer cells. In addition to that, in autologous transplants, the patient’s own stem cells transplanted, so there is a lesser chance of side effects.

What are the diseases that can be cured?

It also gives benefits to many noncancerous or benign and cancerous or malignant diseases, such as Adrenoleukodystrophy, Bone marrow failure syndromes, Acute leukaemia, Aplastic anaemia, Hodgkin's lymphoma, POEMS syndrome, Plasma cell disorders, Inborn errors of metabolism and many more.

What are the things that a patient expect after a bone marrow transplant?

After the bone marrow transplant, the patient has to stay in the hospital for several days for monitoring the checkup, if any complication or side effects are affecting the patient’s health or not. After release from the hospital, the patient also has to minutely follow the instruction given by the doctors for the best outcome.

Can a bone marrow transplant change one’s personality?

As an effect of a bone marrow transplant, the patient’s blood type can change. As it changes the ecology of the brain, the person’s behaviour also changes.

The bone marrow transplant has the potential to save a life and also can destroy a life, so before opting for this procedure, consult with a specialist and then come into a final conclusion.