The bone marrow is the synthetic center of all the cells that make up our blood. It is at times affected by some conditions compromising its function. This is also known as bone marrow failure or bone marrow suppression. Stem cell transplant is a process in which healthy cells are infused into the body to replace those that have been damaged in the bone marrow.
The transplantation procedure is helpful for both cancerous and non-cancerous conditions affecting the marrow. Examples of cancerous conditions for which the treatment has been tried successfully include lymphomas, plasma cell malignancies and leukemia among others. Commonly treated non-cancerous conditions include immune deficiencies, aplastic anemia, inborn errors of metabolism and immune deficiencies among others. In all of these cases, bone marrow function is suppressed either fully or partially.
Three mechanisms are involved in the management of cancers using stem cells. For persons that are on treatment by either chemotherapy or radiation for one type of cancer or the other. The treatment helps them build enough reserves of cells before destruction by either of the two therapies. The second benefit is the fact that damaged bone marrow elements (due to cancer) can be replaced by the infusion of newer cellular elements. The third is that the treatment can help kill some cancer cells directly.
The preparation required is quite lengthy meaning that you may have to wait for a couple of days or weeks before you have the treatment. Typically, the doctor conducts a series of tests to determine whether or not one is healthy enough to have the therapy. Another important process that has to be undertaken during the preparation stage is the placement of a drug delivery tube known as central venous catheter.
Two main types of implants exist; autologous and allogeneic. In the autologous type, the donor and the recipient are the same person. Since the cells are the same in this case, there is virtually no risk of rejection. This is in contrast to the allogeneic type where the stem cells are obtained from another human being. The differences that exist between their tissues increases the risk of complications.
Stem cells are collected through a process known as apheresis. This process involves the administration of a growth factor on a daily basis for several weeks before drawing whole blood from a vein. A special machine is used to separate the stem cells from the blood. The rest of the components are returned to the body and the stem cells are frozen to be used when the patient is ready.
You need to be aware of a number of possible risks of this treatment even as you make plans to have it. They include infections, organ damage, infertility, stem cell failure, graft-versus-host disease and cataracts among others. The risk of suffering from any of these complications varies from one person to another. Factors that are likely to determine the severity include the type of condition that is being treated, age of the patient, their general health status and the type of transplant.
Graft versus host disease is the most severe complication that follows allogeneic transplants. Chances are highest if the cells of the donor and the recipient do not match. As a result the donor cellular components are recognized as being foreign and are attacked by the immunological system of the host. The rejection is associated with a number of signs and symptoms that include joint pain, shortness of breath, severe cough, rashes, visual disturbances, mouth sores and abdominal pain among others.
The transplantation procedure is helpful for both cancerous and non-cancerous conditions affecting the marrow. Examples of cancerous conditions for which the treatment has been tried successfully include lymphomas, plasma cell malignancies and leukemia among others. Commonly treated non-cancerous conditions include immune deficiencies, aplastic anemia, inborn errors of metabolism and immune deficiencies among others. In all of these cases, bone marrow function is suppressed either fully or partially.
Three mechanisms are involved in the management of cancers using stem cells. For persons that are on treatment by either chemotherapy or radiation for one type of cancer or the other. The treatment helps them build enough reserves of cells before destruction by either of the two therapies. The second benefit is the fact that damaged bone marrow elements (due to cancer) can be replaced by the infusion of newer cellular elements. The third is that the treatment can help kill some cancer cells directly.
The preparation required is quite lengthy meaning that you may have to wait for a couple of days or weeks before you have the treatment. Typically, the doctor conducts a series of tests to determine whether or not one is healthy enough to have the therapy. Another important process that has to be undertaken during the preparation stage is the placement of a drug delivery tube known as central venous catheter.
Two main types of implants exist; autologous and allogeneic. In the autologous type, the donor and the recipient are the same person. Since the cells are the same in this case, there is virtually no risk of rejection. This is in contrast to the allogeneic type where the stem cells are obtained from another human being. The differences that exist between their tissues increases the risk of complications.
Stem cells are collected through a process known as apheresis. This process involves the administration of a growth factor on a daily basis for several weeks before drawing whole blood from a vein. A special machine is used to separate the stem cells from the blood. The rest of the components are returned to the body and the stem cells are frozen to be used when the patient is ready.
You need to be aware of a number of possible risks of this treatment even as you make plans to have it. They include infections, organ damage, infertility, stem cell failure, graft-versus-host disease and cataracts among others. The risk of suffering from any of these complications varies from one person to another. Factors that are likely to determine the severity include the type of condition that is being treated, age of the patient, their general health status and the type of transplant.
Graft versus host disease is the most severe complication that follows allogeneic transplants. Chances are highest if the cells of the donor and the recipient do not match. As a result the donor cellular components are recognized as being foreign and are attacked by the immunological system of the host. The rejection is associated with a number of signs and symptoms that include joint pain, shortness of breath, severe cough, rashes, visual disturbances, mouth sores and abdominal pain among others.
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