Bone Marrow is the spongy tissue located inside our bones. During childhood, this tissue exists in all our bones but during adolescence, the tissue concentrates mainly in the pelvic bones and in the spinal column.

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

The bone marrow tissue contains the immature cells, called stem cells (known as hematopoietic or blood-forming stem cells). The stem cells develop into new blood cells including:

• Red blood cells (the oxygen carriers)
• White blood cells (fights infections)
• Platelets (in charge of creating blood clots)

A bone marrow disease creates problems with the stem cells or how they develop. During a bone marrow transplant (BMT) the patient will receive healthy stem cells.

Bone Marrow Transplant Video

Bone Marrow Diseases

Bone marrow or stem cells transplant (peripheral blood stem cell transplantation-PBSCT) may be recommended for several life-threatening blood, immune system or genetic disorders including:

• Certain cancers including leukemia and lymphoma (including: acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), chronic lymphoblastic leukemia (CLL), Hodgkin's and Non- Hodgkin's lymphoma)
• A common plasma cell disorder named Multiple myelomaMultiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell normally responsible for the production of antibodies. (Source: Wikipedia)  as well as other plasma cell disorders.
• Severe blood diseases including Aplastic anemiaAplastic anemia is a condition where bone marrow does not produce sufficient new cells to replenish blood cells (Source: Wikipedia).
• Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) and inherited immune system disorders or inherited metabolic disorders.

Bone Marrow Transplant Donors

The healthy stem cells come from the following sources:

• Stem cells taken from the patient (before chemotherapy or radiation treatments). This procedure is called Autologous (Auto means self). In syngeneic transplants the donor is the patients' twin.
• Stem cells from another person, a donor. This procedure is known as Allogeneic (Allo means other). The donors' blood must hold certain compatibility to the patients- the same genetic typing should apply. Siblings have high matching percentages but donors may also be found through national bone marrow registries.
• Umbilical cord blood transplant is also possible. The stem cells are extracted immediately after delivery of an infant.

Choosing the stem cell source depends on the specific disease and other health factors. Patients are less likely to develop graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) when the harvested stem cells are closely matched to their own.

Bone Marrow Transplant Procedure

BMT and PBSCT allow the patient to receive very high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy to fight cancer. Patients either get high doses of chemotherapy, radiation, or both, before the transplant (this is called ablative or myeloablative treatment) or less (this is called a reduced intensity/ nonmyeloablative or "mini" transplant).

Chemotherapy and radiation are effective treatments for cancer as cancer cells tend to divide more rapidly than healthy cells. High- dose treatments can also destroy the bone marrow and without it the patients' blood will not create the necessary new cells (as described above). The BMT and PBSCT replace the stem cells with healthy cells.

During BMT the donors' stem cells are extracted from the liquid center of the bone (usually from the pelvic bone). The procedure is called harvesting. The procedure is performed under general or regional anesthesia. When necessary, the harvested bone marrow is combined with a preservative (a technique called cryopreservation) allowing it to last for years.

PBSCT cells are extracted from the bloodstream through a large vein, the blood goes through a machine that removes the stem cells; this process is known as apheresis or leukapheresis.

The healthy stem cells are transferred through a central venous catheter. The new stem cells travel to the bone marrow and begin the production of new white cells, red cells and platelets (this is known as engraftment). Following the procedure, the patients' blood count is constantly checked to review the recovery of the immune function.

Following the transplant the patient may develop symptoms such as pain, chills, nausea, headache and fever.

Bone Marrow Transplant Treatments Abroad

A patient suffering from life-threatening disease must consider all their available options and search for the best medical treatment available, including undergoing surgery abroad. Many medical tourists undergo cancer treatments abroad, an option you must consider. Examining treatment options and making informed choices is our specialty. The disease varies between different patients and so should the diagnosis and treatment.

Bone Marrow transplants are not always available, as the process is complicated. This article is brought, mostly, for informative purposes. You can Contact a TicketMed agent to ask for further information.