The bone marrow plays a vital role in the synthesis of blood cells. Unfortunately, its functions may be impaired in the presence of a number of conditions. This is popularly known as bone marrow suppression or bone marrow failure and has far reaching repercussions. Stem cell transplant helps restore these functions by infusing normal cells into the body as a replacement of those that have been damaged.
Bone marrow transplants may be done to treat both cancerous and non-cancerous conditions. Examples of cancerous conditions that can be treated using this intervention include leukemia, lymphomas and plasma cell malignancies. Non-cancerous conditions in which benefits have been demonstrated include aplastic anemia, amyloidosis, immune deficiencies and inborn errors of metabolism among others. In all these cases, the function of the bone marrow has either been suppressed or shut down.
There are a number of effects of stem cells that are beneficial to the management of cancers. If one is on chemotherapy or radiotherapy for a given condition, the therapy reduces the severity of side effects. Both therapies are associated with cellular injury and subsequent reduction in blood cell counts. The therapy helps the body to build enough reserves of cells before the treatments. Other benefits include replacement of damaged bone marrow elements and a direct destructive effect on the cancer cells.
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 are used in this process. The first type is known as the autologous type and is harvested from the same individual that will be receiving it. The risk of complications in this case is fairly low because the tissues are the same. In the second type also referred to as allogeneic implantation, the donor and the recipient are different hence the risk of complications is high.
The process that is employed in preparing an individual and collecting stem cells is called aphaeresis. The initial step is the administration of growth factors that increase the number of the cells before they are collected after a few weeks. Blood that is collected from a vein is put into a machine and allowed to separate. The cells are frozen and used at the appropriate time.
Several complications may be encountered while undergoing this treatment. The most commonly encountered include infertility, organ damage, stem cell failure, infections and graft-versus host disease among others. The risk is variable and depends on a number of factors such as general health status, age, the condition that is being treated and the type of transplant that is involved (whether autologous or allogeneic).
Graft versus host disease comes about due to differences in the immunological identity between the stem cells and the host. It is seen in the case of allogeneic implants where the implants are recognized as foreign agents and attacked by the immune system. The symptoms associated with the condition include rashes, abdominal pains, mouth sores, visual disturbances and shortness of breath among others.
Bone marrow transplants may be done to treat both cancerous and non-cancerous conditions. Examples of cancerous conditions that can be treated using this intervention include leukemia, lymphomas and plasma cell malignancies. Non-cancerous conditions in which benefits have been demonstrated include aplastic anemia, amyloidosis, immune deficiencies and inborn errors of metabolism among others. In all these cases, the function of the bone marrow has either been suppressed or shut down.
There are a number of effects of stem cells that are beneficial to the management of cancers. If one is on chemotherapy or radiotherapy for a given condition, the therapy reduces the severity of side effects. Both therapies are associated with cellular injury and subsequent reduction in blood cell counts. The therapy helps the body to build enough reserves of cells before the treatments. Other benefits include replacement of damaged bone marrow elements and a direct destructive effect on the cancer cells.
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 are used in this process. The first type is known as the autologous type and is harvested from the same individual that will be receiving it. The risk of complications in this case is fairly low because the tissues are the same. In the second type also referred to as allogeneic implantation, the donor and the recipient are different hence the risk of complications is high.
The process that is employed in preparing an individual and collecting stem cells is called aphaeresis. The initial step is the administration of growth factors that increase the number of the cells before they are collected after a few weeks. Blood that is collected from a vein is put into a machine and allowed to separate. The cells are frozen and used at the appropriate time.
Several complications may be encountered while undergoing this treatment. The most commonly encountered include infertility, organ damage, stem cell failure, infections and graft-versus host disease among others. The risk is variable and depends on a number of factors such as general health status, age, the condition that is being treated and the type of transplant that is involved (whether autologous or allogeneic).
Graft versus host disease comes about due to differences in the immunological identity between the stem cells and the host. It is seen in the case of allogeneic implants where the implants are recognized as foreign agents and attacked by the immune system. The symptoms associated with the condition include rashes, abdominal pains, mouth sores, visual disturbances and shortness of breath among others.