Bone Marrow Transplant Therapy

Bone marrow is soft tissue inside the bones. The marrow contains stem cells, which mature and produce cells the body needs. Red and white blood cells, along with platelets are made in the bone marrow. Bone marrow can become damaged from diseases and not function properly. When this occurs bone marrow transplant therapy may be recommended.

• Red blood cells are one type of cell produced by stem cells in the bone marrow.

Facts

• The goal of bone marrow transplant therapy is for engraftment to take place. This happens when the stem cells from the donated bone marrow travel to the recipient's bone marrow and start to function normally. New, healthy blood cells are produced. According to the University of Virginia Health System, engraftment may occur around 15 or 30 days after the transplant. However, even after engraftment, it may take months for the immune system to return to normal functioning.

Types

• According to the National Institute of Health, there are three main types of bone marrow transplants including an autologous, allergenic and umbilical cord bone marrow transplant. An autologous bone marrow transplant uses stem cells collected from the patients own bone marrow. An autologous bone marrow transplant uses donor cells and an umbilical cord bone marrow transplant uses cells from an umbilical cord. The type of transplant recommended depends on the patient's disease, overall health and available matching donors.

Indications

• Various types of conditions can damage the bone marrow. One of the main causes of damage to the marrow is cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma. Patients with genetic conditions, such as sickle cell disease, may also require a bone marrow transplant. Bone marrow may also become damaged from treatment for diseases, such as chemotherapy to treat cancer.

Procedure

• Patients are hospitalized during and after bone marrow transplant therapy.

  Bone marrow stem cells can be collected from blood circulating in the body or directly from the bone marrow, from either a donor or the patient. After collection, a patient prepares by receiving high amounts of chemotherapy for several days, followed by radiation therapy to destroy the unhealthy marrow. The donor marrow than is infused into the patient intravenously, into the recipients bloodstream. The patient is monitored for adverse effects. Because of the chance of infection and possibility of other side effects, the patient is kept hospitalized and monitored. The amount of time a patient is hospitalized depends on how quickly engraftment occurs and side effects that develop.

Complications

• Complications can occur with a bone marrow transplant and according to the University of Virginia Health System, may depend on the type of transplant, condition being treated and overall health of the patient. Various types of infections may occur including bacterial, viral and fungus. Precautions are implemented, such as antibiotics, special diet and isolation requirements, to reduce the chances of an infection. Other possible complications include nausea, vomiting and organ damage.

  Graft versus host disease is a complication which may also develop. The body rejects the donor marrow and serious complications can occur, such as fever, skin rashes, liver problems and respiratory difficulties.