Autologous Stem Cell Treatment

Autologous stem cell treatment involves removing stem cells from a patient's own bone marrow, storing them and transplanting them back into the patient when needed. It may be chosen over other types of stem cell treatment depending on a patient's illness.

Benefits

• Stem cells develop into various types of blood cells.

  The goal of autologous stem cell treatment is for the transplanted stem cells to develop into healthy blood cells that the body needs. These cells include platelets and red and white blood cells.

Indications

• Certain types of illness, such as leukemia, multiple myeloma and Hodgkin's disease can damage the bone marrow and may require autologous stem cell treatment. The success of a transplant and treatment depends on the patients overall health and the disease being treated, according to NYU Langone Medical Center.

Process

• High doses of chemotherapy and radiation therapy are given to the patient to destroy their damaged bone marrow. Once the marrow is wiped out, the patient has their stem cells transplanted back into their body.

Side Effects

• Since the patient's own stem cells are used, complications may occur less often than with other types of transplants. However, complications can occur and include mouth sores, infections, bleeding and vomiting.

Considerations

• It's a possibility the stem cells transplanted during autologous stem cell treatment may contain some cancer cells. Relapse may be higher with autologous stem cell treatment than with other types of stem cell transplants, according to the University of California, San Diego Medical Center.