Bone marrow is a spongy and vital tissue found inside the bones. The bone marrow contains blood-forming (hematopoietic) stem cells. Stem cells in the bone marrow proliferate when necessary and ensure the formation of blood cells.
What are the Cells Made in the Bone Marrow?
White Blood Cells: White blood cells, also known as leukocytes, are responsible for protecting the body against microbes. A disorder that may occur in the number or function of white blood cells, which fight against tumors as well as microbes, can cause many diseases. These cells are responsible for carrying oxygen to the tissues. An abnormal increase or decrease in the number of these cells can cause life-threatening problems.
What is Bone Marrow Transplantation (Stem Cell Transplantation)?
Numerical or degeneration occurring in any of the blood cells formed by stem cells. In case of functional impairment, bone marrow transplantation is performed. Another name for this application is stem cell transplantation. Bone marrow transplantation is performed by transplanting the damaged bone marrow stem cells from the patient or from a voluntary donor.
Who Are the Suitable Donors for Bone Marrow Transplant?
3 There are different transplantation groups:
Autologous Transplantation: It is bone marrow transplantation performed with stem cells taken from the patient. Before this transplant, the patient's own stem cells are taken and frozen and given back to the patient after the chemotherapy procedure. The purpose of removing the stem cells in this procedure is to prevent them from being damaged by the chemotherapy process.
Allogeneic Transplantation: It is a marrow transplant performed from a family member or another donor who is fully compatible with the patient.
Haploidentical Transplantation: Semi-compatible; It is a bone marrow transplant performed from a mother, father, sibling or child.
How Is the Bone Marrow Transplantation Process?
Admission to the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit: The patient is ready for bone marrow transplantation� When there is a patient, hospitalization in the bone marrow transplant unit is performed. Because patients are extremely susceptible to infections, the bone marrow transplant unit has a special ventilation system with a HEPA filter.
Catheter Placement: Instead of opening vascular access many times in order to take blood from the patient's body or to provide intravenous nutrition, a tube called a catheter is placed in one of the main veins leading to the heart. This procedure is performed by interventional radiologists and by imaging.
Preparation Regime: Before the stem cell transplantation to the patient, high-dose radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy are applied to clear the cancerous bone marrow and blood cells. The purpose of this procedure is to ensure that the stem cells to be transplanted start their duties in a completely healthy environment. This process takes between 7 and 10 days.
Transplant Day: The transplant process is performed one or two days after the preparation regime is over. Stem cells are injected into the patient through a previously inserted catheter or a newly opened vein. This procedure lasts for a few hours and a nurse is at the head of the patient for control purposes during the procedure.
Post-Transplantation: After the stem cell transplantation, it takes 10-15 days for the stem cells to start producing blood cells again. During this period, the patient is supplemented with blood cells from the outside. Since the immune system will be very weak during this period, susceptibility to infection increases; complaints such as weakness, bitterness in the mouth, diarrhea and abdominal pain may occur.
Discharge: The patient is ready to be discharged when all processes are completed without any problems after the transplant. This process usually takes 2-3 weeks. After discharge, the patient's condition should be followed for a while. While this period is 1-2 days a week at the beginning, the number of controls decreases to once every few months at the end of the first year.
Which Diseases Can Be Treated With Bone Marrow Transplantation?
Treatment with bone marrow transplantation diseases caused by:
- Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia
- Multiple Myeloma
- Aplastic Anemia
- Primary Amyloidosis
- Acute leukemia
- Chronic leukemia
- Bone marrow failure
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