The process of taking stem cells from the patient's sibling, relatives or unrelated persons from the "bone marrow" or "environmental blood (blood in their veins)" and transferring them to the patient is called allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation What is it?
If stem cells are obtained from bone marrow; "Bone marrow" transplantation is called "environmental blood stem cell transplantation" if it is obtained from circulating blood, and "cord blood stem cell transplantation" if it is obtained from the umbilical cord of a newborn baby.
If a patient is looking for a donor for allogeneic stem cell transplantation, first if any The tissue group of their siblings is examined. If a fully compatible donor is not found among the siblings, the patient's close relatives can be screened, and if there is no positive result, "bone marrow banks" are applied. The time it takes to search for a suitable donor from bone marrow banks can take between 2 and 10 months. Then, stem cells collected from a healthy donor (sibling, relative or unrelated person) are transplanted to the patient. These stem cells enable the production of healthy blood cells in the patient's bone marrow. GVHD is a serious disease that can severely damage the recipient's organs. For this reason, it is very important to have as close a tissue compatibility as possible between the patient and the donor.
Who is suitable for allogeneic stem cell transplantation?
Allogeneic stem cell transplantation; Although it is mostly applied in cancer patients, it can also be preferred in the treatment of diseases that cause bone marrow failure.
Main diseases in which allogeneic stem cell transplantation can be applied can be listed as follows; anemia and other bone marrow failure conditions (Fanconi anemia, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, pure erythroid aplasia)Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (non-Hodgkin)Hodgkin lymphomaChronic leukemias (chronic myelocytic leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia)
Graft Disease (GVHH)? Sometimes, the donor's lymphocytes transferred to the patient may perceive the patient's tissues and organs as foreign and attack them. In this case, "graft versus host" (GVHD) disease, which causes damage to the patient's organs, may occur. It may be correct to call GVHD as a war of cells. In addition, the risk of GVHD is tried to be reduced by administering drugs that suppress the immune system to the patient after transplantation.
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