Bone Marrow Transplantation / Stem Cell Transplantation
Cells responsible for blood production in the human organism are the stem cells in the bone marrow. Transfer of cells with these highly specific functions is commonly referred to as bone marrow transplantation or stem cell transplantation. If bone marrow transplantation is performed from the patient's own stem cells, it’s called Autologous transplantation, and if it is performed from donors from family members or non-relative donors with tissue compatibility, it is called an allogeneic transplant. The blood stem cell transplanted during bone marrow transplantation.
Stem cells were collected from bone marrow using special needles in direct and operating room conditions in past years. However, this method is rarely applied today. In recent years, a special drug is used to transfer stem cells from the bone marrow to the blood and cells are collected by a method called apheresis. This method requires no surgical intervention. Bone marrow transplantation does not require a surgical procedure also. Bone marrow cells are given to the patient, bone marrow cells find and settle the bone marrow with their biological properties and initiate blood production. The main difficulty of bone marrow transplantation is that the patient is followed up well, while the marrow gains new functions. In this critical period, red and white blood cells and platelets responsible for coagulation cannot occur. Therefore, in this period may be complications such as anemia, infection and bleeding. In this period, it is important to treat the undesirable conditions such as infections, bleeding and rejection of the marrow or to prevent the diseases caused by the new marrow.
Success in bone marrow transplantation can be achieved when technical infrastructure and isolation from microbes are very good, departments such as intensive care are able to intervene in organ transplantation and associated complications and conditions such as interdisciplinary harmony, cooperation and team experience are combined.
Cases where stem cell transplantation may be necessary
Stem cells were collected from bone marrow using special needles in direct and operating room conditions in past years. However, this method is rarely applied today. In recent years, a special drug is used to transfer stem cells from the bone marrow to the blood and cells are collected by a method called apheresis. This method requires no surgical intervention. Bone marrow transplantation does not require a surgical procedure also. Bone marrow cells are given to the patient, bone marrow cells find and settle the bone marrow with their biological properties and initiate blood production. The main difficulty of bone marrow transplantation is that the patient is followed up well, while the marrow gains new functions. In this critical period, red and white blood cells and platelets responsible for coagulation cannot occur. Therefore, in this period may be complications such as anemia, infection and bleeding. In this period, it is important to treat the undesirable conditions such as infections, bleeding and rejection of the marrow or to prevent the diseases caused by the new marrow.
Success in bone marrow transplantation can be achieved when technical infrastructure and isolation from microbes are very good, departments such as intensive care are able to intervene in organ transplantation and associated complications and conditions such as interdisciplinary harmony, cooperation and team experience are combined.
Cases where stem cell transplantation may be necessary
- Diseases of the blood and lymph nodes such as Multiple Myeloma and Lymphoma
- Acute leukemias, less frequently chronic leukemias
- Transplantation of intact stem cells instead of poorly functioning bone marrow (Bone marrow failure, aplastic anemia, diseases such as MDS, a type of bone marrow deficiency seen in the elderly and etc.).
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