Q1:
What is Bone marrow?
A1:
The central portion of bones is filled with a spongy red
tissue called bone marrow. The bone marrow is essentially
a factory producing the cells of the blood: red cells that
carry oxygen from the lungs to all areas of the body, white
cells that fight infection by attacking and destroying germs,
and platelets that control bleeding by forming blood clots
in areas of injury. The bone marrow is a superb blood cell
factory and ordinarily supplies as many cells as needed,
increasing production of red cells and platelets when bleeding
occurs and of white cells when infection threatens.
Q2:
What is Bone Marrow Biopsy?
A2:
A Bone Marrow Biopsy, in which an intact piece of marrow
is removed, is done to get a more precise picture of the
marrow’s blood cell production. Other tests (chromosomes,
liver function, PNH tests) may also be needed to rule out
alternative causes of bone marrow failure.
Q3:
What is Bone Marrow aspiration?
A3:
A Bone Marrow aspiration is done by removing a small amount
of marrow through a needle. If blood cell counts in the
sample are significantly below standard levels and the remaining
cells look normal, you may have Aplastic anemia.
Q4:
What is Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT)?
A4:
In BMT, small amount of bone marrow is collected from donor.
The marrow collection process is a surgical procedure that
occurs in a hospital operating room while you receive regional
or general anesthesia. Part of your marrow is taken from
the back of your pelvic bone using sterile needles and syringes.
Q5:
How is BMT performed?
A5:
Before transplantation is performed, unhealthy cells in
the bone marrow are destroyed to make room for the healthy
transplanted stem cells. The pretreatment also suppresses
the patient’s immune system to allow the new marrow
to grow. The transplant process itself is fairly straightforward.
About one tablespoon of donor marrow is given by intravenous
transfusion for every kilogram of patient’s body weight.
The body should then start making its own new, healthy blood
cells in about 2 to 4 weeks. In five to ten per cent of
patients the new bone marrow does not grow.
Q6:
What are the chances of success of BMT?
A6:
Marrow Unrelated Donor (MUD) transplants are about half
as successful as sibling related transplants. Alternative
donor transplantation may be an option to consider early,
since it takes time to locate a donor and make arrangements.
Q7:
Do age of a patient, an important factor for BMT?
A7:
The chance of BMT to be successful is more than half in
young patients in relatively good health prior to transplant,
and who have a matched donor. Patients who do not have a
matched donor, who are over 40 years of age may not be good
candidates for bone marrow transplantation.
Q8:
Why the success rate of unrelated donor transplants is about
50%?
A8:
The success rate of unrelated donor transplants is no more
than 50% because of increased risk of rejection of the graft,
and increased risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD),
a complication in which the new marrow reacts against the
patient. The severity of GVHD can range from mild to life
threatening, and its incidence is higher among older patients
and in mismatched transplants.
Q9:
How can graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) be treated?
A9:
GVHD can be prevented or treated with medication, or by
removing T-lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, from
the donor’s bone marrow.
Q10:
Who can donate a Bone Marrow?
A10:
People between the ages of 16-80 years old and in good general
health are eligible to donate the Bone Marrow. If the HLA
typing of the patients and donor matches, then the donor
can donate the Bone Marrow.
Q11:
What is HLA typing?
A11:
Patients are matched with stem cell donors or cord blood
units by comparing their HLA tissue types. HLA is the name
given to the system used to identify the unique markers
(antigens) that the immune system recognizes. These unique
markers are found on virtually all cells in the body, including
white blood cells. In a stem cell transplant, six HLA antigens
are considered most important for matching: two A antigens,
two B antigens and two DR antigens. HLA type is inherited
through the genes passed down from parents. The genes are
linked together in strands of three: three antigens from
the mother and three from the father. To determine a person's
HLA type, the white blood cells are isolated from a blood
sample and testing is performed to identify which HLA markers
are present.
Q12:
How to find Bone Marrow donors?
A12:
First, get the HLA typing test done in the siblings. If
you don’t find a match, then you need to contact bone
marrow registries to find a matched unrelated donor (MUD).
Identical twins or perfectly matched siblings are the best
choices for bone marrow donors for patients.
Q13:
How long a Bone Marrow donor takes to recover?
A13:
Bone marrow donor recovers quickly from the donation. Most
donors have some bone pain and aches for several days or
a few weeks. Your marrow naturally comes back within four
to six weeks.
Q14:
List of people who donated Bone Marrow to save a life?
A14:
Contact: Rafiya Khan
samarinfo@aol.com
Q15:
What is the cost of the transplant?
A15:
The cost of the bone Marrow Transplant is near bout 10 lakhs.
(Please check for the exact cost).
Q16:
Where can I get the Bone Marrow Transplant done in India?
A16:
(Ask your doctor). First BMT was done at Vellore in Tamil
Nadu. I think, its done only in Vellore in India.
Q17:
Which are the some bone marrow registries?
A17:
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