3 Types of Bone Marrow Transplants: What You Need to Know - Tech World news

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Sunday, November 6, 2022

3 Types of Bone Marrow Transplants: What You Need to Know


Bone marrow is a type of soft tissue found in the hollow spaces inside bones. It’s also where new red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are produced. Bone marrow transplants can help people with diseases like leukemia, lymphoma, or other blood disorders by replacing their damaged bone marrow with healthy donor bone marrow. There are three types of bone marrow transplants: Autologous, Syngeneic, and Allogeneic. They each come with different risks and benefits so understanding which is best for you is important before considering this treatment option.

What is an Autologous Bone Marrow Transplant?

The first type of bone marrow transplant is the autologous transplant. This type of transplant uses your own, or autologous, bone marrow. The cells are harvested, frozen, and then returned to your body before, during, or after chemotherapy. The advantage of this transplant is that it doesn’t require a donor and allows for less invasive procedures. However, it is not recommended for patients with diseases like leukemia as it’s not a viable option for producing healthy blood cells.


What is a Syngeneic Bone Marrow Transplant?

A syngeneic transplant uses bone marrow from a donor that is genetically identical to you. This type of transplant is the most effective for treating leukemia. The disadvantage of this type of transplant is that there are very few donors who are genetically identical to you. This transplant is also more difficult to find a match for.


What is an Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplant?

An allogeneic transplant uses bone marrow from a donor that isn’t genetically identical to you. This type of transplant isn’t as effective as a syngeneic transplant. However, it is more common as there are more donors available. The main advantage of this type of transplant is that it’s easier to find a match for a patient.


How Is a Bone Marrow Transplant Performed?

A bone marrow transplant can be performed in a few different ways depending on which type of transplant is used Autologous and syngeneic transplants are done as outpatient procedures. On the other hand, allogeneic transplants are usually done as an inpatient procedure. Before the transplant, your doctor will administer high-dose chemotherapy followed by a low-dose of chemotherapy to kill off any remaining cancer cells in the body. Then, they will use a needle to extract bone marrow from your pelvic bone. The bone marrow is then filtered, frozen, and stored until it’s time for the transplant. After your bone marrow is ready, it’s put back into your body through an IV.

Problems with a Bone Marrow Transplant

A bone marrow transplant is a major medical procedure that comes with a long list of risks and side effects. The most significant risk of a transplant is the potential for deadly infection. Your immune system is significantly weakened due to the bone marrow transplant, making you more susceptible to bacteria and viruses. Other potential side effects of a bone marrow transplant include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, and a fever. There’s also a risk of developing a blood clot after the transplant. Side effects from chemotherapy, like hair loss, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting, are also common.

Bottom line

A bone marrow transplant is a complex medical procedure used to treat several diseases including leukemia,    lymphoma, and other blood disorders. There are three different types of bone marrow transplants — autologous, syngeneic, and allogeneic. Autologous and syngeneic transplants use a patient’s bone marrow, while allogeneic transplants use a donor’s bone marrow. A bone marrow transplant is a major medical procedure that comes with a risk of serious side effects.

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