What is the Bone Marrow ?
Bone Marrow is the soft spongy tissue that fills the cores of larger bones. It serves an active function in the body by producing all three types of blood cells, as well as lymphocytes, which support the immune system.
What is the B.M.T ?
Bone Marrow transplant is a procedure used to treat patients with life-threatening blood, immune or genetic disorders, This includes leukaemia and bone marrow cancers. A bone Marrow transplant replaces the unhealthy blood- forming cells with healthy ones. Healthy bone marrow stem cells are harvested from matching bone marrow donors. The bone marrow transplant is also known as stem cell transplant because the stem cells of patients which are diseased is meant to be replaced by new stem cells from the donor.
Why do we need a bone marrow transplant?
Most commonly B.M.T is done when a patient is suffering from any type of cancer. Basically it is used when the body’s stem cell is unable to work normally.When the stem cell show any genetic or immune disorder, this is considered as bone marrow cancer and the stem cells are replaced to save the life of the patients
Bone Marrow Transplant Donor Match
Bone marrow transplant is a complex medical procedure that involves many complications. The stem cells that a patient requires are very specific from person to person, in different blood groups, different protein layering therefore a specific donor is selected by doctors to harvest stem cells for transplantation.Your doctor will do HLA human leukocyte antigen test which is a special test to analyse the surface of the white blood cell which makes the patients cell unique. Parents are half matched with the patient while the siblings have even less chance of matching.
Adverse-effects of Bone Marrow Transplant
B.M.T has its own side effects.The very common side effect is gastrointestinal tract dysfunction and infection, pneumonia in lungs, jaundice in liver, rashes, damaged blood vessels and inflammation. It no only interfere with the immune system but adversely affect the vital organs like heart, lungs and kidneys.It can cause new infections, infertility anemia and also a new cancer if the patients is treated for cancer. Fatigue and cataract are it’s other mild side effects. The B.M.T can even cause death. While these complications can be managed by medications.
Post-Bone Marrow Transplantation Care
A two- to four-week waiting period follows the marrow transplant before its success can begin to be judged. The marrow recipient is kept in isolation during this time to minimize potential infections. The recipient also receives intravenous antibiotic, antiviral, and antifungal medications, as well as blood and platelet transfusions to help fight off infection and prevent excessive bleeding. Blood tests are performed daily to monitor the patient’s kidney and liver function, as well as nutritional status. Other tests are performed as necessary. Further side effects, such as nausea and vomiting, can be treated with other medications.
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Gift of Life Marrow Registry Address: 800 Yamato Rd suite 101 Boca Raton, FL Phone: (800) 962-7769