Stem Cell Therapy: Adult Double Cord Blood Transplant Study

Cord blood which comes from the umbilical cord is a viable source for transplant therapies. Some other ones are the bone marrow transplant and the peripheral blood transplantations. Cord blood transplant has played a very vital role in eradicating diseases such as leukemia from the human body. The blood that remains when the umbilical cord is separated from the newborn infant contains vital components of blood and is a necessity when it comes to treating fatal diseases of the human blood. The blood has been found out to be rich in stem cells. Doctors have found numerous successes using umbilical cord transplants.

Bone marrow transplants may use the recipient's own stem cells or donor stem cells. Cord blood transplantation leads to the restoration of the capability of the human body to form blood and make cells that are resistant to diseases.

Bone Marrow Transplant:

The procedure in which the bone marrow is transplanted from the donor to the patient to form new stem cells is known as bone marrow transplant. The bone marrow refers to the spongy tissue which is present in the bones in its interior. It is found in the breastbone, skull, hips, ribs and spine and contains stem cells that produce the vital red blood cells also known as RBCs. Under an anesthetic, the donor's hipbone has to be removed for bone marrow transplantation. 

Cord Blood Transplant vs. Bone Marrow Transplants:

Bone marrow transplant is more prevalent compared to cord blood transplant. Both of these techniques of stem cell transplant have their own pros and cons. Following are the pros of cord blood transplant over bone marrow transplant:
 
1)    Graft versus host disease stands for the diseases caused due to the new blood cells in the recipient's body and can be dangerous in up to 40% of the patients. There is lesser probability of attack of the cord blood cells on the body of the recipient thus resulting in a low Graft versus host disease (GVHD).
2)    For a successful bone marrow transplant, one needs a very close and accurate matching to reduce the risk of GVHD. The stem cells in cord blood being younger, they adapt more easily and hence a perfect match is not required. Hence, cord blood transplant can cover a wider range of recipients.
3)    Cord blood contains ten times the amount of stem cells than that found in an equal quantity of bone marrow.
4)    Cord blood stem cell therapy has regenerative characteristics. This is attributed to the fact that the stem cells found in the umbilical cord blood are a lot younger.
5)    Cord blood is available easily. The cord blood banking facility helps in making the cord blood donation readily available for transplantations.
 
 
Graft rejection is the only point where bone marrow is preferred to cord blood transplant. However, cord blood bone marrow transplant helps in strengthening the body against fatal blood diseases and is thus preferred more.