The Key Results Of Cord Blood Banking To Patients

Cord blood banking was not considered a major requirement until recently. However, it is steadily gaining popularity among new parents. This technique has been used to treat several diseases and research is still ongoing to uncover new grounds. Below are reasons who you should consider this decision.

The extraction process is quite easy. Moreover, it is painless and thus does not require anesthesia. This makes it rather safe to both the baby and the mother, unlike bone marrow extraction that has so many risks. The process takes place during birth just before the rest of the organ can be thrown away.

The stem cells seem to engraft at a higher rate. They also tolerate HLA mismatches more, and they have a lower rate of attacking the recipient tissues in what is known as graft-versus-host disease. They also do not contaminate easily from latent viruses. The body thus has a higher acceptance rate for these cells when compared to those from bone marrow.

The treatment is very efficient. The cells are collected in advance and all the necessary tests performed. It is then stored in a frozen state ready for use. This makes it easy to use when needed, unlike in the past where a donor had to be searched for and consent obtained. The entire process results in wastage of precious time that could be critical to the patient.

Perfect matches are not mandatory. The results can still be successful even when the matching between the patient and the donor is just partial. A small number of donors, therefore, are able to supply a very large number of patients. It can also be used on siblings with substantial success rates to the range of 39 percent.

The chances of transmitting viral infections are highly reduced. This is the risk posed by using the bone marrow technique. The Epstein-Barr is a virus that is latent in almost half of American adults. This makes the possibility of having it in a donor quite high. CMV, on the other hand, is found in about one percent of newborns.

The umbilical cord provides a unique group of stem cells that can be used for various purposes. Currently, they are being used to treat hereditary conditions and diseases of the blood. There are promises, however, that they may be able to treat more illnesses in the future, including autism, Parkinson's disease, and spinal cord injuries.

It is necessary to bank the cord of your child. This is irrespective of whether you have a genetic disease in your family or not. You never know when one can develop an illness that requires such transplants. However, it is also advisable to get the right information before you embark on such a decision.

Cord blood banking has many advantages. However, the general public does not have the medical knowledge that can help them make informed decisions. It is, therefore, advisable to consult several medical professionals before one decides to take a step in that direction.