Stem Cell Transplant

Most disease conditions begin as a defect or abnormality at the cellular level, treating which has become an onerous task for medical science. Stem cells have shown immense promise in correcting and treating these defects. A stem cell transplant is a process where you are given an infusion of healthy stem cells that will help your body deal with the prevalent disease condition by forming new, healthy cells.

This transplantation is also called as bone marrow transplant or an umbilical cord blood transplant based on the source to stem cells being infused into your body.

Need for Stem Cell Transplants (SCT)
The procedure of transplantation is necessitated in conditions where the body loses it ability to produce healthy cells needed for proper functioning. These conditions include a host of cancers, where the body's own stem cells are depleted following intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments.

This type of transplantation is also useful in noncancerous conditions as well. One example is a disease state called aplastic anemia where your bone marrow has been damaged to such an extent that it is unable to produce new blood cells.

When cancer eats away at your bone marrow damaging its ability to produce healthy new cells, infusion of new stem cells will dissolve the diseased bone marrow and resume normal cell production that could also rev up your immune system and destroy any remaining cancer cells in the area.

Procedure of SCT
Before the infusion process begins, you may need to undergo several pre-transplant tests in order to determine your health status. These tests will also tell doctors if you are in a good enough physical condition to tolerate the procedure.Following these tests, doctors will order for an intravenous (IV) catheter to be implanted near your neck area in the chest.

This line is vital for the procedure as the healthy stem cells are usually infused from here. Called the "central line", the catheter will also serve as an inlet for blood transfusions, chemotherapy and liquid foods. If needed blood samples can also be collected from here.

Following these tests, you will be required to undergo a conditioning process that will ensure that any remaining cancer cells are destroyed. Furthermore you will be given several drugs that will suppress your immune system so that the body may not reject the stem cell transplant.

Stem cell transplantation can then begin and is usually accomplished in specialist centers that have a transplant unit to care for patients 24 hours of the day. There are two types of transplants: Autologous stem cell transplants and Allogeneic stem cell transplants. Basically the process involves infusing the donor stem cells through the catheter called as central line.

The whole process takes about five hours to finish depending on the volume of stem cells being infused. You may notice a bad smell during the process, which will be the smell of the preservative added to store the stem cells in optimal condition.

Aftercare
You may be required to stay in the transplant center for some weeks or until your blood counts reach a specified level. This will indicate that the new stem cells are functioning properly in your body. In some cases you may be required to stay close to the center for at least three months so you can be closely monitored.

Potential Consequences
Usually at least 12-15 months are needed after stem cell transplantation for your blood cells to reach normal levels. Almost the same time is required for your immune system to begin functioning at the same level prior to the procedure.

A stem cell transplant is the best treatment that can help your body replenish depleted stores of blood and immune cells. Most patients undergo an uneventful recovery and go on to lead fulfilling lives.


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