Comparison of Cord Blood and Bone Marrow Transplants

The use of blood from the umbilical cord is increasingly being applied to new diseases and conditions. It is especially useful in treating leukemia. This science progresses more and more every day.

The blood that is found in umbilical cords is useful because it is full of stem cells. This blood is taken from both the umbilical cord and placenta right after childbirth. The stem cells that are extracted from these parts are essential. They can be used to create new organs and make more blood. These are the same stem cells that create children, and we can use them to build tissue and combat potentially fatal disease that may occur later in life.

Stem cells can also be extracted from bone marrow, in bone marrow transplants. These are both effective ways of getting stem cells, but there are pros and cons to each.

Cord Blood And Bone Marrow Transplants - Weighing The Options

Cord Blood

- In general, umbilical cords yield much higher quality stem cells than bone marrow. Although useful stem cells can be obtained from bone marrow, scientific studies have shown the cord blood to be better.

- In some cases, bone marrow stem cells are rejected by the recipient's body. This could lead to a potentially fatal situation if it is not attended to quickly. It is a small risk, but needs to be taken into consideration.

- When a patient needs blood, their attending doctors will have to find donor blood that has the same composition. This can take time. Umbilical cord stem cells can be used immediately, cutting down on the delay time by as much as a few days.

- If a patient's own cord blood cannot be used for treatment, they can get cord blood from a public blood bank. There is a vast amount of cord blood stored up, and physicians have access to an efficient, computerized system for locating it for the patient. Parents are constantly donating new cord blood, adding to the already existing stores.

Bone Marrow

- Bone marrow transplants have been done for a long time. Transplanting cord blood is still a relatively new procedure and may carry other unknown risks.

- There is only so much umbilical cord blood. Although there are resources for using another individual's cord blood, it is much simpler to get what they need from the patient's own body, and everyone has plenty of bone marrow that can be used for transplants. Using public cord blood could also carry unknown risks.

- The process by which stem cells work is very slow. It takes a considerable amount of time for them to make new blood cells. During this period of time, there are risks for the patient, including the risk of getting an infection.

- Cord blood stem cells are often preserved for a number of years before they are used. Over time, they may not be as healthy as they once were. In theory, blood from umbilical cords will keep indefinitely. However, since it is a relatively new procedure, no one has tested how long they can be preserved and still used.

Whether to use cord blood or bone marrow is a very important decision that should not be made lightly. Which option is best for you depends on your particular situation. In the event that your child needs a transplant, it may be a comfort to know that there is cord blood available if bone marrow will not work. With cord blood, they do not necessarily need a matching blood donor. This is good in the case of an emergency.

For parents who are interested in saving lives, donating your child's cord blood may be a good option. Adding to the world's bank of stored cord blood is a great way to help save lives.

Because this is such an important decision, you should talk to your doctor or physician before you decide. There is lots of information available about cord blood transplants, but you should always consider your physician's opinion first. Always consult a certified medical professional.