Marrow Transplant

Marrow transplantation is the process of transplanting stem cells, which are responsible for making healthy blood, into the patient’s body in order to treat some diseases in the person.

This marrow transplant is needed when the body does not produce healthy blood due to leukemia, lymphoma, blood cancers or hereditary disorders. There are two treatment methods to be applied to patients who need bone marrow for a number of reasons. In the method called autologous; Cells taken from the patient’s own body are transferred to the patient again. Another treatment method, allogeneic transplantation; Cells taken from another person are transplanted to the patient.

Bone marrow transplantation is done by opening a vascular access to the patient and care should be taken during this procedure. It is important that this procedure, which is a heavy surgical intervention, is performed under the control of a doctor with sterilized spaces and instruments.

How is Bone Marrow (stem cell) Transplant done?

As in the treatment of every disease, the patient should first be examined in detail in diseases such as marrow transplantation This examination is done using a number of tests and examinations and may take several days.

Before the marrow transplant, a tube called a catheter is inserted into one of the large veins in the patient’s chest or neck region. Thanks to this tube, which is not removed during the treatment process, transplantation is performed.

Doctors decide where to get the stem cells to be given to the person. These cells are either taken from the patient himself or from another donor.

The process of taking stem cells from the patient’s own body takes place as follows:

• The stem cells in the body need to be increased and mixed with the blood in order for these cells to be taken easily. For this, an injection process called growth factor is applied daily.
• Then the apheresis process is started. Blood is taken from the person’s vein and this blood is circulated in a machine. This special device separates the blood into its cells. The necessary stem cells taken from it are frozen and wait for the transplant order.
• The remaining blood is returned to the patient’s body.

Another method is to take bone marrow from a donor. For this, a donor whose blood and tissues are suitable is found and after the necessary tests and examinations, it is decided whether the stem cells will be taken from the blood or marrow and the process is started.

Another method is transplanting stem cells from the umbilical cord. In some cases, parents choose to freeze the blood in the umbilical cord as soon as their baby is born, just in case. In any case, this blood is used. Or, for the sick child, the parents use the blood from the umbilical cord of the child who was born with another child.

Autologous Bone Marrow Transplant

Autologous bone marrow transplantation is a treatment method that is performed by sending stem cells taken from the person’s own body to their own body. Usually, if the patient’s body produces enough stem cells, the autologous treatment method is used. These stem cells, which were previously taken and stored, are needed in cases where the patient is exposed to excessive chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

• Hodgkin lymphoma disease
• myeloma disease
• non-Hodgkin’s disease
• Autologous treatment method is used for conditions such as plasma cell disorders

The biggest advantage of this method is that the person’s body recognizes its own cells. In this way, incompatibility is not observed.

Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplant

In allogeneic stem cell transplantation, the stem cells to be given to the patient’s body must be obtained from a donor. This donor could be :

• a family member
• a relative
• a friend or a complete stranger.

In this case, there are three ways to obtain stem cells:

• Stem cells collected from the blood of the person who wants to donate
• Stem cells taken from the hip bone of the person who wants to donate
• Stem cells collected from donated cord blood

Before the donation process is made, a high rate of radiation or chemotherapy is applied to the donor in order to destroy the harmful cells in the donor’s body. In this way, while harmful cells are destroyed, healthy cells are prepared for transplantation. It is possible to treat many diseases, including the following diseases, with donated blood:

• Acute Leukemia Disease
• Adrenoleukodystrophy Disease
• The state of being excessively anemia
• Bone marrow failure diseases
• chronic leukemia disease
• Hemoglobinopathies Disease
• Hodgkin Lymphoma Disease
• Deficiencies in the person’s immunity
• Errors in inborn metabolism
• Multiple Myeloma Disease
• Myelodysplastic Diseases
• Neuroblastoma Disease
• Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Disease

What are the Risks of Bone Marrow Transplantation?

Diseases requiring bone marrow transplantation are usually serious diseases. For this reason, there are some risks in bone marrow transplantation, which is an extremely important surgical procedure. In order to minimize these risks, it is necessary to cooperate with the doctor from the stage of deciding to have a bone marrow transplant and fulfill what he says.

All possible risks should be shared with the patient and their relatives by the doctor. We can list these possible risks and complications as follows:

• high risk of infection
• anemia risk
• Excessive bleeding risk
• Formation of bruises
• In allogeneic transplant only, risk of Host disease, Graft disease, Versus disease
• The risk of stem cell failure
• risk of damage to organs
• The risk of cataracts
• Risk of infertility
• risk of developing certain cancers

What Is Done Before Bone Marrow Transplantation?

First of all, after the decision for stem cell transplantation, the patient is subjected to a number of tests and examinations to check whether he is ready for transplantation. If he is ready, he places a tube in one of the large veins in the neck or chest, which will also be used during the transplant process.

Then it is decided where to get the stem cells. If the autologous treatment method is decided, stem cells are taken from the person and frozen until the transplantation process. If stem cells are to be obtained with the allogeneic treatment method, stem cells are collected from a donor and kept until transplantation.

Bone Marrow Transplant Prices in Turkey

Turkey continues to be a beacon of hope to patients with its advanced technology and experienced doctors. The treatment of many diseases that require bone marrow transplantation, that is, stem cell transplantation, is safely performed in Turkey with a high recovery rate.

In addition to these high-tech and experienced doctors, they also encounter many positive aspects such as friendly caregivers and staff, hospitals equipped with high technology, a comfortable treatment process, affordable prices, and the opportunity to vacation among the historical beauties of Turkey.

For this reason, if you also want to prefer Turkey for bone marrow transplant, you can contact us for detailed information, answering your questions and price information.

How Long Does a Marrow Transplantation Patient Live?

All diseases are personal. Many factors such as the degree of fighting the disease, the stage of the disease, the treatment methods used, the complications that occur during the operation, the risks of the disease affect the life expectancy.

For this reason, by contacting us, you can ask us any questions you may have about bone marrow transplantation and get information from our doctors.

How Many Days Does a Marrow Donor Heal?

A marrow transplant is usually a treatment method that healthy people are afraid to donate. Although the idea of ​​taking a marrow from the hip bone may seem painful to people, this procedure is performed under surgical operation, with the person fully anesthetized or half anesthetized under general or local anesthesia.

For this reason, the donor can donate bone marrow without feeling any pain in a sterile environment. The donor, who regains consciousness after an hour, is kept in the hospital for observation for one day and sent home after the necessary tests are performed the next day.

Although pain is felt in the treated area for about a week, it is possible to return to normal life in a short time.

Prof. Dr. Ergün Dağlıoğlu

Prof.Dr. Ergün Dağlıoğlu (Eğitim Görevlisi), Beyin Cerrahı, Beyin Ve Sinir Cerrahisi

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