With every passing day, the science behind the utility of umbilical cord blood is going a step forward. It is increasingly being used for curing leukemia patients. Umbilical cord blood is rich in stem cells. As the name suggests, it is extracted from the umbilical cord and the placenta immediately after delivery. Stems cells are very important. They have the capability of creating entirely new blood and organs too. The cord blood stem cells have created your baby and by preserving those stem cells, you are giving your baby a greater chance to fight possible life-threatening diseases.
Research shows that the quality of the stem cells taken from the bone marrow is not as high as that of the umbilical cord blood. Patients who have received a bone marrow transplant are more likely to reject the new addition, which could lead to life threatening situations.
In Korea, a team of researchers claimed to have successfully transplanted umbilical cord blood stem cells into the spine of a 37-year old woman. The patient had been paralyzed for 19 years due to an accident. Doctors injected the stem cells directly into the damaged portion of her spine. Within only three weeks, she began walking assisted with a walker, and today she walks well without aid.
For a successful transplant, the process is relatively complex, but the basics of the process involve typing the blood. Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) are markers (actually proteins) that are found in the body’s cell. If the markers of a transplant do not match, your body’s immune system would consider them foreign, and start destroying the transplanted cells. In other words, the transplant would be rejected, creating bigger problems for the patient. The greater number of protein matches between patient and donor, the greater the chance of success.
Another factor involves the number of cells being transplanted. Children have a greater chance of success, because they do not require the larger amounts of stem cells. Doctors are researching ways and ideas (such as trying to use two or three units of cord blood, or possibly growing new cells from a single unit in the laboratory prior to transfusion) in which to create better options for adults need stem cell transfusions.
At the end of the day, it is your decision. Nevertheless, do remember that even if the option of bone marrow transplant is available, your child will have a greater chance in emergencies or critical illnesses when there is no matching donor nearby. It is not necessary that your child will have a sibling with matching genetics close to him all time in the future. The cord blood, which you had saved years ago after his birth, will be enough for him to start life afresh.
Once a match is made, many factors are considered, such as age of the donor, their sex, medical conditions, blood type, and other things. The urgency of the required transplant will also play a factor in this process.
