Bone marrow transplant – Mayo Clinic
By raymumme
Overview
A bone marrow transplant is a procedure that infuses healthy blood stem cells into your body to replace your damaged or diseased bone marrow. A bone marrow transplant is also called a stem cell transplant.
A bone marrow transplant may be necessary if your bone marrow stops working and doesn't produce enough healthy blood cells.
Bone marrow transplants may use cells from your own body (autologous transplant) or from a donor (allogeneic transplant).
Mayo Clinic's approach
A bone marrow transplant may be used to:
Bone marrow transplants can benefit people with a variety of both cancerous (malignant) and noncancerous (benign) diseases, including:
Bone marrow is the spongy tissue inside some bones. Its job is to produce blood cells. If your bone marrow isn't functioning properly because of cancer or another disease, you may receive a stem cell transplant.
To prepare for a stem cell transplant, you receive chemotherapy to kill the diseased cells and malfunctioning bone marrow. Then, transplanted blood stem cells are put into your bloodstream. The transplanted stem cells find their way to your marrow, where ideally they begin producing new, healthy blood cells.
A bone marrow transplant poses many risks of complications, some potentially fatal.
The risk can depend on many factors, including the type of disease or condition, the type of transplant, and the age and health of the person receiving the transplant.
Although some people experience minimal problems with a bone marrow transplant, others may develop complications that may require treatment or hospitalization. Some complications could even be life-threatening.
Complications that can arise with a bone marrow transplant include:
Your doctor can explain your risk of complications from a bone marrow transplant. Together you can weigh the risks and benefits to decide whether a bone marrow transplant is right for you.
If you receive a transplant that uses stem cells from a donor (allogeneic transplant), you may be at risk of developing graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). This condition occurs when the donor stem cells that make up your new immune system see your body's tissues and organs as something foreign and attack them.
Many people who have an allogeneic transplant get GVHD at some point. The risk of GVHD is a bit greater if the stem cells come from an unrelated donor, but it can happen to anyone who gets a bone marrow transplant from a donor.
GVHD may happen at any time after your transplant. However, it's more common after your bone marrow has started to make healthy cells.
There are two kinds of GVHD: acute and chronic. Acute GVHD usually happens earlier, during the first months after your transplant. It typically affects your skin, digestive tract or liver. Chronic GVHD typically develops later and can affect many organs.
Chronic GVHD signs and symptoms include:
You'll undergo a series of tests and procedures to assess your general health and the status of your condition, and to ensure that you're physically prepared for the transplant. The evaluation may take several days or more.
In addition, a surgeon or radiologist will implant a long thin tube (intravenous catheter) into a large vein in your chest or neck. The catheter, often called a central line, usually remains in place for the duration of your treatment. Your transplant team will use the central line to infuse the transplanted stem cells and other medications and blood products into your body.
If a transplant using your own stem cells (autologous transplant) is planned, you'll undergo a procedure called apheresis (af-uh-REE-sis) to collect blood stem cells.
Before apheresis, you'll receive daily injections of growth factor to increase stem cell production and move stem cells into your circulating blood so that they can be collected.
During apheresis, blood is drawn from a vein and circulated through a machine. The machine separates your blood into different parts, including stem cells. These stem cells are collected and frozen for future use in the transplant. The remaining blood is returned to your body.
If a transplant using stem cells from a donor (allogeneic transplant) is planned, you will need a donor. When you have a donor, stem cells are gathered from that person for the transplant. This process is often called a stem cell harvest or bone marrow harvest. Stem cells can come from your donor's blood or bone marrow. Your transplant team decides which is better for you based on your situation.
Another type of allogeneic transplant uses stem cells from the blood of umbilical cords (cord blood transplant). Mothers can choose to donate umbilical cords after their babies' births. The blood from these cords is frozen and stored in a cord blood bank until needed for a bone marrow transplant.
After you complete your pretransplant tests and procedures, you begin a process known as conditioning. During conditioning, you'll undergo chemotherapy and possibly radiation to:
The type of conditioning process you receive depends on a number of factors, including your disease, overall health and the type of transplant planned. You may have both chemotherapy and radiation or just one of these treatments as part of your conditioning treatment.
Side effects of the conditioning process can include:
You may be able to take medications or other measures to reduce such side effects.
Based on your age and health history, your doctor may recommend lower doses or different types of chemotherapy or radiation for your conditioning treatment. This is called reduced-intensity conditioning.
Reduced-intensity conditioning kills some cancer cells and somewhat suppresses your immune system. Then, the donor's cells are infused into your body. Donor cells replace cells in your bone marrow over time. Immune factors in the donor cells may then fight your cancer cells.
Your bone marrow transplant occurs after you complete the conditioning process. On the day of your transplant, called day zero, stem cells are infused into your body through your central line.
The transplant infusion is painless. You are awake during the procedure.
The transplanted stem cells make their way to your bone marrow, where they begin creating new blood cells. It can take a few weeks for new blood cells to be produced and for your blood counts to begin recovering.
Bone marrow or blood stem cells that have been frozen and thawed contain a preservative that protects the cells. Just before the transplant, you may receive medications to reduce the side effects the preservative may cause. You'll also likely be given IV fluids (hydration) before and after your transplant to help rid your body of the preservative.
Side effects of the preservative may include:
Not everyone experiences side effects from the preservative, and for some people those side effects are minimal.
When the new stem cells enter your body, they begin to travel through your body and to your bone marrow. In time, they multiply and begin to make new, healthy blood cells. This is called engraftment. It usually takes several weeks before the number of blood cells in your body starts to return to normal. In some people, it may take longer.
In the days and weeks after your bone marrow transplant, you'll have blood tests and other tests to monitor your condition. You may need medicine to manage complications, such as nausea and diarrhea.
After your bone marrow transplant, you'll remain under close medical care. If you're experiencing infections or other complications, you may need to stay in the hospital for several days or sometimes longer. Depending on the type of transplant and the risk of complications, you'll need to remain near the hospital for several weeks to months to allow close monitoring.
You may also need periodic transfusions of red blood cells and platelets until your bone marrow begins producing enough of those cells on its own.
You may be at greater risk of infections or other complications for months to years after your transplant.
A bone marrow transplant can cure some diseases and put others into remission. Goals of a bone marrow transplant depend on your individual situation, but usually include controlling or curing your disease, extending your life, and improving your quality of life.
Some people complete bone marrow transplantation with few side effects and complications. Others experience numerous challenging problems, both short and long term. The severity of side effects and the success of the transplant vary from person to person and sometimes can be difficult to predict before the transplant.
It can be discouraging if significant challenges arise during the transplant process. However, it is sometimes helpful to remember that there are many survivors who also experienced some very difficult days during the transplant process but ultimately had successful transplants and have returned to normal activities with a good quality of life.
Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this disease.
Living with a bone marrow transplant or waiting for a bone marrow transplant can be difficult, and it's normal to have fears and concerns.
Having support from your friends and family can be helpful. Also, you and your family may benefit from joining a support group of people who understand what you're going through and who can provide support. Support groups offer a place for you and your family to share fears, concerns, difficulties and successes with people who have had similar experiences. You may meet people who have already had a transplant or who are waiting for a transplant.
To learn about transplant support groups in your community, ask your transplant team or social worker for information. Also, several support groups are offered at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota.
Mayo Clinic researchers study medications and treatments for people who have had bone marrow transplants, including new medications to help you stay healthy after your bone marrow transplant.
If your bone marrow transplant is using stem cells from a donor (allogeneic transplant), you may be at risk of graft-versus-host disease. This condition occurs when a donor's transplanted stem cells attack the recipient's body. Doctors may prescribe medications to help prevent graft-versus-host disease and reduce your immune system's reaction (immunosuppressive medications).
After your transplant, it will take time for your immune system to recover. You may be given antibiotics to prevent infections. You may also be prescribed antifungal, antibacterial or antiviral medications. Doctors continue to study and develop several new medications, including new antifungal medications, antibacterial medications, antiviral medications and immunosuppressive medications.
After your bone marrow transplant, you may need to adjust your diet to stay healthy and to prevent excessive weight gain. Maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other negative health effects.
Your nutrition specialist (dietitian) and other members of your transplant team will work with you to create a healthy-eating plan that meets your needs and complements your lifestyle. Your dietitian may also give you food suggestions to control side effects of chemotherapy and radiation, such as nausea.
Your dietitian will also provide you with healthy food options and ideas to use in your eating plan. Your dietitian's recommendations may include:
After your bone marrow transplant, you may make exercise and physical activity a regular part of your life to continue to improve your health and fitness. Exercising regularly helps you control your weight, strengthen your bones, increase your endurance, strengthen your muscles and keep your heart healthy.
Your treatment team may work with you to set up a routine exercise program to meet your needs. You may perform exercises daily, such as walking and other activities. As you recover, you can slowly increase your physical activity.
Read more:
Bone marrow transplant - Mayo Clinic
- Stem Cells Used in Cord Blood Treatments - February 12th, 2019
- Is donating bone marrow painful? | Anthony Nolan - February 12th, 2019
- Bone Marrow for Spine and Orthopaedic Stem Cell Treatment ... - February 2nd, 2019
- Become a Donor | The Bone Marrow Foundation - January 31st, 2019
- Bone Marrow & Stem Cell Transplant | Weill Cornell Medicine - January 24th, 2019
- What is BMC, Bone Marrow Stem Cell Therapy? - January 24th, 2019
- How Bone Marrow and Stem Cells are Collected | BMT Infonet - January 20th, 2019
- Bone marrow suppression - Wikipedia - January 3rd, 2019
- What is a Bone Marrow Transplant (Stem Cell Transplant ... - December 30th, 2018
- Stem cell and bone marrow transplants - NHS - December 1st, 2018
- Bone Marrow & Stem Cell Transplant | IU Health - November 28th, 2018
- How Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplants Work - August 3rd, 2018
- Bone Marrow-Derived Stem Cell Therapy Milwaukee, WI ... - April 27th, 2018
- What is a Stem Cell Transplant (Bone Marrow Transplant)? | Cancer.Net - April 12th, 2018
- PPT Bone Marrow Transplantation Stem Cell ... - April 10th, 2018
- Bone marrow | anatomy | Britannica.com - February 16th, 2018
- Bone Marrow Transplantation | Bone Marrow Transplant ... - February 4th, 2018
- Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant | Cook Children's - January 8th, 2018
- Bone marrow transplant - About - Mayo Clinic - December 24th, 2017
- Blood and Bone Marrow Transplant - NHLBI, NIH - December 19th, 2017
- Hematopoietic cell transplantation (bone marrow ... - November 11th, 2017
- bone marrow/stem cell transplant - verywell.com - November 8th, 2017
- Stem cell and bone marrow transplants - NHS Choices - October 24th, 2017
- Stem Cell Therapy: A Lethal Cure - Medical News Bulletin - September 8th, 2017
- Convoy from Children's Hospital to La Caada carries precious cargo a 2-year-old bone marrow recipient - Los Angeles Times - September 8th, 2017
- Dr. Yaser Homsi Joins The Oncology Institute of Hope and Innovation - Benzinga - September 8th, 2017
- My son died of cancer: Why I'm celebrating his birthday with stem cell awareness - DailyO - September 7th, 2017
- Longeveron Initiates Phase 2b Stem Cell Therapy Trial to Treat Aging Frailty - Markets Insider - September 7th, 2017
- New therapy could protect diabetic bones - Science Magazine - September 5th, 2017
- A Napa family struggles to give their child a normal life - Napa Valley Register - September 5th, 2017
- Mystery solved: How thyroid hormone prods red blood cell production - Medical Xpress - September 5th, 2017
- Stem cell transplant to be launched - Himalayan Times - September 5th, 2017
- FDA Grants Orphan Drug Status to Cellect's ApoGraft for Acute GvHD and Chronic GvHD - Markets Insider - September 5th, 2017
- U of R hosts stem cell swabbing initiative to help save lives through national database - Globalnews.ca - September 5th, 2017
- FDA crackdown on unproven stem cell therapies - BioNews - September 4th, 2017
- SCB Medical College And Hospital Completes Their 50th Bone Marrow Transplant - Doctor NDTV - September 4th, 2017
- Chemo-boosting drug discovered for leukaemia - Drug Target Review - Drug Target Review - September 4th, 2017
- Irish researcher bags 150000 to make 3D-printed knee implant - Siliconrepublic.com - September 4th, 2017
- Bone marrow transplant on record run in SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack - The New Indian Express - September 3rd, 2017
- Chemo-Boosting Drug Discovered for Leukemia - Futurism - September 3rd, 2017
- Regulating Bone Marrow Protein can Improve Stem Cell Transplants - CMFE News (press release) (blog) - September 3rd, 2017
- Bone marrow transplant - Doctor NDTV - September 1st, 2017
- Dr Con Man: the rise and fall of a celebrity scientist who fooled almost everyone - The Guardian - September 1st, 2017
- Targeting bone marrow protein could be effective way to improve ... - Gears Of Biz - September 1st, 2017
- For Lowell native, stem cell match becomes a match as friends - Lowell Sun - August 31st, 2017
- In utero stem cell transplants may replace riskier childhood transplants for multiple conditions - Medical Xpress - August 31st, 2017
- Nanoparticle Advance Could Yield Multi-Purpose Treatments - Drug Discovery & Development - August 31st, 2017
- Bacterial Infection Stresses Blood Stem Cells - Asian Scientist Magazine - August 31st, 2017
- FDA Cracks Down on Stem Cell Clinics But Patients Are Still at Risk - TIME - August 30th, 2017
- In Osteoporosis, differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells ... - August 30th, 2017
- Nanoparticles loaded with mRNA give disease-fighting properties to cells - Medical Xpress - August 30th, 2017
- Fetal membranes may help transform regenerative medicine - Medical Xpress - August 30th, 2017
- Cell Therapy Can Be Fast and Easy: Just Add mRNA Nanocarriers - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News - August 30th, 2017
- Frawley, Mindell/Brody, Calkins Awards Recognize 5 for Excellence - UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences News - August 30th, 2017
- How your own stem cells could relieve your chronic pain - Good4Utah - August 29th, 2017
- FDA moves to curb dangerous stem cell clinics - Philly.com - August 29th, 2017
- Trendsetter: Why Doug Baldwin went to England for stem-cell therapy - The News Tribune (blog) - August 29th, 2017
- Bone Marrow Protein May Be Target for Improving Stem Cell Transplants - Penn: Office of University Communications - August 28th, 2017
- Eliminating the need for bone marrow donors - The Hippocratic Post (blog) - August 28th, 2017
- Struggling with a chronic or life-threatening illness? Your blood can help research cures - Sacramento Bee - August 28th, 2017
- MS sufferer gets pioneering stem cell treatment - Gloucestershire Live - August 28th, 2017
- Creative Medical Technology Holdings Achieves 100% Patient Enrollment in CaverstemTM Clinical Trial for Stem Cell ... - Markets Insider - August 28th, 2017
- What is stem cell donation: How does peripheral blood stem cell collection work? - India.com - August 27th, 2017
- miRNA-221 of exosomes originating from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells promotes oncogenic activity in gastric ... - Dove Medical Press - August 26th, 2017
- Annual 'Run for Mandi' hosting bone marrow registry to combat cancer - Saskatoon StarPhoenix - August 25th, 2017
- Bacterial infection stresses hematopoietic stem cells - Medical Xpress - Medical Xpress - August 25th, 2017
- Bowl-A-Thon For Stem Cell Bone Marrow Transplant Recipients - BlackburnNews.com - August 25th, 2017
- Family of Mandi Schwartz connecting donors with stem cell network - Globalnews.ca - August 25th, 2017
- 'I approached my 50th birthday unable to balance or speak' - Telegraph.co.uk - August 25th, 2017
- After treatment for serious illness, NBC-5 anchor Rob Stafford returning to air - Chicago Tribune - August 25th, 2017
- Buckeye Be The Match set for Saturday - Piqua Daily Call - August 24th, 2017
- Archbishop Derderian Leads Prayers for ABMDR Patients at Diocese Churches - Asbarez Armenian News - August 22nd, 2017
- Vitamin C May Help Slay Blood Cancer Stem Cells - Anti Aging News - August 22nd, 2017
- Howard University Hosts 'Be The Match' Marrow Registry Drive - Howard Newsroom (press release) - August 22nd, 2017
- VistaGen's cell production methods receive US patent boost - BioPharma-Reporter.com - August 22nd, 2017
- Vitamin C Can Suppress Leukemia Up To a Point | IFLScience - IFLScience - August 22nd, 2017
- The power of vitamin C: Can it kill cancer stem cells? - Bel Marra Health - August 22nd, 2017
- Winnipeg man to donate stem cells to critically ill stranger in Israel - CBC.ca - August 22nd, 2017
- First birthday for Windsor's 'warrior princess' after lifesaving transplant - Windsor Star - August 22nd, 2017
- Mayo, U develop 'robocop' stem cells to fight cancer - StarTribune.com - Minneapolis Star Tribune - August 20th, 2017
