Have you ever thought that with just one help, you could save the entire life of someone suffering from a serious disease like leukemia? Isn't that really amazing? That's what blood stem cell donation is. Hearing this name may sound a little scary, and it may seem like a big deal. But today we will talk about this very simply, in a way that you can understand.
What are these blood stem cells?
Simply put, stem cells are a type of 'master' cell in our body. That is, these cells can become any type of cell the body needs. These blood stem cells we are talking about can make all three essential types of cells in our blood: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. These cells are normally found in our bone marrow.
So, when someone develops a blood cancer like leukemia, what happens is that the cell-producing factory in the bone marrow goes haywire. That means that instead of healthy cells, abnormal, diseased cells are produced. That's when a healthy stem cell transplant is needed.
Who needs a stem cell transplant?
There are a number of diseases where this treatment can be life-saving. Most often, these are diseases related to the blood and immune system.
This treatment involves destroying the patient's damaged, diseased bone marrow and replacing it with stem cells taken from a healthy person. These new cells then take up residence in the patient's bone marrow and begin making new, healthy blood cells.
Here are some of the main conditions that require this treatment:
- Leukemia: Cancer of the white blood cells.
- Lymphoma: Cancer of the lymphatic system.
- Multiple Myeloma: Cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow.
- Aplastic Anemia: A condition in which the bone marrow is unable to make new cells.
- Sickle Cell Anemia: A hereditary disease that causes the shape of red blood cells to change.
- Various other myeloma and bone marrow diseases.
How do you choose the 'best fit'?
This is the most important and complex part of the process. Just as blood type is matched when donating blood, stem cell donation requires an even deeper match. This is called HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) matching .
HLA is a set of markers on the surface of every cell in our body. Our immune system looks at these markers to identify whether 'this is part of our own body' or 'this is something foreign.' The HLA markers of the donor and recipient must be as similar as possible. If they are not, the patient's body may reject the newly transplanted cells, or the new cells may attack the patient's body.
Doctors look for a suitable candidate in this order:
1. Immediate family members: Siblings are the most likely to be a good match. There can also be matches between parents and children.
2. Unrelated donors: If no family member is a match, a match is searched through stem cell donor registries around the world.
3. Haploidentical donors: Sometimes, a family member (e.g., parents, children) who is exactly half-matched in HLA markers can be used.
Can you become a contributor too? - The process step by step
If someone wants to do something noble like this, there is a proper process for it. This ensures the utmost safety of both the donor and the recipient.
| Steps | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Registration | First, you need to join a donor registry, where you fill out a questionnaire about your health history and express your consent. |
| 2. HLA testing | A test is done to find out your HLA type. It's very simple. You swab the inside of your mouth with a small cotton bud and send that cell sample for testing. |
| 3. Finding a match | If your HLA type matches a patient, the registry will contact you. This can take months, maybe years. Or it may never be a match. |
| 4. Confirmation tests | If a match is found, a blood sample will be taken to confirm further information and compatibility. A full medical examination will also be performed to ensure that you are healthy. |
| 5. Awareness and consent | A counselor will explain the entire process, its risks, and everything else to you. Then, your informed consent will be obtained. |
Who is ineligible for this?
Not everyone can donate stem cells. Age and health status are the main factors. Generally, healthy people between the ages of 18-40 can register. Some conditions that may make you ineligible for donation include:
- Being infected with HIV/AIDS.
- Autoimmune diseases such as severe arthritis (e.g. Rheumatoid Arthritis).
- Having a history of heart disease (heart attack, bypass surgery).
- Having been treated for cancer (especially within the last 5 years).
- Diabetes using insulin.
- Hepatitis B or C infection.
- Severe kidney disease.
This list is not exhaustive. If you are interested in donating but are unsure about your eligibility, it is best to talk to your doctor about it.
How the cell harvesting process works
Once you are accepted as a donor, you will be given a daily injection starting a few days before the day your cells are collected. This is called Filgrastim . This injection stimulates your bone marrow to release large amounts of stem cells into your bloodstream. This injection may cause minor side effects, such as body aches, a slight fever, and a headache. However, these will go away quickly after the injection.
On the day of cell collection, this is what happens:
1. You will be placed in a comfortable chair or bed.
2. A cannula (small tube) will be inserted into a vein in both of your arms.
3. On the one hand, your blood goes into a machine. This machine separates only the stem cells from the blood.
4. After the stem cells are separated, the remaining blood is returned to your body through the cannula in the other arm.
The entire process takes about 4-6 hours. It may take 2-3 days to collect the required number of cells. It's like donating blood, but it takes a little longer.
There are no major risks or side effects after this procedure. Some people may experience a slight decrease in calcium levels and muscle cramps. At that time, the medical team will give you a calcium tablet. After the donation is complete, you can continue your normal activities.
Take-Home Message
- Donating blood stem cells is a noble act, like donating life to someone suffering from serious diseases like leukemia.
- This is a very safe procedure for the donor. There will be no long-term harm to your body.
- To become a donor, you must be a healthy individual and meet medical guidelines.
- Because matching a donor and a patient depends on HLA type, it can be a very rare event. Therefore, it is very important that more people register as donors.
- If you want to know more about this process, talk to your doctor about it. They will give you the right guidance.
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