Bone marrow transplant is a medical procedure aimed at replacing unhealthy native bone marrow and immune systems with healthy stem cells and immune cells (graft). This process involves infusing donor stem cells following a brief course of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or a combination of both, referred to as a conditioning regimen. This procedure is also known as hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). It finds application in treating certain cancers and non-cancerous conditions. Dr. Vikas Dua, the best Bone Marrow Transplant Specialist in Delhi is dedicated to providing world-class care and personalised treatment options for patients in need of a bone marrow transplant.
Varieties of Bone Marrow Transplants:
- Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cells: This approach employs stem cells from a suitable healthy donor.
- Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cells: Here, the patient’s own stem cells are utilized.
Indications for Bone Marrow Transplant: Bone marrow transplants are beneficial for individuals with both cancerous and non-cancerous diseases, including:
Common non-cancerous conditions in children:
- Severe Aplastic Anemia
- Thalassemia
- Sickle Cell Anemia
- Congenital Immune Deficiencies
- Congenital Metabolic Diseases (Inborn Errors of Metabolism)
- Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes
Cancerous conditions:
- High-risk Leukemia or Relapsed Leukemia
- Myelodysplastic Syndromes
- Relapsed Lymphomas
- High-risk Neuroblastoma
- High-risk Brain Tumors
- High-risk or Relapsed Ewing’s Sarcoma/PNET
- Relapsed Germ Cell Tumor
- Relapsed Retinoblastoma
Purpose of Bone Marrow Transplant: A bone marrow transplant serves several purposes, including:
- Facilitating treatment with high doses of chemotherapy or radiation by rescuing damaged bone marrow.
- Replacing dysfunctional bone marrow with new stem cells.
- Providing new stem cells that can directly target cancer cells.
- Offering a curative treatment option for certain benign conditions like Thalassemia and aplastic anemia in children.
However, a bone marrow transplant entails a range of risks. While some individuals experience minor complications, others may face more severe complications necessitating treatment or hospitalization. Some risks can even lead to fatal outcomes.
Factors influencing the risks include the specific disease or condition requiring the transplant, the type of transplant, the source of stem cells, the individual’s age, and overall health.
Possible complications of bone marrow transplant encompass:
- Graft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD) (specific to allogeneic transplants)
- Graft failure
- Organ deterioration
- Infections
- Cataracts
- Infertility
- Development of new types of cancer
- Mortality
If you or your loved one requires a bone marrow transplant in Delhi NCR, trust Dr. Vikas Dua to deliver exceptional care and give you the best chance at a successful outcome. Schedule an appointment with our bone marrow transplant specialists.
