Who needs a bone marrow transplant?

Patients with conditions like leukemia, lymphoma, severe anemia, or immune deficiencies.

What are the main types of bone marrow transplants?

Autologous (patient's own cells) and allogeneic (cells from a matched donor).

How is a donor matched for a BMT?

Through detailed blood tests that check for compatibility of human leukocyte antigens (HLA).

What are the key risks of a bone marrow transplant?

Includes infection, graft-versus-host disease, organ damage, and side effects from pre-transplant treatments.

1. What is a Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) or Stem Cell Transplant?

1. BMT is a procedure to replace damaged or destroyed bone marrow with healthy bone marrow (or stem cells). It allows for high doses of chemotherapy/radiation to treat cancer, followed by 'rescue' with healthy cells.

2. What conditions are treated with BMT?

2. BMT treats various cancers (leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma), blood disorders (aplastic anemia, thalassemia, sickle cell anemia), and some immune deficiencies.

3. What are the different types of BMT?

3. Types include: Autologous (using patient's own cells), Allogeneic (using cells from a matched donor), and Syngeneic (using cells from an identical twin). Haploidentical (partially matched donor) transplants are also common.

4. What is the BMT process for the patient?

4. The process involves: evaluation, stem cell collection (if autologous), conditioning therapy (chemo/radiation), transplant infusion, and recovery period (monitoring for complications).

5. What are the potential risks and side effects of BMT?

5. Risks include: infection, bleeding, organ damage, GVHD (in allogeneic transplants), graft failure, and long-term complications.

6. Where do stem cells come from?

6. Stem cells can be collected from: bone marrow, peripheral blood (after stimulation with growth factors), or umbilical cord blood.

7. What is Graft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD)?

7. GVHD occurs in allogeneic transplants when the donor's immune cells (graft) attack the recipient's tissues (host). It can be acute or chronic and affects various organs.

8. What is the BMT success rate?

8. Success rates vary widely depending on: underlying disease, transplant type, patient's age/health, and donor match. Outcomes are generally improving with advancements in treatment.

Transforming Lives with BMT (Bone Marrow Transplant)

A Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) is a medical procedure used to replace damaged or destroyed bone marrow with healthy bone marrow stem cells. It is commonly performed for patients with conditions like leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, or severe aplastic anemia. BMT can be autologous (using the patient’s own cells) or allogeneic (using donor cells). The procedure involves harvesting stem cells, conditioning the body with chemotherapy or radiation, and infusing healthy cells to regenerate the immune and blood systems. BMT aims to restore normal blood cell production and improve survival rates.