Stem Cell Therapy
A successful blood stem cell transplantation can potentially cure patients of some diseases by replacing their blood stem cells.
Diseases most commonly treated by transplantation include diseases of the blood (such as cancers or red blood cell disorders), bone marrow failure diseases, and certain immunodeficiencies (diseases that result from missing or dysfunctional immune cells). Also inherited metabolic diseases (deficiencies in breaking down substances in the body) are treated by transplantation although less commonly. The cord blood is transplanted into the patient, where the hematopoietic stem cells can make new healthy blood cells to replace those damaged by the patient´s disease or by a medical treatment such as chemotherapy for cancer. As the science of transplant continues to advance, new diseases are being treated with transplant.
Blood Disorders
Disorders that affect the blood are called blood disorders or hematologic disorders.
There are many blood disorders, and they can affect the quantity as well as the function of the cells in the blood (blood cells) or proteins in the blood clotting system or immune system. Cord blood has been used to treat children with certain blood diseases since 1989.
Blood flows to every cell in the body and is important to the health and function of all the body´s organs. About 55 % of your blood is plasma. The solid part of your blood contains red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
- Red blood cells deliver oxygen from your lungs to every part of the body.
- White blood cells are a part of your immune system and fight infections.
- Platelets and blood clotting factors which help proper clotting of blood and healing if you have a cut our wound.
Blood disorders cause symptoms resulting from disruption of these functions, and various symptoms can arise from almost any area of the body. Most commonly, symptoms are caused by decreases in the blood components.
Cord blood contains hematopoietic stem cells. These stem cells can divide to create the following elements of the blood and immune systems:
- New red blood cells
- New white
- New platelets
Stem Cell Treatments
Cord blood therapy is available for patients for the following blood disorders:
- Acute Myelofibrosis
- Agnogenic Myeloid Metaplasia (Myelofibrosis)
- Amyloidosis
- Aplastic Anemia (Severe)
- Beta Thalassemia Major
- Blackfan-Diamond Anemia
- Congenital Amegakaryocytic Thrombocytopenia (CAT)
- Congenital Cytopenia
- Congenital Dyserythropoietic Anemia
- Dyskeratosis Congenita
- Essential Thrombocythemia
- Fanconi Anemia
- Glanzmann´s Thrombasthenia
- Myelodysplatic Syndrome
- Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH)
- Polycythemia Vera
- Pure Red Cell Aplasia
- Refractory Anemia with Excess Blasts in Transition (RAEB-T)
- Refractory Anemia with Ringed Sideroblasts (RARS)
- Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome
- Sickle Cell Disease
Stem Cells from the Umbilical Cord
Do you want to know more about your options within storage of your baby's stem cells?
Go to our process page to see how it is done, or take a look at our prices and packages.
