Bone marrow transplant

Bone marrow transplant (BMT) is a medical procedure performed to replace bone marrow that has been damaged or destroyed by disease, infection, or chemotherapy. This procedure involves transplanting blood stem cells, which travel to the bone marrow where they produce new blood cells and promote growth of new marrow.

Procedure[edit | edit source]

A Bone marrow transplant involves two major steps: the conditioning regimen and the transplant. The conditioning regimen involves high-dose chemotherapy, and sometimes radiation therapy, to destroy the patient's own bone marrow stem cells. The transplant involves infusing healthy stem cells into the patient's bloodstream where they migrate to the bone marrow and begin producing new blood cells.

Types of Bone Marrow Transplants[edit | edit source]

There are two major types of bone marrow transplants: autologous transplants and allogeneic transplants. In an Autologous transplant, the patient's own stem cells are harvested before the conditioning regimen, then returned to the patient after treatment. In an Allogeneic transplant, the stem cells come from a donor. The donor's genetic makeup must closely match the patient's to reduce the risk of complications.

Risks and Complications[edit | edit source]

Bone marrow transplant procedures carry a significant risk of complications, including Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), infections, organ damage, and the possibility of developing a new form of cancer. The risk of complications can depend on numerous factors, including the type of disease or condition, the type of transplant, and the patient's age and overall health.

History[edit | edit source]

The first successful bone marrow transplant was performed in 1968 by a team led by Dr. Robert A. Good, in the United States. The patient was a boy with a severe immune deficiency, and the donor was his identical twin brother.