How a Cord Blood Transplant Differs From a Bone Marrow Transplant

Recent advances in cord blood technology have enabled cord blood transplants to become a reality. A cord blood transport is an alternative to a bone marrow transplant in patients that require a stem cell transplant.
 
A cord blood stem cell transplant is designed to replace defective cells with healthy ones. Cord blood is the name given to blood that has been extracted from a baby’s umbilical cord and the mother’s placenta following delivery. This cord blood can be tested for blood-borne diseases before being frozen and stored in a dedicated cord blood bank.
 
The main benefit of a cord blood transplant is that cord blood contains an abundance of stem cells. It has been estimated that cord blood contains ten times the amount of stem cells as that found in bone marrow. The stem cells found in cord blood are believed to have greater healing powers as they are younger and fresher in comparison to those found in bone marrow.
 
Cord blood stem cells are widely considered by scientists to be purer and more adaptable than bone marrow cell transplantation. This means that the patient’s immune system is much less likely to reject stem cell treatments derived from cord blood.
 
A cord blood transplant is considered to be well-suited to patients aged 30 years or younger and for those who weigh 60 kilograms or less. A cord blood transplant is also of greater suitability to individuals with diseases or disorders of the kidneys, lungs, liver or heart.
 
From the perspective of a donor, a cord blood transplant is less invasive than a bone marrow transplant. Cord blood stem cell collection occurs directly following the birth of a baby and does not harm the baby in any way. A bone marrow transplant, meanwhile, is an invasive procedure and requires general anesthesia.

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