How Do Stem Cell Transplants Work ? | eHow

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M.K. Thomas

M.K. Thomas is a blogger and freelance writer who holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Maryland. She has had articles published in "Greenprints," a gardening journal, as well as online at SeniorsForLiving.com.

Stem cell transplants, which are also referred to as bone marrow transplants, are done when the patient's bone marrow can no longer make healthy stem cells. Stem cells are the building blocks for white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. White blood cells fight infection, red blood cells transport oxygen and nutrients, and platelets help with blood clotting; all three functions are necessary for sustaining life. Stem cell transplants can use either stem cells from the patient's body or stem cells from donor sources. Stem cells from donors are found in the bone marrow and also in umbilical cord blood. During the procedure, a catheter known as a central line is placed in the chest; healthy transplanted stem cells are infused through the central line and into the body.

Both cancerous and noncancerous diseases are treated with stem cell transplants. In the case of aplastic anemia, a non-cancerous disease, the stem cells in the patient's bone marrow function but not well enough to make an adequate amount of new blood cells. When healthy stem cells are transplanted and accepted by the patient's body, the non-functioning stem cells in the blood marrow are destroyed and healthy transplanted stem cells move to the bone marrow and take over production of blood cells. In the case of leukemia, a type of cancer that affects the bone marrow, a successful stem cell transplant can both increase the amount of healthy blood cells the patient's body can produce as well as kill remaining cancer cells in the bone marrow.

Before a stem cell transplant to treat cancer, the patient undergoes a process known as conditioning, which can include radiation and chemotherapy to kill cancer cells as well as suppress the immune system. Because the immune system is suppressed, there is a high risk of infection for the patient; the radiation and chemotherapy can also cause a wide range of side effects that include nausea, hair loss, anemia, mouth sores and ulcers.

Stem cell transplants cure some but not all diseases. Some patients experience a remission of their disease; successful stem cell transplants offer an extension of life to such patients. Patients who undergo a stem cell transplant using stem cells that were harvested from their own bodies often recover more rapidly than patients whose stem cell transplants used donor cells. Patients who received donor stem cells may face problems with their immune system rejecting the donor stem cell transplant. Full recovery with blood marrow functioning at normal levels can take as long as one year.

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How Do Stem Cell Transplants Work ? | eHow