Introducing an insightful exploration about bone marrow by Dr. Rahul Arora, Heamatologist & Bone Marrow Transplant Physician MD, DNB (Haematology)
What is Bone marrow?
The soft, spongy tissue in the centre of most bones. It is of two types: red and yellow. Red bone marrow contains blood stem cells that can forms RBCs/Haemoglobin, white blood cells, or platelets. In Adults, bone marrow is primarily located in the ribs, vertebrae, sternum, and bones of the pelvis.
What is a Bone marrow test?
The bone marrow fluid (aspirate) and tissue sample (biopsy) are usually collected from the top ridge of the back of a hipbone (posterior iliac crest). Rarely sternum is used as the site of testing.
Who needs a bone marrow (BM) testing?
if your blood report reveal your platelets, or white or red blood cells are too high or too low that is unexplained. It is also needed if cancers of the bone marrow or blood, such as myeloma, leukemia or lymphomas is suspected or to find unknown cause of fever.
What does bone marrow Transplant (BMT)/Stem cell transplant (SCT) do?
A BMT takes a donor’s healthy blood-forming cells and puts them into the patient’s bloodstream, then they begin to grow in marrow and make healthy cells. Patients receive high doses of chemotherapy to prepare their body for the BMT.
Who needs a BMT?
A bone marrow may be the best treatment option or the only potential for a cure for patients with Sickle cell anaemia, Thalassemia, Aplastic anemia, inherited metabolic disorders, Leukaemia (AML, ALL), Myeloma, Relapsed lymphoma, MDS.
What are the types of BMT?
Different types of BMTs depending on who the donor is.
- Autologous BMT. If donor is the patient himself or herself. Stem cells are taken from the patient either by bone marrow harvest or apheresis (a process of collecting peripheral blood stem cells), frozen, and then given back to the patient after.
- Allogeneic BMT. The donor shares the same genetic type as the patient. Donor is usually a brother, sister, father or mother or an unrelated person
How long do you stay in hospital after BMT?
Every patient’s situation is unique, but you can expect to spend 30 to 45 days in the hospital or at the outpatient clinic for your transplant.
What happens after BMT?
Once the transplant is finished, you’ll need to stay in hospital for a few weeks, during this period you may: feel weak, and you may experience diarrhea and vomiting, and/or a loss of appetite. After the improvement patient would be required to visit doctor regular basic