Cord Blood Awareness Month: After a baby is born, the blood left in the placenta and umbilical cord is called cord blood. It contains special cells called hematopoietic stem cells, which can treat various illnesses. Your doctor collects cord blood right after the baby is delivered by clamping the umbilical cord and using a needle to draw the blood into a bag. This process usually takes about ten minutes.
Hematopoietic stem cells from cord blood can help treat over 70 different diseases, including immune disorders, genetic conditions, neurological issues, and certain cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. These stem cells can be used for both the baby they come from (autologous transplant) and other patients (allogeneic transplant), offering important medical options for treatment.
Advantages of cord blood banking
Treatment of diseases: Hematopoietic stem cells, which can differentiate into several blood cell types, are found in cord blood. More than 70 illnesses, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and different immune system and genetic conditions, can be treated with these stem cells. Because of this, cord blood is an important resource for people in need of stem cell transplantation, says Dr Neeraj Teotia, Sr consultant, pediatric oncologist, BMT & Hematology, Marengo Asia hospital, Gurugram.
Compatibility and accessibility: The ability to use stored cord blood for autologous transplants-transplants in which the recipient uses the cord blood is one of the main benefits of cord blood banking, says Dr Teotia. By guaranteeing complete genetic compatibility, this lowers the possibility of transplant rejection. Additionally, for those who might not have a matching donor in their family, allogenic transplants in which other patients use the cord blood offer a vital resource.
Easy collection and storage: The extraction of cord blood is a simple, non-invasive procedure. It only takes ten minutes or so, and neither the mother nor the child is at risk. After being drawn, cord blood can be cryogenically kept for a long time to preserve its viability for use in medicine down the road.
Disadvantages of cord blood banking
High cost: The expense of private cord blood banking is one of its main disadvantages. With additional yearly storage fees, the initial collecting and processing expenses can be significant. For many families, this might mean a large financial burden.
Limited usage: Although cord blood has many therapeutic uses, not all disorders may be cured by it. Other kinds of stem cell transplants, like bone marrow transplants, might work better for some disorders, says Dr Teotia. Moreover, it is unlikely that a kid will require their own preserved cord blood, which begs the question of whether private banking is cost-effective.
Potential for insufficient stem cells: A single cord blood collection can only contain a certain number of stem cells, which may not be enough to treat an adult patient or to cover several treatments. In these situations, more stem cells from different sources may be needed.
Need for public cord blood banks: By making donated cord blood accessible to anybody in need, regardless of their financial condition, public cord blood banks offer a priceless service. These databases aid in the advancement of medical research and improve the likelihood that patients in need of transplants will find compatible mates. It costs nothing to donate cord blood to a public bank, and it might even save lives.
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