By Dr. Sweta Lunkad
Every year third Saturday in the month of September is celebrated as World marrow Donor day
This day is celebrated to thank all those selfless bone marrow transplant donors. These can be family donors, cord donors, unrelated donors who have helped patients to get rid of deadly diseases like Thalassemia, Aplastic anemia, Leukemias etc.
On this World marrow Donor day I take this opportunity to share with you a little about bone marrow transplant and bone marrow donation.
Bone Marrow transplant is a special procedure used to treat a variety of blood related disorders.
![drswetalunkad](http://healthwire.co/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/drswetalunkad-254x300.jpg)
It can be of two types: Allogenic and Autologous
In Autologous transplant, the patient himself serves as a donor. In Allogenic transplant there is a separate healthy donor who serves as a donor for the patient (recipient).
Selection of an appropriate donor involves HLA matching. This is a special matching of the stem cell based on which donor can be of three types
- Matched related donor
- Matched Unrelated donor
- Haploidentical Donor (50% match donor)
Once the donor is identified, they undergo some basic tests to confirm they are free of viruses and will not transmit any infections through the process of donation. The donation can be done in three ways
- Bone Marrow Harvest: Here the donor is taken to the Operation theatre and undergoes bone marrow and the stem cells are directly taken from the bone marrow.
- Peripheral blood stem cell harvest: Here the donor receives some injections for 5-6 days with the help of which stem cells are mobilized in the blood. These donors are then connected to a machine and the stem cells are separated.
- Cord blood stem cells: There is a good amount of stem cells in the cord blood of a new born baby. These can be stored at the time of birth and used at a later date.
The selection of matched related unrelated vs Haploidentical transplant is done by the transplant doctor. Also to take stem cells from the bone marrow or the peripheral blood is based on the diagnosis of the patient, the blood group, body weight of the patient and recipient.
YOU MAY LIKE TO READ: The Three Stages of Bone Marrow Transplant You Should Know About
One must remember that marrow donation is absolutely safe and simple with no short term and long term side effects. It can be done for your family members if they need it and even for unrelated people.
There are multiple bone marrow registries were a willing person can register as a bone marrow donor. These registries maintain a record of your HLA type. Whenever a patient with a matching HLA type contacts the registry the registry will contact the donor and arrange for the donation.
There are multiple non-profit registries doing this eg: DATRI, NMDP etc.
By being a donor, you not only save a life, you give the patient and family an opportunity to live a disease free healthy life. By volunteering to donate we provide a hope to a thalassemic to be transfusion free. We give a second life to a patient with Aplastic anemia. We provide a chance of cure to a patient with Leukemia.
YOU MAY LIKE TO READ: Bone Marrow Transplant, the efficient cure of Sickle cell disease
All our life we have been taught the importance of donation. Of all the donations you can think of, this is the noblest kind of donation. And this donation comes without any risk to the person donating.
So this World Marrow donor day I request all of you to come forward and register as a donor. To help all those people out there looking desperately for a match. To donate and save lives
Donate Marrow,
Become a real life hero.