Bone marrow transplant in Türkiye

A bone marrow transplant is a medical procedure performed to replace bone marrow that has been damaged or destroyed by disease, infection, or chemotherapy . This procedure involves a transplant of blood stem cells, which travel to the bone marrow where they produce new blood cells and promote the growth of new marrow.

Bone marrow is the spongy, fatty tissue inside bones. Which produces the following parts of blood:

• Red blood cells, which carry oxygen and nutrients around the body
• White blood cells, which fight infection
• Platelets, which are responsible for the formation of clots

Bone marrow also contains cells known as hematopoietic cells, or HSCs. Most cells are already differentiated and can only make copies of themselves. 
However, these cells are unspecialized, which means they have the ability to multiply through division and either remain unformed cells or differentiate and mature into many different types of blood cells. HSC in the bone marrow will make new blood cells throughout your life.

A bone marrow transplant replaces damaged cells with healthy ones. This helps the body make enough white blood cells, platelets, or red blood cells to avoid infections, bleeding disorders, or anemia.

Healthy cells can come from a donor, or they can come from your own body. In such cases, cells may be harvested prior to the initiation of chemotherapy or radiotherapy. These healthy cells are then stored and used for transplantation.

Why you might need a bone marrow transplant

A bone marrow transplant is done when a person’s marrow is not healthy enough to function properly. This may be due to chronic infections, diseases, or cancer treatments. Some reasons for a bone marrow transplant include:

• Aplastic anemia, a disorder in which the marrow stops making new blood cells
• Cancers that affect the marrow, such as leukemia , lymphoma, and multiple myeloma
• Damaged bone marrow due to chemotherapy
• Congenital neutropenia, which is a genetic disorder that causes frequent infections
• Sickle cell anemia, a genetic blood disorder that causes abnormal red blood cells
• thalassemia , an inherited blood disorder in which the body makes an abnormal form of hemoglobin, which is an integral part of red blood cells

What are the complications associated with a bone marrow transplant?

A bone marrow transplant is a major medical procedure and increases your risk of:

• drop in blood pressure
• headache
• nausea
• pain
• shortness of breath
• goosebumps
• Fever

The above symptoms are usually short-lived, but a bone marrow transplant can cause complications. Your chances of developing this complication depend on several factors, including:

• the age
• Public Health
• The disease you are being treated for
• The type of implant you received

Complications of a bone marrow transplant

• Grafting-versus-host disease (GVHD), a condition in which donor cells attack the body
• Transplantation failure, which occurs when transplanted cells do not start producing new cells as planned
• Bleeding in the lungs, brain and other parts of the body
• Cataracts , which is characterized by a clouding of the lens of the eye
• Damage to vital organs
• Early menopause
• Anemia, which occurs when the body does not produce enough red blood cells
• infections
• Nausea, diarrhea or vomiting
• Mucositis, a condition that causes inflammation and soreness of the mouth, throat, and stomach

Types of bone marrow transplant

There are two main types of bone marrow transplants. The type used depends on why you need the transplant.

Autologous

Autologous transplants involve the use of a person’s own stem cells . It usually involves harvesting cells before starting treatment for malignant cells such as chemotherapy or radiation. After the treatment is completed, your cells are returned to the body.

This type of implant is not always available. It can only be used if you have healthy bone marrow. However, it does reduce the risk of some serious complications.

allogeneic transplant

Allogeneic transplants involve the use of cells from a donor. The donor must be a genetic match. The closest match is often the best option.

Allogeneic bone marrow transplants are necessary if you have a condition in which bone marrow cells are damaged. You may also need to take medications to suppress your immune system so your body doesn’t attack the new cells  . 

The success of an allogeneic transplant depends on how well the donor cells match your own.

How to prepare for a bone marrow transplant

Before the transplant, you’ll undergo several tests to find out what type of bone marrow cells you need.

You may also undergo radiation or chemotherapy to kill all cancer cells or marrow cells before getting new stem cells.

The bone marrow transplant takes up to a week. Therefore, you must make arrangements before the bone marrow transplant session. These can include:

• Accommodation near the hospital
• Take a medical leave from work
• Packing clothes and other necessities
• Arranging travel to and from the hospital

REHABTÜRK does everything necessary for your comfort before and after the operation, including housing and transportation

During treatments, your immune system will be compromised, affecting its ability to fight infection. Therefore, you will stay in a special section of the hospital that is reserved for people who receive bone marrow transplants. This reduces the risk of exposure to anything that could cause infection.

Don’t hesitate to bring a list of questions to ask your doctor. You can write down the answers or bring a friend to listen and take notes. It is important that you feel comfortable and confident before the procedure and that all your questions are answered accurately.

How is bone marrow transplantation performed in Türkiye?

When your doctor thinks you’re ready, she’ll start the bone marrow transplant. The procedure is similar to a blood transfusion.

If you are undergoing an allogeneic transplant, the bone marrow cells will be harvested from the donor a day or two before the bone marrow transplant. If your cells are used, they will be retrieved from the hospital’s cell bank.

Cells are collected in two ways.

During bone marrow harvesting, cells are collected from the hip bones through a needle. Where you are under general anesthesia.

Leukocyte

During the apheresis procedure, the donor is given five shots to help the stem cells move from the bone marrow into the bloodstream. Then the blood is drawn through an intravenous line (IV), and the machine separates the white blood cells that contain the needed cells.

A needle called a central venous catheter or port will be attached to the right upper part of your chest. This allows the fluid containing the new cells to flow directly into your heart. Then the cells spread throughout the body. It flows through the blood to the bone marrow. It settles there and starts to grow.

The port is left in place because the bone marrow transplant is done in several sessions over a few days. Multiple sessions give the new cells the best chance to integrate into your body. This process is known as etching.

Through this port, you will also receive transfusions of blood, fluids, and possibly nutrients. You may need medications to fight infections and help the new marrow grow. This depends on how well the treatments are handled.

During this time, you will be watched closely for any complications.

What to expect after a bone marrow transplant

The success of a bone marrow transplant depends mainly on how genetically the donor and recipient match. Sometimes, it can be very difficult to find a good match among unrelated donors.

The status of your implant will be monitored regularly. It is usually completed 10 to 28 days after the initial transplant. The first sign of a successful transplant is a high white blood cell count. This indicates that the transplant has begun to make new blood cells.

The typical recovery period for a bone marrow transplant is about three months. However, full recovery can take up to a year. Healing depends on many factors, including:

• The condition being treated
• Chemotherapy
• radiation
• Donor match
• Where the transplant takes place

Bone marrow transplantation in Türkiye

Türkiye is one of the most countries in the world with the number of bone marrow transplants, and not only that, as it contains one of the largest bone marrow banks that were taken from donors. Patients come from all over the world for this procedure

Türkiye has treated more than 2,000 patients from all over the world, with diseases such as leukemia, lymphoma, bone marrow failure and genetic metabolic diseases, and they were able to restore their health by performing bone marrow transplants.

The medical staff of surgical teams, doctors and consultants in REHABTÜRK can provide the best treatment options and free consultations – by striving to keep abreast of the latest medical technologies and methods.

Request a Free Consultation.