BONE MARROW
WHAT IS BONE MARROW?
Bone marrow is found inside the bones. Which is soft and brownies color. This is a very important element for the body. A liquid thing is found in the bone marrow and the second one is hard. Stem cells are found in the bone marrow. Which helps in forming blood cells and immunity cells. The blood cells formed in the bone marrow have some special functions. Red blood cells deliver oxygen to the tissues of the body. White blood cells fight infection. Platelets help in clotting of blood. It stops the bleeding. Bone marrow is very very important for our body. A lot of losses can happen due to lack of bone marrow. Blood cancer due to bone marrow deficiency and The risk of leukemia increases due to deficiency of bone marrow.
BONE MARROW DISEASES
Bone marrow diseases affect the soft, spongy tissue inside your bones where blood cells are made. Here are some common bone marrow-related conditions explained in simple terms:
- Leukemia: An excessive production of defective white blood cells by the bone marrow is a form of blood cancer.
- Anemia: A disorder that causes tiredness and weakness when the bone marrow produces too little red blood cells.
- Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS): A number of diseases in which the bone marrow does not work to create normal or is missing blood cells.
- Aplastic anemia: When the bone marrow stops making enough blood cells of all kinds, it is known as aplastic anemia.
- Multiple myeloma: A malignancy that affects bone marrow plasma cells.
- Bone Marrow Failure: This condition, which usually comes on by environmental or genetic reasons, takes place when the marrow is unable to create enough blood cells.
- Lymphoma: A blood cancer that affects the creation of blood cells and can start in the bone marrow.
From moderate to severe, these illnesses frequently call for specialized care.
SYMPTOMS OF BONE MARROW DISEASE
- Fatigue
- Frequent infections
- Easy bruising or bleeding
- Bone pain
- Pale skin
- Shortness of breath
WHAT IS BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT?
Bone marrow transplantation, or blood stem cell transplantation, is a procedure in which diseased bone marrow is replaced with healthy stem cells. In bone marrow transplantation, healthy stem cells are transferred from the patient’s blood. A bone marrow transplant is a medical operation that replaces healthy bone marrow with sick or damaged bone marrow. The soft tissue that produces blood cells, such as red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, is called bone marrow.
- Why it’s necessary: A transplant can help if your bone marrow isn’t doing properly due to an illness (such as cancer, severe anemia, or other conditions).
- What happens: After treatment, doctors replace the damaged bone marrow with healthy cells from a donor or from your own body.
- Methods: The healthy cells can be given like a blood transfusion via an IV, or intravenous, tube. After that, these cells move to your bone marrow, which begin producing new, healthy blood cells.
While it’s a difficult process, it can help the body create healthy blood cells once more, which may save lives.
NEED OF BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION
Bone marrow transplantation may be needed in the following conditions:
- Leukemia
- Lymphoma
- Sickle cell anemia
- Severe aplastic anemia
- Fanconi anemia
- Primary immunodeficiencies
- Hemoglobinopathies
- Myeloid
- Blood cancer
HOW IS BONE MARROW TESTED
The bone marrow is a soft tissue at the center of most large bones. It makes most of the body’s blood cells.
A biopsy is done using a small needle inserted into the bone. The bone marrow tissue is removed and then sent to the laboratory and examined under a microscope.
TYPES OF BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTS
There are two main types of bone marrow transplant, explained in below:-
- Self-transplantation, or autologous transplantation:
Healthy bone marrow cells from the patient are collected and protected. The saved cells are released back into the body following high-dose treatment (such as chemotherapy).
This has been referred to as a “self-transplant” and can be used when the patient demands intensive treatment for a different illness (such as cancer) but its bone marrow stays healthy.
- Donor transplantation, or allogeneic transplantation:
Healthy bone marrow cells are obtained from a donor (often a family member or an unrelated donor) whose tissue type matches the patient’s.
When a patient’s bone marrow is seriously ill or injured, this is used.
Additionally, blood from the umbilical which contains immature bone marrow cells, may be the source.
As the procedure and risks depend on the particular illness and the type of transplant used, both methods aim to recover the body’s normal production of blood cells.
TREATMENT
Therapy Depending on the illness, treatment options may include bone marrow transplants, chemotherapy, blood transfusions, and medicines.