Bone Marrow Transplant
A bone marrow transplant is a procedure to transplant healthy bone marrow into a patient whose bone marrow is not functioning properly. Problems in bone marrow are often caused by chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancer. A bone marrow transplant can also be performed to correct hereditary blood diseases.
Bone marrow transplant may be recommended for:
- Bone marrow deficiency disease caused by:
- abnormal red blood cell production, such as thalassemia or sickle cell disease
- aggressive cancer treatments (chemotherapy, radiation therapy), especially for leukemia or lymphoma
- lack of normal blood cell production (aplastic anemia)
- Immune system disorders (immunodeficiency) such as:
- congenital neutropenia
- severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome
Bone marrow transplant is not recommended for:
- Patients with heart, kidney, lungs, or liver disorders
- Patients with other diseases that may limit survival
Prior to a bone marrow transplant, the healthy bone marrow may be taken from the patient prior to chemotherapy or radiation treatment (autograft), or it may be taken from a donor (allograft).
More Information on Bone Marrow Transplants
Learn more about bone marrow transplants at the Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University. As a national leader in cancer care & research and ranked among the best treatment facilities in the country, it is one of only 38 cancer centers in the nation designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as a Comprehensive Cancer Center. NCI designation is an assurance of excellent care and comprehensive treatment options, including access to the latest clinical trials.
Bone Marrow Transplant
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