HYDERABAD: In 1988, a significant medical milestone was achieved when 6-year-old Matthew Farrow, who was battling Fanconi anemia, a genetic bone marrow condition, was effectively treated with donor stem cells from his younger sister’s frozen umbilical cord blood.
It’s important to recognise that the placenta and umbilical cord, which are usually discarded after childbirth, can be a source of hope for someone’s life or serve as a lifesaving resource for your child.
Preserving cord blood can significantly reduce the problem of people battling serious medical conditions losing their lives due to the inability to find a suitable donor.
What is cord blood banking?
Dr Mythri Sharan, a high-risk obstetrician and gynecologist at Apollo Cradle, explains, “Cord blood banking is when your baby’s umbilical cord blood is collected and stored after delivery. This cord blood contains valuable stem cells that help treat life-threatening diseases.” With medical advancement and profound research, we are able to understand the potential of stem cells to treat various illnesses. Highlighting the importance of hematopoietic stem cells, Dr Himmabindu Annamraju, a high-risk obstetrician, gynecologist, and laparoscopic surgeon at Rainbow Children’s Hospital, says, “Stem cells are undifferentiated cells with the ability to develop into specialised cells. Cord blood, which contains these cells, is being used in treating certain blood cancers, leading to the emergence of cord blood banking as a major development in medical research and treatment.”
New hope
In the era of emerging critical illness and disorders, the concept of preserving umbilical cord blood (UCB) for treating serious medical conditions is gaining traction across the globe.
According to Dr Mythri, hematopoietic stem cells found in cord blood can be utilised to treat over 70 types of diseases. These include immune system disorders, genetic disorders, neurological disorders, and certain types of cancer such as leukemia and lymphoma.
Stem cells serve as the main treatment for some of these diseases, while for others, they are used when other treatments have failed or as part of experimental research programs. Emphasising how effective cord blood stem cell transplants are compared to other types of stem cell treatments, she says, “Stem cells from cord blood can be given to more people and are less likely to cause rejection than those from bone marrow. Cord blood can be frozen and stored, ready for anyone who needs it. In contrast, collecting bone marrow poses some risks and is painful for the donor. Also, bone marrow must be used soon after it is collected.”
Potential risks and drawbacks
Every new medical advancement brings both benefits and drawbacks. Specifying the limitations of using stem cells, Dr Himmabindu says, “Research is still in progress, and we don’t yet know the full potential of cord blood. It is merely impossible that all conditions can be treated with stem cells. I recommend that people with a family history of serious medical conditions consider investing in preserving stem cells. Moreover, it is not affordable for everyone.”
Similarly, Dr Mythri explains the potential risks of cord blood, saying, “Sometimes, not enough cord blood can be collected, especially if the baby is preterm or if there are complications during delivery.” She adds, “Cord blood does not contain many stem cells, which means that adults needing a transplant will require cord blood stem cells from multiple donors.”
Hence, it’s crucial to know about your family’s medical history and carefully consider your options before deciding to invest in cord blood banking.