Bone marrow donation is a life-saving procedure that provides healthy blood-forming cells to patients with diseases such as leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood disorders. These conditions often impair the body’s ability to produce healthy blood cells, making a stem cell transplant a treatment option. Many individuals can donate bone marrow, offering a chance at recovery for those in need.
Eligibility Requirements for Donors
To become a bone marrow donor, individuals must meet specific health and age criteria. Most registries, such as Be The Match, prefer donors aged 18 and 44, though some accept donors up to age 60. Younger donors are preferred because cells from younger donors often lead to more successful transplants.
A donor must be in good overall health, free from severe chronic illnesses, certain infectious diseases, or specific cancers. Disqualifying conditions include HIV/AIDS, severe autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, certain heart conditions, and insulin-dependent diabetes. A comprehensive health screening, including a medical history review, physical examination, and blood tests, ensures the donor’s safety and the quality of the donation.
Understanding the Two Main Donation Methods
Two primary methods collect blood-forming stem cells for transplant: Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) donation and traditional Bone Marrow Donation. PBSC is the more common approach, accounting for about 90% of all donations. This non-surgical procedure involves administering filgrastim for several days before donation, which stimulates the bone marrow to release more blood stem cells into the bloodstream.
During a PBSC donation, blood is drawn from one arm, passed through an apheresis machine to collect stem cells, and then returned to the donor through the other arm. In contrast, traditional bone marrow donation is a surgical procedure performed under general anesthesia. A doctor uses hollow needles to extract liquid bone marrow from the back of the donor’s pelvic bone.
What Happens During and After Donation
Before either donation, potential donors undergo a thorough medical evaluation, including blood tests to confirm human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing to ensure a close match with the recipient. Donors also receive counseling and provide informed consent.
PBSC donation typically takes four to eight hours. Donors sit in a chair while the apheresis machine processes their blood. Donors can read, watch movies, or relax during this outpatient procedure. Mild side effects like bone or muscle aches from the filgrastim usually subside within 24 hours. Most PBSC donors return to normal activities within one to three days.
Traditional bone marrow donation, performed under general anesthesia, takes one to two hours, with no pain during the procedure. After collection from the hip bone, donors are monitored in a recovery room and may stay overnight. Recovery can involve soreness or bruising in the lower back or hip, fatigue, or stiffness for a few days. Full recovery may take a couple of weeks.