Bone marrow donation involves collecting healthy blood-forming cells from a donor for transplant into patients with life-threatening blood cancers or diseases. These cells are vital because intensive treatments like chemotherapy often destroy a patient’s own blood-making cells. The infusion of donor cells helps regenerate the patient’s blood system, offering a chance for recovery. This life-saving treatment aids individuals battling conditions like leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood disorders.
Eligibility to Donate Bone Marrow
Becoming a bone marrow donor requires meeting specific health requirements to ensure the safety of both the donor and the patient. Generally, individuals aged 18 to 60 are considered, though some registries prefer donors aged 18 to 44 due to better patient outcomes. A thorough medical screening evaluates overall health.
Certain medical conditions can disqualify a potential donor. These include severe autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis, a history of cancer, and severe heart or kidney conditions. Insulin-dependent diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and hepatitis B or C also prevent donation.
Understanding the Donation Methods
When a match is found, two primary methods collect blood-forming cells: Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) donation and Marrow Donation. The choice depends on the patient’s medical needs and the doctor’s recommendation.
Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) donation is the more common method, accounting for approximately 90% of all donations. This non-surgical procedure involves a process similar to donating plasma, known as apheresis. For about five days leading up to the donation, the donor receives daily injections of a medication called G-CSF (Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor). This drug stimulates the bone marrow to produce more blood-forming stem cells and release them into the bloodstream.
On the day of the PBSC donation, blood is drawn from one arm and passed through a machine that separates the stem cells. The remaining blood components are then returned to the donor through the other arm. This outpatient procedure typically takes between four to eight hours, and some donors may require a second session to collect enough cells. During the G-CSF injections, donors might experience flu-like symptoms, bone or muscle aches, headaches, or fatigue, which usually resolve after the donation. Potential side effects during apheresis can include lightheadedness, tingling due to temporary calcium level changes, or fatigue.
Marrow donation is a surgical procedure performed in a hospital setting under general or regional anesthesia. This method involves using sterile needles to collect liquid marrow directly from the back of the donor’s pelvic bone, often from both sides. The procedure generally takes about one to two hours.
Donors typically experience no pain during marrow collection due to anesthesia. After the procedure, donors usually stay for a short observation period, sometimes returning home the same day or the following morning. This method is chosen when it best suits the patient’s specific transplant needs.
The Donor Experience and Recovery
The journey to becoming a bone marrow donor begins with comprehensive screenings and information sessions. Potential donors complete health questionnaires, undergo additional blood tests to confirm a close tissue match with a patient, and receive physical examinations to ensure donation safety. Informed consent is a significant step, where donors learn about the donation methods, potential risks, and side effects before making a commitment.
After a Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) donation, donors typically recover quickly, often resuming normal activities within one to seven days. Any flu-like symptoms or bone pain from the G-CSF injections usually subside within a few days. Some donors might experience soreness at the needle insertion sites or fatigue, but these effects are generally temporary.
For marrow donation, recovery usually takes longer, ranging from a few days to several weeks, with a median full recovery time of about 20 days. Donors may experience soreness, bruising, or stiffness in the lower back or hip area where the marrow was collected. Fatigue is also common following the procedure due to anesthesia and the body’s process of replenishing the donated marrow. Most donors recover fully and return to their usual routines.