Blood is collected from volunteer donors who agree to let doctors draw blood stem cells from their blood or bone marrow for transplantation. Blood that is taken straight from collected blood stem cells is known as peripheral blood stem cell donation. A peripheral stem cell donor must have the same blood type as the patient receiving the blood cells. Once the stem cells are in the patients body through an IV, the cells mature and become blood cells. Before donation, a drug is injected into the donor, which increases the number of stem cells into their body. Feeling cold and lightheaded, having numbness around the mouth and cramping in the hands are common symptoms during the donation process. After the donation, the amount of time for recovery varies for every donor, "But most stem cell donors are able to return to their usual activities within a few days to a week after donation". Epidemiology
For those with severe bone marrow failure, the cumulative incidence of resulting stem cell transplantation or death was greater than 70% by individuals 60 years of age. The incidence of bone marrow failure is triphasic: one peak at two to five years during childhood (due to inherited causes), and two peaks in adulthood, between 20 and 25 years old and after 60 years old (from acquired causes).One in ten individuals with bone marrow failure have unsuspected Fanconi anemia (FA). FA is the most common inherited bone marrow failure with an incidence of one to five episodes per million individuals.
Bone marrow failure occurs in individuals who produce an insufficient amount of red blood cells, white blood cells or platelets. Red blood cells transport oxygen to be distributed throughout the bodys tissue. White blood cells fight off infections that enter the body. Bone marrow also contains platelets, which trigger clotting, and thus help stop the blood flow when a wound occurs. Signs and symptoms
The two most common signs and symptoms of bone marrow failure are bleeding and bruising. Blood may be seen throughout the gums, nose or the skin, and tend to last longer than normal. Children have a bigger chance of seeing blood in their urine or stools, which results in digestive problems with an unpleasant scent. Individuals with this condition may also encounter tooth loss or tooth decay. Chronic fatigue, shortness of breath, and recurrent colds can also be symptoms of bone marrow failure. Causes
Bone marrow failure in both children and adults can be either inherited or acquired. Inherited bone marrow failure is often the cause in young children, while older children and adults may acquire the disease later in life. A maturation defect in genes is a common cause of inherited bone marrow failure. The most common cause of acquired bone marrow failure is aplastic anemia. Working with chemicals such as benzene could be a factor in causing the illness. Other factors include radiation or chemotherapy treatments, and immune system problems. Diagnosis
Treatment
The type of treatment depends on the severity of the patients bone marrow failure disease. Blood transfusion is one treatment.