| Umbilical cord blood is the blood that is | | | | Plasma Cell Disorders like Plasma Cell |
| found in the umbilical cord and the placenta. | | | | Leukemia, Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia, |
| It is extracted immediately after the | | | | etc |
| delivery of the baby. This blood is rich in | | | | |
| stem cells. Stem cells are the architects of | | | | Other Inherited Disorders like Cartilage-Hair |
| your body. They have the capability of | | | | Hypoplasia, DiGeorge Syndrome, Osteopetrosis, |
| creating new blood cells, brain cells, etc. | | | | etc |
| They can adjust to the body anytime and start | | | | |
| repairing or replenishing the old cells. | | | | Extensive research is being conducted the |
| | | | benefits of cord blood stem cells in ailments |
| Stem cells can give the scientist a treasure | | | | like Brain tumor, Ovarian cancer, Small cell |
| of information about various diseases and | | | | lung cancer, testicular cancer, Rheumatoid |
| birth defects. With a detailed study, the | | | | Arthritis, spinal injury, diabetes, |
| reasons behind various genetic diseases and | | | | Parkinson's disease, Muscular Dystrophy, etc |
| deformities can be unearthed. The specialty | | | | |
| of the stem cells lies in their ability to | | | | Cord Blood Vs Bone Marrow Transplants |
| multiple several times and creates whichever | | | | |
| cell the body needs. | | | | Why do we need to preserve the cord blood? |
| | | | Bone marrow stem cells should be enough. |
| Diseases That Can Be Treated With Stem Cells | | | | Well, there are still debates on this issue. |
| | | | There is one point that everyone agrees with. |
| More than 70 diseases can be treated with the | | | | That is, umbilical cord blood has more stem |
| help of the umbilical cord blood cells. Some | | | | cells than the bone marrow does. On the other |
| of them are as follows: | | | | hand, unlike the cord blood, adult donor |
| | | | blood is not limited by quantity. However, |
| Bone Marrow Failure Disorders like Aplastic | | | | cord blood stem cells are more flexible |
| Anemia (Severe), Congenital Dyserythropoietic | | | | compared to the bone marrow cells. Very |
| Anemia, Pure Red Cell Aplasia, etc | | | | rarely is it seen that a patient's body has |
| | | | rejected the cord blood stem cells. |
| Hemoblobinopathies like Beta Thalassemia | | | | |
| Major and Sickle Cell Disease | | | | Cord Blood Banks |
| | | | |
| Histiocytic Disorders like Hemophagocytosis | | | | Cord blood banking is increasing in |
| | | | popularity over the past few years. Two types |
| Inherited Immune System Disorders like Bare | | | | of banks specialize in umbilical cord blood |
| Lymphocyte Syndrome, Reticular Dysgenesis, | | | | collection and preservation- Public Cord |
| Chronic Granulomatous Disease, | | | | Blood Bank and the Private Cord Blood Bank. |
| Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome, etc | | | | Public Cord Blood Banking services are free. |
| | | | Here you can preserve your child's stem |
| Inherited Metabolic Disorders like Gaucher | | | | cells. However, a point to note is if you |
| Disease, Krabbe Disease, Maroteaux-Lamy | | | | plan to preserve the blood specifically for |
| Syndrome, Tay Sachs, Wolman Disease, etc | | | | your family, you will be unable to do so in a |
| | | | public cord blood bank. Here it is more like |
| Leukemias and Lymphomas like Acute | | | | a donation for the well-being of the society |
| Lymphocytic Leukemia, Adult T Cell Leukemia, | | | | and research. Private blood banks are |
| Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Juvenile Chronic | | | | expensive. Nevertheless, here you can |
| Myelogenous Leukemia, Polymphocytic Leukemia, | | | | preserve the stem cells just for your family |
| Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia etc | | | | use. |
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