Bone marrow grafting is a medical procedure that involves the transplantation of healthy bone marrow cells into a patient who has a dysfunctional or damaged bone marrow. The bone marrow, located in the center of bones, is responsible for the production of various blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. When the bone marrow is compromised due to diseases such as leukemia, aplastic anemia, or genetic disorders, bone marrow grafting becomes a viable treatment option.
The procedure typically begins by collecting healthy bone marrow cells from a compatible donor, which may be obtained through bone marrow aspiration from the pelvic or sternum bones, or in some cases, via peripheral blood stem cell harvesting. The collected bone marrow cells are then processed to remove impurities and prepared for transplantation. The patient undergoes conditioning treatment, which involves high-dose chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy to eradicate the existing diseased bone marrow cells.
Once the patient is ready, the harvested bone marrow cells are infused into their bloodstream, where they migrate to the bone marrow and start producing healthy blood cells. The success of bone marrow grafting depends on the compatibility between the donor and recipient, as well as the ability of the transplanted bone marrow cells to engraft and function properly.
Bone marrow grafting serves as a potential cure for certain blood-related disorders, as it allows the patient to receive healthy bone marrow cells that can restore their ability to produce normal blood cells. The procedure may also be used to treat certain non-blood disorders, like autoimmune diseases and metabolic disorders.
