Apheresis Donor

First, what are the stem cells? Stem cells are immature cells that grow and divide into mature cells, almost any type of cell in the body. If we believe that mature blood cells, stem cells can develop into red blood cells, white cells or platelets. The type of blood cells that develop into stem cells is determined by the specific needs of patient's body, and with the momentum of special substances called growth factors. " Stem cells can be collected from a number of sources, including the peripheral blood (PBSC collection) of the bone marrow through a bone marrow, fat through liposuction methodology, and the restoration of umbilical cord.

In the stem cell apheresis, the donor gives through the collection of blood, but only stem cells rather than whole blood is collected. Before the donation procedure, the donor receives an injection of a particular type of protein called a growth factor, which is used to stimulate bone marrow to release stem cells into the blood. Whole blood is drawn by the donor, and in very simplistic terms, one machine that separates blood into its components that selectively removes stem cells and returns the remaining blood to the donor. The donor stem cells must be compatible with the recipient cell type (human leukocyte antigens, or HLA), a type of protein found on certain cells, the type of blood rather than. Stem cells are now used to treat people with a number of diseases, including leukemia, lymphoma cancer, other cancers, neural diseases, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis and to name a few. Apheresis is described here is one of the main ways to collect stem cells for transplantation of stem cells from the stage. Receiver own stem cells can be obtained as described above, or donations of stem cells extracted from blood or other sources can not be given to the patient as transplantation.

Whereas peripheral blood stem cell collection (PBSC collection), the procedure is performed with a medical device called a blood cell separator, which uses a centrifuge to separate and collect mononuclear cells, including stem cell transplantation from blood. Before a procedure for peripheral stem cell collection, the patient may receive a prescribed dose of chemotherapy and / or other drugs called growth factors. A growth factor granulocyte-stimulating factor is common (G-CSF), manufactured by Amgen under the name Neupogen ®. These drugs are usually cause the release of a large number of peripheral blood stem cells in the blood. When the physician determines the number of white blood cells increased to a sufficient level, a series of PBSC collections begin.

The medical staff will put the system apheresis to collect a certain type of white blood cells called leukocytes or MNC. Peripheral stem cells are collected with these white blood cells. It is impossible to only collect peripheral blood stem cells of blood and platelets cells.Red be mixed with peripheral blood stem cell products. The latest technology allows blood cell separators to accomplish all this in an automated, continuously and safely. Sterile tubing sets and needles in the system are used once and then discarded.

The procedure from the perspective of the patient is simple. The transfusion of stem cells can be either through a catheter, or insertion of a needle. The use of a needle can cause discomfort and can be a bit uncomfortable for the patient considering the duration of the procedure. Patients may experience some dizziness, cold or nausia during the procedure. Subsequently, they may feel tired. However, there should be no lasting negative side. Over 25,000 procedures have been conducted annually PBSC veryfew problems. The procedure usually requires two to four hours.