Bone Marrow Transplantation: What It Replaces, Who Needs It, and the Risks

Bone marrow is the spongy tissue inside some bones, such as the hip and thigh bones. It holds immature cells called stem cells, which develop into:

A bone marrow transplant replaces a person's faulty bone marrow stem cells.

Who it's for

Doctors use transplants to treat certain diseases, including:

• leukemia;
• severe blood diseases such as thalassemias, aplastic anemia and sickle cell anemia;
• multiple myeloma;
• certain immune deficiency diseases.

How it works

1. Preparation. You receive high-dose chemotherapy, and possibly radiation. This destroys the faulty stem cells, and it suppresses your immune system so it won't attack the new cells.
2. The new cells. They can be your own, donated in advance and saved, or come from a donor — a family member or an unrelated person.

Risks and hope

Bone marrow transplantation has serious risks, and some complications can be life-threatening. But for some people it offers the best hope of a cure or a longer life.

Sources

Based on the MedlinePlus health topic "Bone Marrow Transplantation," National Library of Medicine, drawing on the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; a work of the United States government in the public domain.