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Cord blood stem cells are used to treat over 70 different diseases, and one of its most common applications is in the treatment of sickle cell anaemia. Patients suffering from the disease are normally required to undergo blood transfusions on a regular basis, but cord blood stem cells offer an alternative treatment method.
Sickle cell anaemia is characterized by abnormally-shaped red blood cells. Healthy blood cells are round and flexible, which are able to easily travel throughout the body. Sickle cell anaemia is characterized by abnormally-shaped red blood cells, which frequently become stuck in blood vessels, and restrict blood flow. Over time, this can result in organ damage.
Antibiotics, other medications, and even blood transfusions can relieve symptoms of the disease, but are not permanent solutions. Doctors will likely recommend that patients with severe sickle cell anaemia consider stem cell transplants for potential relief or treatment. In these cases, patients receive an infusion of stem cells derived from a family member’s bone marrow or a cord blood sample. The diseased and damaged red blood cells are replaced with healthy cells, which help to repair the blood flow.
This is just one of many potential uses for cord blood stem cells, and information on how cord blood can potentially improve other conditions is available here.