Even a disease like Cancer is believed to be curable if it is detected in an early stage. Other serious disorders such as neurotic and genetic diseases can also be cured wherein the doctors are likely to suggest Stem Cell transplant or a Bone marrow transplant. In fact, there are over seventy diseases which can be treated using umbilical cord blood transplants. Growing Popularity of Cord Blood Transplants According to earlier medical belief, there were only two dependable stem cell sources: peripheral Blood and bone marrow.
 
A comparatively recent discovery that has gained wide popularity is that the Umbilical Cord Blood is also an extremely rich source of stem cells. So far the umbilical cord has been treated as a medical waste and is discarded after the baby is born. But after the discovery that these stem cells may be used for transplants, 4000 such transplants have been performed worldwide in the past ten years. The interest in this mode of treatment has grown steadily because of the ease of access this method provides to alternative treatment methodologies. Criticisms of Cord Blood Transplants It is believed that first such transplant was undertaken in 1988 which was a tremendous success. It’s not that this alternative method comes without its critics, who foresee many complications after the transplants.
 
They refer to the Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD) being a common problem which may end up with consequences that range from mild to severe (the probability of developing GVHD is lower compared to bone marrow transplants). Other reasons for the criticism includes the longer duration required by the cord blood cells to grow during which the patient is at a high risk of developing infections and similar problems. Also, the cord blood may be deficient in blood forming cells as there is a certain threshold for these cord blood cells below which transplants are not successful. If the doctors need a backup of same cord blood cells, the same is not available with these transplants. Bone Marrow Transplants: Disadvantages The main disadvantage faced by those going for bone marrow transplants is that of long wait they have to go through. Some have even succumbed while waiting to get their ideal match. The procedure of collecting bone marrow is very painful and even the results of the treatment may take a long time to become visible.