Stem cell banking is becoming popular day by day, as people are discovering the power of cells against various diseases. These cells are found in the cord blood that remains in the placenta and in the attached umbilical cord. After the child takes birth, the cord is detached from the newborn as it contains the stem cells. It is saved with proper medication. This facility of storing the cords safely is provided by stem cell banks.
The cord blood contains all the elements of blood: white blood cells, platelets, red blood cells and plasma as well as hematopoietic cells. Genetic disorders can be cured by these hematopoietic cells. Stem cells have the ability to renew themselves into specific cells through mitotic cell division as per the requirement of the body. Banking cells is a simple, safe and painless procedure in which the cord blood is collected and is then transferred to the laboratory. For long-term preservation, it is stored frozen in cryogenic storage tanks.
Storing your baby’s
stem cells is like a lifelong investment towards his/her healthy future as well as for the family’s future. This is because not only the child gets benefits; the family member having the same blood group can also use same cells. Families that have hereditary diseases must opt for bank stem cells. These cells can regenerate cells and tissues and can treat diseases like:
- Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
- Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)
- Acute Biophonetic Leukemia
- Acute Undifferentiated Leukemiaii) Chronic
- Leukemias
- Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
- Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML)
- Myelodysplastic Syndromes
- Refractory Anemia (RA)
- Refractory Anemia with Ringed Sideroblasts (RARS)
- Refractory Anemia with Excess Blasts (RAEB)
- Refractory Anemia with Excess Blasts in Transformation (RAEB-T)
- Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML)
- Agnogenic Myeloid Metaplasia (myelofibrosis)
- Marrow Failure
- Aplastic Anemia (Severe)
- Fanconi Anemia
- Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH)
- Pure Red Cell Aplasia
- Myeloproliferative Disorders
- Acute Myelofibrosis
- Polycythemia Vera
- Essential Thrombocythemia
- Lymphoproliferative Disorders
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Phagocyte Disorders
- Chediak-Higashi Syndrome
- Chronic Granulomatous Disease
- Neutrophil Actin Deficiency
- Reticular Dysgenesis
- Other Inherited Disorders
- Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome
- Cartilage- Hair Hypoplasia
- Ganzmann Thrombasthenia
- Osteoporosis
- Adrenoleucodystrophy
- Beta Thalassemia disorder
- Inherited Platelet Abnormalities
- Amegakaryocytosis/Congenital
- Thrombocytopenia
- Inherited Metabolic Disorders
- Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS)
- Hurler’s Syndrome (MPS-IH)
- Scheie Syndrome (MPS-IS)
- Hunter’s Syndrome (MPS-II)
- Sanfilippo Syndrome (MPS-III)
- Morquio Syndrome (MPS-IV)
- Maroteaux-Lamy Syndrome (MPS-VI)
- Sly Syndrome, Beta-Glucuronidase
- Deficiency (MPS-VII)
- Adrenoleukodystrophy
- Mucolipidosis II (I-cell Disease)
- Krabbe Disease
- Gaucher’s Disease
- Niemann-Pick Disease
- Wolman Disease
- Metachromatic Leukodystrophy
- Familial Erythrophagocytic
- Lymphohistiocytosis
- Histiocytosis-X
- Hemophagocytosis
- Inherited Erythrocyte Abnormalities
- Beta Thalassemia Major
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Inherited Immune System Disorders
- Ataxia Telangiectasia
- Kostmann Syndrome
- Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency
- DiGeorge Syndrome
- Bare Lymphocyte Syndrome
- Omenn’s Syndrome
- Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID)
- SCID with Adenosine Deaminase Deficiency
- Absence of T&B Cells, Normal B Cell SCID
- Absence of T Cells, Normal B Cell SCID
- Common Variable Immunodeficiency
- Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome
- X-Linked Lymphoproliferative Disorder
- Plasma Cell Disorder
- Multiple Myeloma
- Plasma Cell Leukemia
- Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia
- Amyloidosis
- Ewing Sarcoma
- Neuroblastoma
- Renal Cell Carcinoma
- Retinoblastoma
More than hundreds of health issues can be solved by these cells. There have been some successful trials in the case of cancer, cardiac failure, multiple, diabetes, and retinitis sclerosis and spinal cord injuries. These banks are expensive as they provide a high-quality service. The price rate varies from one bank to the other. So before choosing any one of them, you can compare the rates.
Nowadays, for long-term preservation, the umbilical cord is also stored. Some current therapies like bone marrow transplantation are already using stem cells. Stem cell banking gives the assurance of an advanced cord blood repository with an excellent storage conditions for providing precious stem cells. They keep the samples safe and always take proper steps to ensure quality.
Stem cell banking is essentially like a form of health insurance for the whole family. A baby’s stem cells have a strong chance of matching those with family members and siblings, and if ever a need arises, stem cell transplant has a very high probability of success. Everyone should try to opt for the option of saving cells as it, in many ways, secures a child’s life against future diseases.
