What To Expect Before a Blood and Marrow Stem Cell
Transplant
Finding a Donor
If you're going to receive stem cells from another
person, your doctors will want to find a donor whose stem cells match yours as
closely as possible.
A close match can reduce the risk that your immune
system will attack the donor cells. It also reduces the risk that cells from
the donor's marrow or blood will attack your body.
HLA Tissue Typing
People having transplants are matched with donors
through a test called HLA tissue typing. HLAs are proteins found on the surface
of white blood cells. Your immune system uses HLAs to tell which cells belong
to you and which don't.
Because HLA markers are inherited, an identical twin
is the best donor match. Brothers or sisters also can be good matches. However,
many people don't have a good match within their families.
If no matching donor is found in your family, the
search widens to include people outside the family. Millions of volunteer
donors are registered with the
National Marrow Donor Program. Your doctors will look for:
- Donors who are an HLA match but not a family
member
- Family members who aren't exact HLA matches
- Unrelated donors who aren't exact HLA matches
- Umbilical cord blood that's an HLA match
People who provide their own stem cells for use
later don't need to go through HLA matching.
Medical Tests and Exams
You also will need other medical tests and exams
before a stem cell transplant. Your doctors will want to make sure you're
healthy enough to have a transplant. They also want to find out whether you
have any medical problems that could cause complications after the
transplant.
Blood Tests
Blood tests are used to check for HIV, herpes,
pregnancy, and other conditions. These tests help doctors learn about your
overall health.
Chest X Ray and Lung Function Tests
A chest x ray provides a picture of your heart and
lungs. It can show whether the heart is enlarged or whether the lungs have
extra blood flow or extra fluid.
Lung function tests tell doctors whether you have
any lung infection or disease. They also show how well your blood is able to
carry oxygen through your body.
Computed Tomography Scan, Skeletal X Ray, or Bone
Scan
These tests provide detailed images of your body.
They're used to see whether you have any tumors in your bones that might cause
a problem for a transplant.
Dental Exam
A complete dental exam is used to check for problems
that might cause an infection after your transplant.
Heart Tests
Heart tests, including
EKG
(electrocardiogram) and
echocardiography,
are used to find any conditions that might get worse after the transplant.
An EKG detects and records the electrical activity
of your heart. Echocardiography uses sound waves to create a moving picture of
your heart. The picture shows how well your heart is working and its size and
shape.
Bone Marrow Biopsy
A
bone
marrow biopsy helps show whether your bone marrow is making enough healthy
blood cells. If you're being treated for a blood cancer, this test shows
whether your cancer is inactive. |