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The transplanted cells are bone marrow-derived blood stem cells. These cells are usually isolated from bone marrow that is surgically removed from a large bone of the donor, typically the sternum or the hip, by a large needle that reaches the center of the bone. The bone marrow obtained is either transplanted immediately or frozen for later use. It is infused into the recipient through an IV ( intravenous) line, like any other intravenous fluid. The bone marrow will eventually settle back in the recipient's bone and continue producing blood cells there.

There are two major types of bone marrow transplantation. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation involves two people, one is the donor and one is the recipient. Autologous bone marrow transplantation involves isolation of bone marrow-derived blood stem cells from a patient, storage of the stem cells, medical treatment of the patient that destroys stem cells remaining in the body, and return of the patient's own stored stem cells to their body.

1 Donor limitation

A major limitation of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation is a shortage of donors. To avoid rejectionTransplant rejection is a process by which the immune system of the recipient of an transplant attacks the transplanted organ or tissue. This is because a normal healthy human immune system can distinguish foreign tissues and attempts to destroy them, jus of the transplanted stem cells, the donor should have the same human leukocyte antigens as the recipient. About 25 to 30 percent of bone marrow transplantation recipients have an HLA-identical sibling who donates the required stem cells. For other recipients, registries of volunteer donors can be quickly searched in order to find an exact HLA match. If an exact match cannot be found, HLA-similar donors can be used. However, the results with non-exact donors are sometimes poor due to rejection or severe graft-versus-host diseaseGraft-versus-host disease is a common complication of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. After bone marrow transplantation, T cells present in the graft, either as contaminants or intentionally introduced into the host, attack the tissues of the tran.

A compatible donor is found by doing blood tests on potential donors. Perfect matches, the donor matches on all six HLA types result in the most successful transplants. Less perfect matches, four or five matches, can also result in successful transplants but the risk of complication s is greater.

2 Medical conditions treated by bone marrow transplantation

• Acute lymphocytic leukemiaAcute lymphocytic leukaemia ALL , also known as acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is a cancer of the white blood cells, characterised by the overproduction and continuous multiplication of malignant and immature white blood cells (referred to as lymphoblasts)
• Acute myelogenous leukemiaAcute myelogenous leukemia AML is also known as Acute Myeloid Leukemia and is specifically a cancer of the myeloid line of white blood cells. It is the most commonly diagnosed type of adult leukemia, and is rare among children. These malignant cells calle
• ThalassemiaThalassemia ( American English) Thalassaemia ( British English) is an inherited disease of the red blood cells, classified as a hemoglobinopathy (haemoglobinopathy); the genetic defect results in synthesis of an abnormal hemoglobin molecule. The blood cel
• Radiation poisoning
• Chronic myelogenous leukemia - accelerated phase or blast crisis
• Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) - severe aplasia
• Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
• Myelodysplasia
• Multiple myeloma