CORD BLOOD
What is it? Blood taken from the umbilical cord at the time of birth. Cord blood is gathered after the umbilical cord has been cut. In order to extract the blood, a needle has to be inserted into the umbilical vein. The baby is not harmed at all by this process. Once in a while, there are cases in which the newborn needs blood. For this purpose, the doctor helps with the blood drain into the child’s body. It is rich in a variety of stem cells, which are considered the units of construction of blood and immune systems in the body.
Stem cells also are part of the bone marrow and blood that flows within the body. Cord blood is the most beneficial, because they are the youngest and have not received harm. If a person’s blood stem cells becomes damaged due to diseases, such as cancer, anemia, immune deficiency conditions, metabolic conditions, lymphoma or leukemia, the only hope of a cure is a blood stem cell transplant, because they are capable of converting themselves into other types of cells. This replaces the patient’s ill cells with healthy new stem cells. The cells to be transplanted must be compatible to the patient’s cells to reduce the possibilities of getting Graft-Versus-Host Disease (GVHD). In other words, the versatility and accessibility of umbilical cord blood stem cells, converts them in a powerful resource for transplant therapies. Scientists are stating there is a great potential in stem cells and that in a near future a number of incurable conditions like spinal cord injuries and diabetes, could be treated with these stem cells. The skepticals say such discoveries are improbable. Nevertheless, these experiments continue because cord blood is highly valuable, contrary to other sources of stem cells, such as frozen embryos which are increasing the controversy around them.
Leaving aside the discussion about the potential of stem cells from cord blood and other sources, there is a fact that exceeds in importance all the rest and it is one great thing cord blood can do for real: Cord blood treatment is less aggressive for the donor as well as for the recipient. The recipient’s body doesn’t have a high probability of rejecting the cord blood as bone marrow, due to the fact the stem cells in cord blood haven’t developed gradually a natural resistance to foreign substances yet.
There are two banking options where cord blood has been gathered together: cord blood can be donated to a public bank, where it will be obtainable to anyone who may need it. The second option is to keep the cord blood in a private bank, as a precaution, thinking that some members of the family might need it in a future or perhaps because there is already a relative with a condition they are aware of and may need cord blood, stored umbilical cord blood is a multiplying serviceable source of stem cells.