Are the potential uses of cord blood likely to increase?
Of Course! Since the year 2000 there have been dramatic medical advances in the arena of Stem Cell research, and more are announced every month. See the latest press releases under “News Reports”. Highlights:
Transplant science is constantly improving.
Several companies are bringing to market methods of “expanding” the Stem Cell population in the laboratory, and these [...]
Cord Blood Limitations as a lifelong Medical Insurace
diseases which require transplantation of blood Stem Cells are still rare, although the list of diseases amenable to such treatment is steadily growing. They are very rare among children and become more common in adults.
Banked Cord Blood only provides insurance for so long as the frozen cells are still viable. So far, research has confirmed [...]
Who is most likely to need cord blood?
Table 1. Cross Race Probabilities for HLA matching This table displays the mean probability that patients of the indicated race will find a 6/6 HLA-A,B,DR match from amongst a registry of 500,000 donors composed entirely of the indicated race. Reference: copied from the article, “Impact of racial genetic polymorphism upon the probability of finding an [...]
What are the chances my child will need their cord blood?
The probability that the average child will require a transplant of her own Stem Cells before age 20 has been estimated as 4 in 10,000 (.04%). Reference: Dr. F. Leonard Johnson, Oct1998; & Marrow Transplant Newsletter, issue #43, Oct. 98, vol.9 no.3; originally published: FL Johnson, 1997; J Ped Hem Onc 19(3): 183-186 However, over [...]
If cord blood is so great, why doesn’t everybody bank it?
Because it costs money. Whereas a bone marrow registry is just a data base of potential donors, a Cord Blood bank consists of freezers full of frozen blood and staff to maintain them. In an ideal world, all babies would have their Cord Blood harvested at birth (with parental permission) and stored in public registries, [...]
Cord Blood Transplants - Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages of Cord Blood Transplants -versus- Bone Marrow Transplants (BMT) or Peripheral Blood Stem Cells (PBSC)
Harvesting umbilical Cord Blood poses no risk to mother or child, whereas a bone marrow donor must undergo anesthesia and is exposed to the risk of infection.
Umbilical Cord Blood can be stored in cryogenic freezers, ready for [...]
Why should you bank cord blood?
Birth is a one-time opportunity to help society by donating your child’s Cord Blood to a public bank. There are three sources of Stem Cells for transplant patients: bone marrow, circulating blood, and umbilical Cord Blood. The first two exist in all healthy adults, but Cord Blood can only be harvested and stored at birth. [...]
Different Types of Cord Blood Banks
In private banks, parents pay the bank to preserve the Cord Blood for family use. The family owns the Cord Blood and can decide how it is used. In this website, the phrases “private bank” and “family bank” mean the same thing. When you donate to a public bank, you sign away all ownership of [...]
Are there reports of cord blood “cures” which have dubious validity?
Answer: YES. The most miraculous cures always seem to come from parts of the world with little medical oversight. Does this mean the USA FDA is too strict or the claims are bogus? Judge each case for yourself. Examples: Using a child’s own Cord Blood to treat cancer: The advertising of private Cord Blood banks [...]
Can cord blood stem cells be used for organ regeneration?
Answers: There are so many YES/MAYBE answers that they have to be enumerated. Cellular Cardiomyoplasty This is a new field of medicine in which Stem Cell transplantation is used to repair or regenerate damaged heart muscle. Animal studies have shown that Stem Cells from bone marrow can survive in dead heart muscle and improve its [...]
