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Bone marrow donation: What to expect when you donate
Learn what to expect during bone marrow stem cell donation. Traditionally, bone marrow donation required surgery. A newer, less complicated procedure can obtain stem cells from your bloodstream.
By Mayo Clinic staffIf a family member is sick and in need of a bone marrow transplant, you might be interested in helping your loved one. One option may be bone marrow donation.
Bone marrow is a spongy material found inside your bones. The bone marrow contains immature stem cells, which can develop into three different types of blood cells:
- Red blood cells to carry oxygen to your body
- Platelets to help your blood clot, when needed
- White blood cells to help fight infection
It is the stem cells in your bone marrow that can benefit the transplant recipient.
In the past, donation of stem cells from bone marrow involved minor surgery to draw marrow from your hipbones. Stems cells were then collected from the donated marrow. Today the most common way of collecting the stem cells is by filtering them directly from your blood. Doctors call this procedure peripheral blood stem cell donation, but many people still refer to it as bone marrow donation, even though bone marrow isn't directly involved.
Who is bone marrow stem cell donation for?
You may be able to donate your bone marrow stem cells if you're in good health and doctors determine that you're a match for the person who needs a bone marrow stem cell transplant.
Doctors compare the characteristics of the stem cells in your bone marrow to those of the potential recipient to see if the proteins in your cells are similar. A close match increases the chances that the recipient's body will accept your bone marrow cells. Doctors can test your stem cells by examining a small sample of your blood. Your full brothers and sisters are the best match for your bone marrow.
If your bone marrow appears to be a suitable match for the person waiting for a transplant, you'll undergo an examination to ensure that your bone marrow can be transplanted. The doctor will want to rule out any genetic or infectious diseases you might have, since these can be passed on to the bone marrow recipient. The doctor also asks questions about your general health and your family health history to determine whether bone marrow donation will be safe for you.
How do you prepare for bone marrow stem cell donation?
Before you can donate your bone marrow, doctors give you injections of a medication to draw the blood stem cells out from your bone marrow and into your bloodstream. That way they can be easily filtered from your blood.
The medication, filgrastim (Neupogen), is typically given as an injection once a day for four or five days before your bone marrow stem cell donation. Doctors will monitor your blood counts to see how your body is reacting to the filgrastim. They'll also be looking to see if you have an optimal number of stem cells circulating in your blood.
How is bone marrow stem cell donation done?
During bone marrow stem cell donation, a machine collects your blood stem cells through a process called apheresis. Blood is drawn from your arm and runs through a machine that filters out the blood stem cells. Then your blood is returned to your body through your opposite arm.
Apheresis takes four to six hours. You'll typically undergo two to four apheresis sessions, depending on how many blood stem cells are needed.
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