Are bone marrow transplantation and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation the same thing?
Bone marrow transplantation and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation are usually the same thing, although hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a broader term.
Bone marrow transplantation is one form of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and is a treatment method for leukemia. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation generally involves irradiating the patient’s entire body, chemotherapy, and immunosuppressive treatments, followed by injecting healthy donor or autologous hematopoietic stem cells into the patient's body. This enables the reconstruction of normal blood-forming and immune functions, effectively achieving disease cure. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is suitable for autoimmune diseases and various malignant blood disorders, such as acute leukemia, multiple myeloma, and hemolytic anemia.
Common methods of collecting hematopoietic stem cells include bone marrow transplantation, umbilical cord blood stem cell transplantation, and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. Bone marrow-derived hematopoietic stem cells are typically collected in an operating room under sterile conditions, guided by physicians using a bone marrow aspiration needle to withdraw marrow from the donor, usually through multiple small-volume extractions.
In addition, when undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, it is essential to choose a reputable hospital and experienced physicians for the procedure.