What diseases can cord blood treat?
Feb 25, 2021
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Qin Fengjin
Introduction
What diseases can cord blood treat?
Because cord blood provides hematopoietic cells and stem cells, it is effective in treating various hematologic and immune system disorders. Cord blood transplantation can be used to treat pediatric aplastic anemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, thalassemia, and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, among other conditions.
Cord blood is the blood remaining in the placenta and umbilical cord after delivery of the fetus and clamping and cutting of the umbilical cord. Cord blood can be used to treat diseases—primarily because it contains stem cells capable of regenerating human hematopoietic (blood-forming) and immune cells. So, what diseases can cord blood treat? Below, we provide answers to this question.
What diseases can cord blood treat?
Because cord blood provides hematopoietic cells and stem cells, it holds therapeutic potential for numerous hematologic and immunologic disorders. Cord blood transplantation can treat pediatric conditions such as aplastic anemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia, as well as thalassemia and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Cord blood preserves an individual’s most original genetic information; thus, any major disease occurring later in life may be analyzed by comparing it with this baseline genetic profile—helping to identify potential etiologies, enabling more precise diagnosis and targeted treatment. Theoretically, hematopoietic stem cells from cord blood can be preserved long-term and remain fully viable for clinical use many years later. We recommend that, if prenatal screening results are entirely normal and resources permit, expectant mothers consider not only storing cord blood for their own child but also donating it to a public cord blood bank—potentially saving the lives of many other children.
Knowledge Extension: How is cord blood preserved?
1. Cord blood possesses exceptionally high clinical utility and can typically be stored for up to 20 years. When used for transplantation in children with hematologic diseases, cord blood rarely triggers adverse reactions.
2. Cord blood is primarily preserved using cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen at ultra-low temperatures. Prior to storage in liquid nitrogen, the cord blood undergoes pre-processing to minimize damage to hematopoietic stem cells during freezing. Cryoprotectants are added to the cord blood, and temperature is gradually reduced before transferring the sample into long-term storage at −196°C in liquid nitrogen.
The above outlines the diseases treatable with cord blood. We hope this information is helpful to you.
