The umbilical cord is a connection between the fetus and the placenta. The components of the cord are umbilical arteries, vein, and jelly. The blood in the umbilical cord at birth is usually rich in stem cells. The stem cells are referred to as hematopoietic stem cells. These stem cells are capable of growing into different kind of blood cells; erythrocytes, leucocytes, and platelets. The umbilical stem cells have been useful in the treatment of many hematological and non- hematological diseases. They have also been very useful to researchers. The procedure of collecting the blood does not inconvenience the mother or the newborn in any way. However, they are extracted with the permission of the presence of the baby. In fact, this same blood is normally discarded as waste after delivery.

 

Umbilical stem cells are not the only cells found in the umbilical cord blood. Another cell that can be found in the mesenchymal stromal cells. These cells have the ability to develop into cartilage, different types of tissues and bone. Research is still ongoing to see how it can be of advantage to patients. Umbilical cord blood is usually preserved in in bank, for later use.

 

 

Umbilical stem cells count

What really matters is not the amount of blood collected, but the quantity of the stem cells in the umbilical cord blood. There are many parameters to measure the stem cell count. One is by measuring the marker, CD 34+, a protein material on the surface of stem cells. The cells in the cord blood are tested, to see if they’d be positive to the marker. However, testing for CD 34+ isn’t always reliable. The results often vary when tested in different laboratories. This marker is one of the best in measuring the number of blood-forming cells.
The more reliable, accurate and recommended way is to take the Total Nucleated Cell Count(TNC). For example, the count, needed to treat cancer must be upwards of twenty-five million TNC per kg of the patient’s weight. An umbilical cord blood collection holds around nine million TNC per milliliter. The ideal transplant dose needs approximately 2.9mL of umbilical cord blood for every kilogram of patient weight. One major advantage of the Total Nucleated count is that it can be replicated in laboratories.

Umbilical stem cell therapy

The umbilical stem cell has been used for the treatment of over eighty diseases, and the potential of umbilical stem cell therapy is still growing, as research progresses. The stem cells can be used by either the baby donor or a sibling of the donor. However, it depends largely on the type of condition being treated. In a cord transplant, the umbilical stem cells are introduced into the patient’s bloodstream through injections.

 

 

Uses of umbilical stem cell therapy

Umbilical stem cell therapy is useful for the treatment of over eighty conditions. These include

1. Umbilical stem cells are capable of healing, repair, and restoration of injured cells. Research is still ongoing, however, there are hopes that diseases such as autism would be successfully treated using umbilical stem cell therapy.
2. Leukemia: Leukemia is cancer that affects the white blood cells and the immune system. There are different types of leukemia, some affect just adults, while some other types affect children. They are divided into acute and chronic. Below are the types of leukemia
• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
• Acute myeloid leukemia
• Chronic myeloid leukemia
• Chronic lymphoid leukemia
• Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia
Umbilical stem cell is useful in the treatment of both the acute and chronic forms of this disease
3. Malignant tumors: Umbilical stem cell therapy is important in the treatment of tumors such as retinoblastoma, neuroblastoma etc.
4. The umbilical stem cell can also be used in the treatment of immunodeficiency diseases such as DiGeorge syndrome, leucocyte adhesion deficiencies, severe combined immunodeficiency etc.
3.5. It’s also useful for the treatment of metabolic diseases, such as Krabbe disease, Lesch-Nyhan disease, Tay-Sachs disease etc

 

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Contraindications of umbilical stem cell therapy

Umbilical stem cell therapy is largely safe, however, the use of one’s umbilical stem cell therapy is contraindicated when the condition that is to be treated, already exist in the person’s stem cell.

 

 

Side effects of umbilical therapy

Umbilical stem cell therapy is safe, however, it often comes with some side effects that are mostly temporary and can be reversible, although some can be permanent, and have last long effects. This effects often happens in the first hundred days or just above hundred days. Below are some of the reactions and side effects of umbilical stem cell therapy
1. 1. Infection: This is one of the earliest side effects of umbilical stem cell therapy. This occurs because the immune system of the body is suppressed. In addition to this, the white blood cells count IS quite low in the first few weeks of the conditioning therapy. Conditioning therapy is the procedures that are performed before the introduction of the stem cells into the bloodstream. This conditioning therapy eliminates the cancer cells, and also the viable cells. This leaves the body defenseless and exposes it to opportunistic infections, such as bacterial, fungal and viral diseases. Prophylaxis includes administering antibiotics, anti-fungal, and anti-viral drugs until their white cell count climbs up
2. 2. Veno-occlusive disease of the liver: Chemotherapy, when given in high dosage, has the potential of damaging the liver. This sometimes can have serious repercussions. The small vessels of the liver become blocked due to the intensity of the treatment.
3. Gastrointestinal problems: Umbilical stem cell therapy often comes with some digestive problems. This too can be attributed to the conditioning therapy. Some of the conditions are diarrhea, loss of weight, enuresis, nausea, and loss of appetite. These side effects vary in different people, and might not necessarily be all of the ones stated here.
4. Long-term effects of umbilical stem cell therapy: This side effects differ in various people. It might include cataracts, infertility. There have also been cases of secondary cancers, occurring as a complication of conditioning therapy
5. 4. Bleeding: Bleeding occurs because of the low platelet count associated with conditioning therapy. The medical team has to consistently check the patient for bleedings.

 

 

Source: Original Article

 

 

LFLN REF: 06032018, P.120-121