Can bone marrow transplantation really save leukemia

summary

We often hear about the need for bone marrow transplantation for leukemia. Bone marrow transplantation is also hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Hematopoietic stem cells can come from bone marrow, umbilical cord blood and peripheral blood. Now let's talk about whether bone marrow transplantation can really save leukemia.

Can bone marrow transplantation really save leukemia

First: after transplantation, there are not many deaths due to relapse of leukemia, but there are also many. I see the most deaths due to late infection or rejection. After bone marrow transplantation, it is equal to reestablishing an immunity, even lower than that of the newborn. It takes at least one year to one and a half for the immunity to be really established. During this period, the risk of infection will be particularly high, and it is easy to lead to serious infection and death.

Second: not necessarily. Because the success rate is not 100%, because leukemia cells involve all parts of the body, it is impossible to completely eliminate leukemia cells through chemotherapy and other means. Bone marrow transplantation is only through the elimination of the vast majority of leukemia cells, the use of foreign cells to replace. Due to the number of leukemia cells destroyed in the preparation process, individual differences determine the prognosis.

Third: the success of bone marrow transplantation only refers to the survival of foreign cells and the success of replacement, which does not mean the cure of leukemia. As part of the leukemia cells continue to survive, in the silent accumulation, a few years after the onset of disease. Now the success rate is higher. In China, it has only been carried out more in the past 10 years, especially in the past 4-5 years. So I haven't seen anyone who has lived for more than 10 years, but the longest time is 11 years. It's the same as ordinary people.

matters needing attention

Leukemia is a terrible disease for us. Many people will say whether bone marrow transplantation can make leukemia patients recover. In fact, it is not sure. Bone marrow transplantation may produce serious complications. What we hope most is that the technology can be continuously improved to benefit more patients.