Bone marrow transplantation is a treatment for leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and various immunodeficiency disorders. Since the adverse side effects of this treatment are so extreme, it is usually attempted when other treatments have failed.
The search for qualified donors seems never-ending as many prospective donors are ruled out because they do not meet the qualifications. A national database of potential donors tries to meet the need.
Considerations
Bone marrow donors qualify to donate to a specific patient if the donor's tissue type matches the patient's tissue type. Tissue typing refers to the particular human leukocyte antigen or HLA proteins that are found on the cells of the body. The closer an HLA match, the fewer potential rejection problems for the patient.
The chances of a tissue type match are better if the donor and recipient are related. For example, according to the National Bone Marrow Donor Program, siblings have a 25 percent chance of being a match for each other.
Even though the donor may not qualify to donate to particular person, he may still qualify to donate to someone else. The National Bone Marrow Donor Program--also known as BetheMatch.org--maintains a database of donors and the donor's tissue type.
Age Qualifications
According to the National Bone Marrow Donor Program, prospective donors must be between 18 and 60 years old. Persons who are donating must be old enough to sign a medical consent. They must also be young enough that the anesthesia will not cause problems as it occasionally does with older donors.
Warning
People with certain diseases are ruled out as donors. According to National Bone Marrow Donor Program, people with hemophilia, aplastic anemia, Von Willbrand's Disease, idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura or more than one episode of deep vein thrombosis are ruled out. Chronic kidney disease such as polycystic kidney disease or glomerulonephritis also disqualify a donor. However, people who only have one kidney because they donated the other may qualify as a bone marrow donors if they recovered from the surgery.
The National Bone Marrow Donor Program also explains that people with serious liver diseases are disqualified as well.
Other Considerations
Since the bone marrow is removed from one of the hips, the prospective donor's history of spinal problems is also scrutinized. A two-year period before the prospective donation is evaluated. If there is a history of spinal fracture, back surgery or a slipped discs within the two years before the donation date, the donor may be disqualified.
Expert Insight
The journal "Bone Marrow Transplantation" published a paper in 2006 by a group of researchers from the Japan Marrow Donor Program. The researchers examined 137 bone marrow donors who had donated twice. In Japan, bone marrow donors are allowed to donate multiple times if they wait a year between donations. The researchers reported that no significant differences were observed between the first and second donations. There were no increases in adverse events for donors who donate more than once. The authors did note that the concentration of bone marrow was less the second time around.
References
- National Marrow Donor Program: Donation FAQs
- National Marrow Donor Program: Medical Guidelines for Joining the Registry
- "Bone Marrow Transplantation"; Second donation of bone marrow: results from the Japan Marrow Donor Program; H. Akiyama et al.; 2006
- National Marrow Donor Program: HLA Matching: Finding the Best Donor or Cord Blood Unit
