Cord Blood Stem Cells

Think of cord blood stem cells like primitve, prototype cells for the rest of the body. They are even more basic than the stem cells found in bone marrow, and thus more useful as they can turn into more kinds of cells.

Stem cells from cord blood are not the same as stem cells from embryos.

Cord blood stem cells are hematopoetic, whereas embryonic stem cells are pluripotent. The two have nothing to do with each other.

There are several advantages of cord blood over bone marrow transplants. For one, because cord blood stem cells are more basic, they have a significantly lower risk of GVHD (Graft Versus Host Disease). This essentially means that unlike bone marrow transplants, a perfect match is not neccessary when dealing with cord blood. Also, umbilical cord blood is stored in cryogenic freezers for later use and can be used as needed; bone marrow transplants can take weeks or months if they even happen, and registry lists cause needless stress.

Finally, extracting cord blood poses no risk to the mother or the child, whereas in the case of bone barrow transplants, general anesthesia is neccessary with the ensuing risks, albeit minor.

After cord blood is extracted, it is analyzed for diseases and bacteria. A file is kept documenting the individual and then cryogenically stored in liquid nitrogen freezers for later use.

Cord blood and its stem cells can be currently used to treat approximately 75 diseases, primarily disorders for the blood and immunological diseases. It should be stressed that science expands every day and cord blood stem cells are at the forefront.