Information for Transplant Recipients

It is a life-saving medical procedure in which the patient’s diseased bone marrow is replaced with healthy bone marrow cells. These healthy cells may come from the patient themselves or from another person.

Stem cell transplantation is primarily done to treat blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma, as well as other blood disorders.

An autologous transplant is a procedure in which stem cells are taken from the patient themselves, whereas a donor (allogeneic) transplant is a procedure in which stem cells are taken from another person.

Bone marrow is a spongy tissue that fills the large bones of the body and produces cells called stem cells (also known as “progenitor cells”). These cells develop into one of three groups of mature blood cells essential for the healthy functioning of our body:

•    Red blood cells (Erythrocytes) – responsible for carrying oxygen to all the cells in the body.

•    White blood cells (Leukocytes) – essential for our body’s defense against infections caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

•    Platelets (Thrombocytes) – involved in the blood clotting process and help stop bleeding.

Normally, blood cells remain in the bone marrow until they mature, after which they enter the bloodstream to perform their functions. Blood cells do not live long in the body, so healthy bone marrow continuously produces new cells to replace those that have died. A disruption in the normal function of bone marrow, such as due to blood cancer or another blood disorder, impairs this process and therefore poses a serious risk to a person’s health and life.

Preparation for the transplant begins several weeks before the actual procedure. The immune system needs to be ready to accept new and foreign cells, so you will need to receive chemotherapy and possibly radiation therapy, and have a central catheter inserted to allow multiple transfusions of blood products and medications.

The transplant itself is very similar to receiving blood components. The transplant cells are in liquid form inside an infusion bag, and they will be delivered through the catheter into your bloodstream. The process may take from half an hour to several hours, depending on the amount prescribed for you. The procedure is not painful—just like a blood or fluid transfusion.

After the transplant, you will stay in an isolated hospital room for several days or weeks. Usually, within two to three weeks after the transplant, a stage called “engraftment” occurs, in which the stem cells reach the bone marrow and develop into healthy blood cells. Often, the first sign of a successful transplant is an increase in the white blood cell count.

The match between a patient and a donor is based on the classification of unique markers found on every cell in the body, called Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA).

The HLA protein system is each person’s individual genetic signature and what distinguishes one person from another. The immune system uses HLA antigens to identify which cells belong to your body and which are foreign.

Cells have many HLA markers, but when searching for a match between a potential donor and a patient who needs a bone marrow transplant, compatibility is checked for 5–6 pairs of HLA (a total of 10–12 antigens) called: HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, HLA-DRB1, HLA-DQB1, HLA-DPB1. For donation, a match of at least 9 out of 10 antigens (9/10 or 10/10) or 11 out of 12 antigens (11/12 or 12/12) is usually required.

Matching your HLA with the potential donor’s HLA is important for several reasons:

•    It increases the chances of a successful transplant.

•    It improves engraftment—the stage when transplanted cells begin to grow and produce new blood cells.

•    It reduces the risk of post-transplant complications, especially Graft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD), in which the transplanted cells attack the recipient’s body cells.

During the recovery period following the transplant, your immune system will gradually regain strength. After being discharged from isolation and the hospital, you will need to be cautious about infections, and it may take at least six months to a year before your activity level begins to return to normal.

During this time, you may experience mouth sores, digestive system problems, weight loss, and feelings of fatigue and pain.

The transplant coordinator will continue to monitor the progress of the donor search for you and will inform you if there are difficulties in finding a suitable donor. For any questions regarding the progress of the search, you should contact your doctor and the transplant coordinator at the hospital where you are hospitalized to receive updates and information about the search and possible alternatives.

It’s important to know that the donation process is anonymous—neither the patient nor the donor receives information about each other. After at least one year from the donation, you can contact the transplant center, where you will be guided on how the contact process will take place. It’s important to note that a meeting and exchange of details will only occur if both parties agree.

You can read the privacy statement of Ezer Mizion here.

Yes. Ezer Mizion’s team cannot accept direct requests from patients or family members. All search requests must come through the medical team at the patient’s transplant center. Match requests by transplant centers from all over the world are welcome and efficiently handled.