Affordable Bone Marrow Transplant for Sickle Cell Patients from Nigeria

About this offer

In India, bone marrow transplant (BMT) or more precisely called hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can be a potentially curative alternative therapy for Nigerian patients with severe sickle cell disease (SCD). Allogeneic HSCT is the only proven curative therapy for SCD but is a very risky treatment and should be carefully selected for each patient as recommended by the American Society of Hematology . What takes place in sickle cell anemia? The mutation of hemoglobin gene is the cause of the phenomenon of Sickle Cell Anemia wherein the red blood cells become stiff and sickle-shaped, which results in the following: Pain crises Anemia Organ damage Increased infection risk How the Treatment Works Sickle Cell Anemia is a genetic mutation of the hemoglobin, which causes red blood cells to be sickle-shaped, which causes pain, anemia and organ damage. A bone marrow transplant is effective because: Destruction of the Diseased Bone Marrow of the Patient The defective blood-forming stem cells are removed by high-dose chemotherapy (and in some cases, radiation). Healthy Stem Cell Transplantation The infusion of the patient with the donor blood of a matched donor (typically a sibling) is performed with stem cells. The synthesis of Healthy Red Blood Cells These donor stem cells implant themselves in the bone marrow where they start to make normal hemoglobin, getting rid of sickling. Who Is Eligible? Bone marrow transplant is considered in most cases in case of: Severe symptoms patients. Repeat of pain crises or complications (stroke, organ damage) Access to an appropriate donor. Risks vs Benefits Benefits: Potential lifelong cure Eliminates the necessity of frequent hospitalizations. Enhances life quality to a considerable extent. Risks: Severe side effects of chemotherapy. Risk of GVHD Slow recovery (months to a year). New Advancements Emerging treatments like: Gene therapy Haploidentical transplants Bone Marrow Transplant for Sickle Cell Procedure: Patient assessment and qualification Physicians evaluate the suitability of the patient to undergo transplant by examining: Severity of the disease (regular pain crises, had a stroke) Organ functioning. Age and overall health This makes the patient be able to make the procedure safe. Donor Matching Best alternative: Fully matched sibling donor (HLA-matched). Alternatives: Matched unrelated donor Haploidentical donor (parent or partial relative) Closer match minimizes the chances of complication such as Graft-versus-host disease. Pre-Transplant Conditioning Prior to transplant, the patient is subjected to: Sometimes radiation in combination with chemotherapy. Purpose: Destroy cancerous bone marrow. Suppress the immune system Avoid the rejection of donor cells. The stage generally takes 5-10 days. Stem Cell Donation There are two primary methods of the collection of stem cells: Peripheral blood stem cell (most common) collection. In bone marrow, harvest (pelvic bone under anaesthesia) The resultant stem cells are treated and infused. Transplant (Stem Cell Infusion) Ten healthy stem cells are introduced into the patient via an IV line. This is an painless procedure and akin to a blood transfusion. No surgery is required Engraftment Phase The donor stem cells are transported to the bone marrow where they start synthesizing healthy blood cells. Takes about 2–4 weeks During this time: Immunity is very low Isolations are done to avoid infections in the patients. Post-Transplant Recovery Close monitoring for: Infections Organ function Signs of rejection or Graft-versus-host disease. Conclusion India offers access to experienced bone marrow transplant centres at relatively low prices and may be the solution for Nigerian families looking for a comparatively low-cost bone marrow transplant for sickle cell disease in India. Eligibility will have to be determined by the specialist with the patient's medical history and donor availability. Getting a comprehensive treatment plan and hospital cost estimate prior to travels may assist families to understand the medical and non-medical costs they can expect.