Cord Blood Banking - An Overview

Creator: Dr. Asha. C
Published: 2022-11-22T16:21:30

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Cord blood storage helps treat many diseases of the baby or the family in the future. This article elaborately explains cord blood banking.

Written by

Dr. Asha. C

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Mubashir Razzaq Khan

November 22, 2022

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Contents

What Is Cord Blood?
What Is a Cord Blood Bank?
What Are the Uses of Cord Blood Banking?
What Is the Type of Cord Blood Banking?
What Is the Procedure for Cord Blood Cell Storing?
What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Cord Blood Banking?

What Is Cord Blood?

The umbilical cord connects a developing fetus and the placenta during pregnancy. The placenta provides oxygen and nutrients to the fetus and removes waste products from the baby's blood. The cord contains blood vessels that carry oxygen and blood to the baby and take waste blood away from the baby. After the delivery, when the cord is cut off, extra blood will be left in the cord, referred to as cord blood. Cord blood contains all the same substances as normal blood and is rich in hematopoietic stem cells. These cells help in treating many types of diseases in the future.

What Is a Cord Blood Bank?

Cord blood banking is a simple and painless procedure in which blood is taken from the umbilical cord after a baby is born, which could save lives. Nearing delivery, there is a maternal-fetal transfer of cells that will boost the immune systems of both the baby and the mother in preparation for labor. This transfer of cells at the time of delivery makes cord blood a rich source of stem cells and other immune system cells. Cord blood is removed immediately after birth from the clamp-off umbilical cord. After that, the blood is cryogenically frozen and stored for future use. When cord blood is stored properly, it can remain viable for over 20 years.

What Are the Uses of Cord Blood Banking?

Cord blood stem cells help in treating more than 80 different diseases.

Most commonly, they are used for:

Immune deficiencies.
Sickle cell disease and anemia.
Metabolic disorders like Gaucher disease.
For treating cancer.
Other immune, blood, and neurological disorders.
Most of these conditions require radiation or chemotherapy, which can kill harmful cells and healthy cells at the same time. Transplanting cord blood stem cells into patients undergoing such treatments can help produce new blood cells.
Cord blood stem cells are very easy to collect and store for a longer period and can be transferred to more people than bone marrow stem cells and boost the recipient's immune system more when compared to bone marrow stem cells.
Some experts believe that the need for cord blood cells happens in about 1 in 2,700 children. Treating any condition may be unsuitable because the mutations responsible for that disorder are present during birth. The chances of treating an adult family member with cord blood cells are also low because the cord blood does not contain enough stem cells to treat someone weighing more than 90 pounds.

What Is the Type of Cord Blood Banking?

Collected cord blood can be stored in a private cord bank or donated to the public cord blood bank.

Private Cord Blood Bank - In private cord blood banking, parents must pay to have their baby's cord blood banked for their or their family member's use in the future. By doing so, the family owns the cord blood and decides how it should be used. Many healthcare providers suggest considering private cord banking if any family member has a genetic disease. This is because a baby's cord blood matches the sick family member better than a non-family donation. Private banks offer two types of collections, direct donations, and autologous transplants.

Directed Donation - In directed donations, the cord blood bank stores stem cells for a donor's relative to use. In such cases, the cord blood may be stored for free in a private bank.
Autologous Transplant - An autologous transplant procedure uses the person's stem cells for the transplant.

Public Cord Blood Bank - In public cord blood banking, a baby's cord blood is donated to a cord blood bank. It is stored for use by the public who may need a transplant or can be used for medical research. Donating cord blood is free of cost, and public cord blood banks pay for collection and storage.

What Is the Procedure for Cord Blood Cell Storing?

Cord blood collection is a quick and painless procedure. After the delivery, the healthcare provider closes the umbilical cord using a clamp. Then, the blood is drawn out into a sterile bag using a needle. This will be sealed immediately before the delivery of the placenta. The cord can be simply tilted to drain the blood into a bag.

Around one-half or one cup of stem cell-rich cord blood can be collected. This process must be done within 15 minutes of birth. And in case of an emergency during childbirth, the healthcare professionals will prioritize the mother and newborn's safety over collecting the cord blood. In some cases, enough cord blood cannot be collected, like when twins share a placenta or when a baby is premature, or certain infections occur. Depending on the health insurance and the policies of the hospital, a collection fee may vary.

When cord blood arrives at the bank, it will be given an identifying number and typed on it. The computer can easily track it to find a match by doing so. The cord blood is frozen in a liquid nitrogen freezer and stored until someone needs a transplant.

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Cord Blood Banking?

The advantages of cord blood banking are as follows:

Donating to a public cord bank is free of cost, which could save many people's lives.
Rejection from the cord blood stem cells is less than bone marrow.
There are no risk factors related to the collection of cord blood from the newborn or the person giving birth.
Cord blood collection is less complicated, painful, and riskless for the donor than collecting bone marrow.
The stem cells are ready for use as cord blood banks freeze and store cord blood.

The disadvantages of cord blood banking are as follows.

Cord blood contains fewer stem cells. So, the transplant for adults requires cord blood stem cells from multiple donors.
In private banks, the storage of cord blood will be very expensive.
The hospitals may charge for public collection.
The cord blood donation planning must be done upfront, and their consent must be given before delivery.
In many instances, transplanting stem cells from a stranger is more effective than cord blood from private banking.
All hospitals will not collect cord blood for public storage.
For cord blood banking, many people may not be eligible.

Conclusion:

Cord blood banking can provide stem cells to treat several medical conditions. So the parents must decide before pregnancy if they plan to donate cord blood. And discuss the advantages and disadvantages of storing cord blood with doctors and private banks.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Autoimmune Disease Affects the Liver?

Autoimmune hepatitis is a type of autoimmune disease that affects the liver. Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic condition. In this condition the body's immune system attacks the liver, resulting in inflammation and liver cell damage. Symptoms may include fatigue, abdominal pain, jaundice, and joint pain. If not treated on time, autoimmune hepatitis can cause cirrhosis and failure of the liver.

2. How to Cure Autoimmune Liver Disease?

There is no cure for autoimmune liver disease, but proper treatment can effectively manage it. The treatment reduces inflammation, controls symptoms, and prevents progression to liver damage and cirrhosis. Treatment typically involves corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs to suppress the immune system and reduce inflammation.

3. How Severe Is Autoimmune Liver Disease?

Autoimmune liver disease can be severe if left untreated. Chronic inflammation caused by the immune system attacking the liver can lead to liver damage, cirrhosis, and even liver failure. In severe cases, a liver transplant is necessary.

4. How to Diagnose Autoimmune Liver Disease?

The tests used to diagnose autoimmune liver disease are as follows:
- Blood Tests: To measure levels of liver enzymes, antibodies, and other markers of liver inflammation.
- Liver Function Tests: To evaluate how well the liver is functioning.
- Ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI: To produce images of the liver and check for signs of liver damage.
- Biopsy: A sample from liver tissue is extracted and seen under a microscope to look for signs of inflammation, scarring, or other changes in the liver.

5. How Long Does a Person Live With Autoimmune Liver Disease?

People with autoimmune liver disease can live long lives with proper treatment and care. The severity of the disease, progression, and response to treatment can vary significantly among individuals. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent the passage of the disease and helps in the reduction of the various serious complications of the liver, including cirrhosis and liver failure.

6. What Is Life Expectancy With Autoimmune Hepatitis?

The prognosis for individuals with autoimmune hepatitis depends on the disease's severity, treatment response, and overall health. However, with proper treatment, many individuals with autoimmune hepatitis can live a long and healthy life.

7. Can a blood test detect autoimmune disease?

Yes, blood tests can be used to detect autoimmune diseases. Blood tests can measure the presence of specific antibodies and markers indicative of autoimmune diseases. For example, tests can measure the levels of antibodies such as antinuclear antibodies (ANA) or antibodies to specific organ-specific antigens, such as smooth muscle antibodies (SMA) in autoimmune liver disease.

8. Is Fatty Liver a Type of Autoimmune Disease?

No, fatty liver is not an autoimmune disease. In the fatty liver, accumulation of excess fat in the liver occurs. Several factors, including excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, and metabolic disorders, can cause it. Fatty liver is not the result of the body's immune system attacking the liver, characteristic of autoimmune diseases. However, in some cases, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a type of fatty liver, can progress to a more severe condition called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), characterized by inflammation and liver cell damage and can increase the risk of cirrhosis and liver failure.

9. How to Treat Autoimmune Cirrhosis?

Cirrhosis is a severe and often irreversible condition. In this, scar tissue is seen at a place of liver tissue and impairs liver function. While treating autoimmune cirrhosis can help control the underlying autoimmune process and prevent further liver damage, it is impossible to reverse the scarring that has already occurred.

10. How Does Stress Causes Autoimmune Hepatitis?

Stress can play a role in triggering or exacerbating autoimmune conditions, including autoimmune hepatitis, but it is not the direct cause of the disease. Stress can weaken the immune system and begin the production of harmful substances, such as cytokines, that can contribute to inflammation and tissue damage in people with autoimmune conditions.

11. Is Autoimmune Hepatitis Spreading in Nature?

Autoimmune hepatitis is not contagious and cannot be spread from person to person through contact or exposure. Autoimmune hepatitis is a complex condition. In this immune system attacks and cause damage to the liver. The exact cause of autoimmune hepatitis is undetected but believed that it occurs due to a combination of genetic, environmental, and immune system factors.

12. Is Autoimmune Hepatitis Temporary or Permanent?

Autoimmune hepatitis is a long-lasting chronic condition that often requires ongoing treatment. While autoimmune hepatitis can be effectively managed with proper treatment, it is not temporary and cannot be cured.

13. Does Pain Occur in Autoimmune Hepatitis?

Autoimmune hepatitis can cause various symptoms, including fatigue, abdominal pain, joint pain, and itching. However, the specific symptoms experienced by individuals with autoimmune hepatitis can vary widely and depend on the severity of liver damage. Abdominal pain is also a symptom of autoimmune hepatitis and can result from inflammation and swelling of the liver.

14. Which Age Is Common for Autoimmune Diseases?

Autoimmune diseases can occur at any age, although they are most commonly diagnosed in middle-aged individuals. Type 1 diabetes occurs in childhood or early adulthood, while others, such as rheumatoid arthritis, may develop later in life. There is no single age at which autoimmune diseases are more likely to create, and the onset of symptoms can vary widely among individuals.

15. How to Identify Autoimmune Disease?

Autoimmune diseases can be challenging to diagnose, as the symptoms can be similar to many other conditions. To diagnose an autoimmune disease, your healthcare provider may perform various tests, including a physical examination, blood tests, and imaging tests. Blood tests check for antibodies or markers specific to certain autoimmune diseases. Imaging tests may be used to visualize the affected organs and tissues.

Sources

Dr. Mubashir Razzaq Khan

Hematology

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