In this Article

• What is peripheral blood stem cell transplantation?
• What are stem cells?
• What do stem cells do?
• What is the value of stem cells for transplantation?
• Where do the stem cells come from for transplantation?
• How are the stem cells removed from the blood?
• How is the patient "prepared" for the transplantation?
• How is the transplantation actually done?
• Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant Index

How are the stem cells removed from the blood?

The blood is filtered through a machine and the stem cells are skimmed off. The removal of the cells is termed pheresis or apheresis (from the Greek "aphairesis" for removal). The stem cells then may be used right away for bone marrow transplant or stored in liquid nitrogen until needed.

How is the patient "prepared" for the transplantation?

Before the transplant is done, the patient receives high-dose chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy to destroy diseased cells (the leukemic cells, lymphoma cells, solid tumor cells, the diseased immune system cells in scleroderma, etc.) The stem cells are then returned to the patient, where they can produce new blood and immune cells and replace the cells destroyed by the treatment.

How is the transplantation actually done?

The stem-cell preparation is infused into a vein and, once there in the blood stream, the stem cells act like homing pigeons and head straight for the bone marrow space.
Last Editorial Review: 4/15/2002

Suggested Reading by Our Doctors

• busulfan-oral, Myleran - Consumer information about the medication BUSULFAN - ORAL (Myleran), includes side effects, drug interactions, recommended dosages, and storage information. Read more about the prescription drug BUSULFAN - ORAL.
• Leukemia - Get the facts on leukemia (cancer of the bone marrow, blood) causes, symptoms, signs, types (hairy cell, chronic/acute lymphocytic or myeloid), research, treatment information and side effects.
• busulfan-injection, Busulfex - Consumer information about the medication BUSULFAN - INJECTION (Busulfex), includes side effects, drug interactions, recommended dosages, and storage information. Read more about the prescription drug BUSULFAN - INJECTION.

Read more Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant related articles »

Latest Medical News

• Boomers Doomed to Disability?
• Gender Divorce Gap After Illness Strikes
• Cigarette Smoking's Decline Levels Off
• 22 Million Cases of Swine Flu in U.S.