- "BMT" commonly stands for "Bone Marrow Transplant," a medical procedure in which damaged or diseased bone marrow is replaced with healthy bone marrow cells.
- The goal is to treat various conditions, such as leukemia, lymphoma, or certain genetic disorders, by replenishing the patient's blood-forming cells.
- The transplant can use the patient's own bone marrow (autologous transplant) or donor bone marrow (allogeneic transplant).
- The BMT procedure typically involves multiple stages:
- Harvesting: Healthy
stem cells are collected from the donor (patient or matched volunteer)
through bone marrow aspiration (from hip bones) or peripheral blood stem
cell mobilization (using medication to release stem cells into the
bloodstream).
- Conditioning: The recipient's diseased bone marrow is destroyed through chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
- Infusion: The harvested
stem cells are infused into the recipient's bloodstream, where they
travel to the bone marrow and begin producing healthy blood cells.
- The length of a patient's hospital stay after a bone marrow transplant (BMT) can vary greatly depending on several factors, But in general, most patients can expect to spend at least 2-4 weeks in the hospital after BMT. However, some patients may need to stay for as long as 6-8 weeks or even longer.
- Success rates for BMT vary depending on the underlying condition,
patient age, and donor-recipient compatibility. In general, five-year
survival rates for some leukemias after BMT range from 40% to 80%.
- Please remember, this information is not a substitute for professional
medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for
personalized guidance regarding BMT or any other medical treatment.
Bone Marrow Transplant: A Comprehensive Guide
