köldökzsinórvéradományozás

Köldökzsinórvér, also known as umbilical cord blood, is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta after childbirth. This blood is a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells, which are immature cells that can develop into all types of blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Historically, umbilical cord blood was discarded as medical waste. However, scientific advancements have revealed its significant therapeutic potential. These stem cells can be used to treat a variety of serious diseases, including certain cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia, and immune deficiencies. The process of using cord blood for transplantation is similar to bone marrow transplantation.

There are two main ways to utilize cord blood. Public cord blood banks collect donations from willing parents, making the stem cells available to anyone who needs a match. Private cord blood banking allows parents to store their child's cord blood for potential future use by their family. The decision to donate or store cord blood is a personal one with various factors to consider. Research continues to explore new applications for cord blood stem cells in regenerative medicine.