Allogeneic Transplant Hospital in Mumbai, India

What is an Allogeneic Transplant?

An allogeneic transplant is a procedure in which stem cells for transplantation are collected from a matching donor and transplanted into the patient’s body after high-intensity chemotherapy or radiation. The donor can be a sibling, a relative, or an unrelated person who is an HLA match.

The Allogeneic Transplant Unit at Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital is a fully integrated unit offering comprehensive medical, diagnostic, and surgical services to patients suffering from various diseases. The unit is equipped with advanced technology and the latest therapies to treat complex conditions requiring allogeneic transplantation. The team of skilled hematologists and transplant physicians follows a multidisciplinary approach to create a patient-centric treatment plan.

Alternate names for Allogeneic transplant

Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplant, BMT, Haplo, or SCT.

Types of Allogeneic Transplants:

HLA (Immune)-Match Related Donor (Siblings) Transplant: The bone marrow or stem cells come from the relative of a patient, who is usually a sibling (brother or sister) whose HLA (Histocompatible Leukocyte antigen) matches completely with the patient.
HLA (Immune)-Matched Unrelated Donor Transplant: The bone marrow or stem cells come from an unrelated donor whose HLA (Histocompatible Leukocyte antigen) matches completely with the patient.
Haplo Identical Donor Transplant: The bone marrow or stem cells come from HLA (Histocompatible Leukocyte antigen) half-matched (haplotype) donors such as biological parents of the patient or half-matched siblings.
Umbilical Cord Blood Transplant: Umbilical cord blood cells are collected from a newborn child’s umbilical cord right after birth. These stem cells are very immature so the need for perfect matching is eliminated. The stem cells collected from the cord are frozen and stored until they are used for a transplant.

Conditions treated with Allogeneic Transplant

Lymphoma
Leukaemia
Blood-related disorders
Immunodeficiency disorders
Plasma cell disorder
Bone marrow failure syndromes
Metabolic diseases
Hemoglobinopathies

How is allogenic transplant performed?

Allogeneic transplant is done as follows:

The Donor is given medicines to boost stem cell count in the blood.
The extraction site is generally located near the hip bones.
Stem cells are collected from the donor’s blood.
The patient then undergoes a round of conditioning regimen where they receive high doses of chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy.
Infusion of donor’s stem cells into the patient’s bloodstream (where they travel to the bone marrow to create new cells).
The patient must remain in close monitoring and medical care for a few days after which they are discharged and ready to go home.

How to prepare patients for allogeneic transplant?

The preparation for allogeneic transplant is as such:

The patient’s personal and family medical history are taken and a physical exam may be conducted.
Lab, imaging and diagnostic tests are performed to ensure the patient is fit for the procedure.
A central venous catheter may be inserted into a blood vessel to provide the patient with nutrients, fluids, medication and blood

Follow-up and recovery

The patient will have to follow up with their doctor for the next 2-3 months to monitor their condition. Their blood count and immune system will get better around the six-month mark and it will take up to a year to fully recover from the transplant.

Patients can take following precautions after an allogeneic transplant:

Eat a protein rich diet, include whole foods in the diet
Avoid crowds, kids, pets & visitors
Practise safe food and drink habits
Wash your hands regularly
Avoid smoking and tobacco products since it can interfere with the treatment.
If you have a central venous line or a PICC (Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter), learn how to take care of it
Ask your doctor about liquid food supplements (if your mouth is sore or dry from the existing medications)

What are the complications and risks of allogeneic transplant?

Complications and risks of allogeneic transplant include:

Chest pain
Drop in blood pressure
Fever
Chills
Headaches
Hives
Nausea
Pain
Shortness of breath
Changes in taste
Anemia
Graft failure
Graft v Host Disease (GvHD)
Infections
Early menopause
Delayed growth in children
Inflammation

However, it’s important to contact your treating haematologist if you observe any health complications to diagnose the cause and treatment without delay.