A young boy from Arizona has received a life-saving cord blood stem cell transplant to treat a myelodysplasic syndrome.
Noah Swanson began contracting chronic ear infections at six months of age, which led to frequent trips to the paediatrician’s office. Antibiotics were being used to fight the infections, but they re-appeared very soon after they cleared up.
Noah’s body was struggling to create the cells he needed to fight the infections. Even the common cold was enough to send him to hospital. Doctors diagnosed Noah with a myelodysplasic syndrome (MDS) before he was two years old.
Myelodysplasic syndromes are a group of diverse bone marrow disorders where the body cannot produce enough healthy blood cells. It is caused by a malfunction in the hematopoietic stem cells which make up bone marrow, causing blood production to be ineffective and disorderly. These types of disorders mostly affect older people over the age of 60, but can also affect the very young.
Noah was placed on a bone marrow transplant list, but a donor could not be found. Thankfully a cord blood match was found and Noah was scheduled for a cord blood stem cell transplant.
Previously, umbilical cords would be discarded, but researchers have grown to understand the value of the stem cells found in the cord blood. Dr. Cara Christ, Director of the Arizona Department of Health Services: “Cord blood can actually serve as a life saving treatment for cancers and genetic disorders” Dr Christ suggests more families should look into private cord blood banking for their children.
Researchers are still attempting to understand the power of the stem cells found in the cord blood and hope to one day use the stem cells it contains to regrow tissue and organs.
Noah successfully received the treatment and was cured of his MDS. He is now a healthy and happy 5-year-old, thanks to umbilical cord blood stem cells.
Source: Arizona boy’s life saved by cord blood transplant
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