What is umbilical cord blood collection for? Cord blood. Video: Why is cord blood needed?

One of the latest interesting questions in obstetrics is the issue of stem cell restoration of umbilical cord blood collected at the time of birth. These are not the fetal stem cells that cause so much controversy in the abortion debate, but the stem cells that very easily collect in the umbilical cord attached to the placenta (after birth) after the umbilical cord is cut and the baby is no longer connected to it. Long thought to be by-products of pregnancy and the birth process, this "garbage" began to attract interest when cancer specialists (oncologists), along with immunologists and transplant specialists, stated that blood from the baby's umbilical cord, collected at the time of birth, if properly stored, can be used as a bone marrow transplant if a child (or family member) requires cancer treatment with radiation, which destroys bone marrow.

The bone marrow is where all the elements of blood are made: red blood cells (oxygen-carrying cells), white blood cells (infection-fighting cells), and platelets (coagulating elements). The blood in the umbilical cord at the time of birth is rich in what are called stem cells - cells that can transform into any of the three types of cells listed.
When a baby is born, its blood is very different from that of an adult. He has a completely different type of hemoglobin, which is gradually replaced by adult hemoglobin during the first year of life. And also a very high concentration of stem cells. Therefore, using this source, you can create a good supply of them.

This has led to such an explosion in two unrelated fields - obstetrics and transplant rejection - that a whole new industry has emerged to provide this service. And storage prices have dropped so significantly that they have become affordable to everyone.

Is such accumulation a kind of cancer insurance? Really, ask the critics, what are the odds? If you take even a hundred dollars or so a year for several years and compare (apples and oranges) the cost with the possibility that you will actually need cord blood, the financial risk may not match the therapeutic benefit. Or so they say.

But it's really comparing apples to oranges because just because you're the one who will benefit from it doesn't mean you're the exception. At worst it is a reasonably priced luxury, at best it is a life saver.

Let me throw some cantaloupes into the apple-orange mixture too. Even if a family member of the child needs his stored cord blood, the chance that it will not be rejected is double compared to blood taken from outside. Thus, depending on the number of relatives, the advantage in favor of the profitability of your “investment” increases sharply.

It's also a matter of simplicity. Storing cord blood in case it is needed one day is not the same as waiting to obtain bone marrow once the need has been identified. One of the stark contrasts when comparing cord blood and bone marrow recovery is that the recovery of blood taken from the umbilical cord at birth is painless, inexpensive and completely safe. Add to this the increased survival rate when obtaining stem cells from members of the same family, and suddenly the objections of critics begin to crumble.

I can name a lot of unnecessary things that cost significantly more than storing cord blood, and I believe we should all take inventory of what is important in this life. But we all agree that life itself is important to us, and storing cord blood provides another opportunity to survive the stones and arrows of cruel fate.

Blood from the umbilical cord during pregnancy

Blood remains in the umbilical cord and placenta after birth. After the baby has been successfully born, he no longer needs it: he now breathes on his own and feeds on mother's milk.

Taking blood from the umbilical cord

Blood is taken from the umbilical cord after childbirth and does not affect its natural course. That is, such a procedure does not pose any danger to either the mother or the child. However, midwives and doctors undergo special training to collect cord blood, since blood collected this way can only be used if certain conditions have been met.

According to current regulations, blood obtained from the umbilical cord must be stored and transported at room temperature. Within 24 hours she is transported to a blood processing center.

Directed cord blood donation during pregnancy

When blood is taken from the umbilical cord for specific help to one of the sick family members, they talk about directed donation. There is even the possibility of storing cord blood for the purpose of using it exclusively for your own needs. However, such forethought can cost you quite a lot, since this service is provided only by private companies. Meanwhile, in case of illness, the benefit of using one’s own cord blood, according to modern medicine, is very small. In particular, because with leukemia, one’s own blood is most likely unsuitable for stem cell transplantation: there is a risk of recurrent disease.

Try to inquire in advance about blood banks that store cord blood. In order to have a good understanding of the abundance of various information and offers, it is better to seek advice from an independent specialist. But first of all, talk to your doctor. He can recommend literature on this topic and name relevant institutions where you can get more detailed information.

What are stem cells and why store them?

Recently, quite often, expectant mothers have become interested and asked about umbilical cord blood stem cells.

Stem cells are special cells that are the precursors of absolutely all cells in our body. Under certain conditions, cells of any tissues and organs can be “obtained” and “built” from these cells.

Stem cells are like universal “spare parts”. In the event of some serious breakdown in our body, it is possible to “send” “magic cells” to the problem area, which “transform” into the necessary new healthy cells, replacing sick and damaged ones.

Why are expectant mothers puzzled by this question? The fact is that these same “magic” cells can be collected from umbilical cord blood during childbirth.

Stem cells collected in this way can be useful to your child if necessary, as they will be 100% suitable for him. There is also a potential opportunity to use these cages for the baby's siblings and parents, since there is a high probability of their compatibility.

Recently, stem cells have traditionally been used to treat cancer (blood cancer can be successfully cured with their help). Constant scientific research is being conducted into the possibility of using cell stems in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus and other diseases.

If you decide to collect and store stem cells, the bank you choose will provide you with special containers and instructions for collecting cord blood. Since this procedure is already quite common, doctors and obstetricians at the maternity hospital know how to perform it. While the newborn gets acquainted with his new world in another room (he is examined, weighed, washed, etc.), your doctor, using a special sterile instrument, collects the blood located in the umbilical cord into an airtight container. After this, the birth of the placenta occurs.

The collected cord blood is delivered to the bank within 24 hours, where it will undergo special processing and stem cells will be isolated from it. Subsequently, they will be frozen in a special storage facility.

If stem cells are not collected, the placenta and umbilical cord must be disposed of after examination.

The “magic material” is stored in special banks - these are licensed medical institutions that conduct analysis, processing, research and storage of stem cells.

Whether or not to do this is something everyone decides for themselves, based on own desires and opportunities. The likelihood that a child will need stem cells throughout his life (blood cancer, for example) is small. But, nevertheless, collecting cord blood during childbirth is biological insurance. Of course, you can only talk about insurance if the storage facility you choose guarantees the quality of the stored material.

Among the many activities offered to pregnant women, the collection and storage of umbilical cord blood stands out. The essence of the procedure is as follows: immediately after birth, blood that belonged to the fetus is obtained from the umbilical cord. The cells isolated from it are frozen and stored in a special jar until they are needed.

The value of umbilical cord blood lies in the fact that it contains biologically active stem cells, and is therefore well suited for the needs of cell therapy and transplantology.

Cord blood banks are divided into registered ones - they store the blood of those children whose parents have entered into a corresponding contract, and registry banks created on the basis of gratuitous donation. Any person who requires cord blood for treatment can contact the registry bank. However, the problem is that it can be very difficult to select suitable blood: a match in the main antigenic systems is necessary, otherwise foreign cells will cause a rejection reaction in the patient. Unfortunately, in Russia the collection of register banks is quite meager, so you often have to look for blood abroad, which takes time (from 6 months to a year) and a lot of money (from 15,000 Euros). A possible way out of this situation is to store your own blood at birth: it will always be available and, if necessary, ideal for transplantation.

The procedure for preserving umbilical cord blood is well established and is available to any parents on a contract basis - but few have heard of it. We decided to find out more about this possibility and turned for information to the leading registered cord blood bank, the Stem Cell Bank “CryoCenter”, created on the basis of the Scientific Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology.

Why is cord blood valuable?

Umbilical cord blood is rich in hematopoietic stem cells, i.e. the progenitor cells of blood elements. They are used for transplantation when one’s own hematopoiesis is impaired: for leukemia, severe disorders immune system and other diseases. Opponents of cord blood storage reasonably note that such pathologies, although life-threatening, are rare. However, on the other hand, in the future it is expected that stem cells will be used for wider indications. In any case, thousands of cord blood transplants have already been successfully performed, saving the lives of patients with previously considered incurable diseases.

Umbilical cord blood is not the only source of hematopoietic cells, but it has a number of advantages: easy and safe collection, youth, and therefore high functional activity of stem cells and immunological compatibility. To use pre-prepared blood, it takes from several days to several weeks.

A newborn's umbilical cord blood can be used to treat other family members. Successful cases of transplantation have been documented for parents, grandparents, and even cousins. However, children of the same parents with many children have the greatest chance of being compatible.

Every parent decides whether or not to save cord blood depending on their financial situation and how necessary they consider this procedure. It should be borne in mind that cord blood collection is especially indicated for those children whose families have had severe diseases of the hematopoietic system or already have sick children who can be cured with the cord blood of a brother or sister, as well as for ethnic minorities who find it difficult to find a compatible donor in international banks - registers

How is cord blood collected?

After the baby is born, the midwife ties and cuts the umbilical cord. Then the maternal end of the umbilical cord is treated with a sterile solution and blood is taken from the umbilical vein using a needle into a special sterile container with an anticoagulant. Umbilical cord blood is usually small, about 80 ml, so it is advisable to additionally extract all the blood present in the placenta.

The procedure is absolutely painless and takes a few minutes. It can be performed both during normal childbirth and during caesarean section. Moreover, during multiple pregnancies, it is technologically possible to collect cord blood from each child.

How are stem cells isolated?

No later than 24 hours after collection, the sample goes to the bank. Before sending blood for storage, it must be thoroughly processed. First, the sample is checked for infections, the blood type and Rh factor are determined, then it is “processed,” that is, a stem cell concentrate is obtained. Using a special device, excess plasma and almost all red blood cells are removed. The resulting concentrate is analyzed under a microscope to determine cell viability. The next stage is freezing the cells, which should not lead to their death. For this purpose, a cryoprotectant is added to prevent the formation of “sharp, cell-tearing” ice crystals. Then the concentrate is smoothly frozen to -90°C and placed in quarantine storage (liquid nitrogen vapor, -150°C), where they remain until the results of all analyzes are ready. Finally, after approximately 20 days, the samples are transferred to permanent storage (liquid nitrogen, -196°C).

The output is from 5 to 7 tubes of concentrate. In addition to the main tubes, several satellite tubes are prepared - they contain a minimum volume of plasma and cells sufficient for analysis. For example, if the owner of the blood wants to use it for his relative and needs to check for compatibility, there will be no need to thaw the main sample - it will be enough to remove the satellite tube.

How are stem cells stored?

Cord blood cells are stored in special containers with liquid nitrogen in a separate room located deep underground. The low temperature is maintained by a special automated system that continuously monitors the level of liquid nitrogen. It will work even if the central power supply is turned off. The cord blood bank is guarded around the clock.

Research shows that in this state the cells remain virtually intact for many years. There is already no doubt that they do not lose their properties in 15-17 years. Theoretically, frozen cells can be stored indefinitely.

Who owns stem cells?

Until the child reaches adulthood, the supply of umbilical cord blood cells belongs to his parent or to the person indicated in the storage agreement. After reaching adulthood, the child himself becomes the owner.

How much does the contract cost?

To collect, isolate and freeze umbilical cord blood cells, you will have to pay a one-time fee of about 2000 Euros. In the future, storing the sample will cost 3,000 rubles per year (the amount is specified in the contract and does not change subsequently).

What should you do if you want to save cord blood?

At any stage of pregnancy, you need to come to the cord blood bank, get tested for infections and sign an agreement. Then bank employees will deliver a personalized kit with a unique barcode to the maternity hospital in advance, negotiate with the doctor and midwife, and ensure the collection and delivery of blood to the bank, where stem cells will be isolated from it.

It does not matter whether paid or free childbirth or a caesarean section is expected. If a woman is taken by ambulance with contractions to the nearest maternity hospital, you should call a 24-hour phone number and report your location - bank employees will negotiate with the doctors.

Girls, today I read an article about umbilical cord blood collection for stem cells.

Saving cord blood: why and how?

Among the many activities offered to pregnant women, the collection and storage of umbilical cord blood stands out. The essence of the procedure is as follows: immediately after birth, blood that belonged to the fetus is obtained from the umbilical cord. The cells isolated from it are frozen and stored in a special jar until they are needed.

The value of umbilical cord blood lies in the fact that it contains biologically active stem cells, and is therefore well suited for the needs of cell therapy and transplantology.

Cord blood banks are divided into registered ones - they store the blood of those children whose parents have entered into a corresponding contract, and registry banks created on the basis of gratuitous donation. Any person who requires cord blood for treatment can contact the registry bank. However, the problem is that it can be very difficult to select suitable blood: a match in the main antigenic systems is necessary, otherwise foreign cells will cause a rejection reaction in the patient. Unfortunately, in Russia the collection of register banks is quite meager, so you often have to look for blood abroad, which takes time (from 6 months to a year) and a lot of money (from 15,000 Euros). A possible way out of this situation is to store your own blood at birth: it will always be available and, if necessary, ideal for transplantation.

Why is cord blood valuable?

Umbilical cord blood is rich in hematopoietic stem cells, i.e. the progenitor cells of blood elements. They are used for transplantation when one’s own hematopoiesis is impaired: in case of leukemia, severe disorders of the immune system and other diseases. Opponents of cord blood storage reasonably note that such pathologies, although life-threatening, are rare. However, on the other hand, in the future it is expected that stem cells will be used for wider indications. In any case, thousands of cord blood transplants have already been successfully performed, saving the lives of patients with previously considered incurable diseases.

Umbilical cord blood is not the only source of hematopoietic cells, but it has a number of advantages: easy and safe collection, youth, and therefore high functional activity of stem cells and immunological compatibility. To use pre-prepared blood, it takes from several days to several weeks.

A newborn's umbilical cord blood can be used to treat other family members. Successful cases of transplantation have been documented for parents, grandparents, and even cousins. However, children of the same parents with many children have the greatest chance of being compatible.

Every parent decides whether or not to save cord blood depending on their financial situation and how necessary they consider this procedure. It should be borne in mind that cord blood collection is especially indicated for those children whose families have had severe diseases of the hematopoietic system or already have sick children who can be cured with the cord blood of a brother or sister, as well as for ethnic minorities who find it difficult to find a compatible donor in international banks - registers

How is cord blood collected?

After the baby is born, the midwife ties and cuts the umbilical cord. Then the maternal end of the umbilical cord is treated with a sterile solution and blood is taken from the umbilical vein using a needle into a special sterile container with an anticoagulant. Umbilical cord blood is usually small, about 80 ml, so it is advisable to additionally extract all the blood present in the placenta.

The procedure is absolutely painless and takes a few minutes. It can be performed both during normal birth and during caesarean section. Moreover, during multiple pregnancies, it is technologically possible to collect cord blood from each child.

How are stem cells isolated?

No later than 24 hours after collection, the sample goes to the bank. Before sending blood for storage, it must be thoroughly processed. First, the sample is checked for infections, the blood type and Rh factor are determined, then it is “processed,” that is, a stem cell concentrate is obtained. Using a special device, excess plasma and almost all red blood cells are removed. The resulting concentrate is analyzed under a microscope to determine cell viability. The next stage is freezing the cells, which should not lead to their death. For this purpose, a cryoprotectant is added to prevent the formation of “sharp, cell-tearing” ice crystals. Then the concentrate is smoothly frozen to -90°C and placed in quarantine storage (liquid nitrogen vapor, -150°C), where they remain until the results of all analyzes are ready. Finally, after approximately 20 days, the samples are transferred to permanent storage (liquid nitrogen, -196°C).

The output is from 5 to 7 tubes of concentrate. In addition to the main tubes, several satellite tubes are prepared - they contain a minimum volume of plasma and cells sufficient for analysis. For example, if the owner of the blood wants to use it for his relative and needs to check for compatibility, there will be no need to thaw the main sample - it will be enough to remove the satellite tube.

How are stem cells stored?

Cord blood cells are stored in special containers with liquid nitrogen in a separate room located deep underground. The low temperature is maintained by a special automated system that continuously monitors the level of liquid nitrogen. It will work even if the central power supply is turned off. The cord blood bank is guarded around the clock.

Research shows that in this state the cells remain virtually intact for many years. There is already no doubt that they do not lose their properties in 15-17 years. Theoretically, frozen cells can be stored indefinitely.

Who owns stem cells?

Until the child reaches adulthood, the supply of umbilical cord blood cells belongs to his parent or to the person indicated in the storage agreement. After reaching adulthood, the child himself becomes the owner.

How much does the contract cost?

To collect, isolate and freeze umbilical cord blood cells, you will have to pay a one-time fee of about 2000 Euros. In the future, storing the sample will cost 3,000 rubles per year (the amount is specified in the contract and does not change subsequently).

What should you do if you want to save cord blood?

At any stage of pregnancy, you need to be tested for infections and sign a contract. Then bank employees will deliver a personalized kit with a unique barcode to the maternity hospital in advance, negotiate with the doctor and midwife, and ensure the collection and delivery of blood to the bank, where stem cells will be isolated from it.

It does not matter whether paid or free childbirth or a caesarean section is expected. If a woman is taken by ambulance with contractions to the nearest maternity hospital, you should call a 24-hour phone number and report your location - bank employees will negotiate with the doctors.

Has anyone used this service? Is it worth it or not? Who gave birth at the Center for Pregnancy and Rehabilitation, were you offered this service?

A radical method of treating many severe hematological diseases is, which is isolated from bone marrow or blood tissue. This can be accomplished by searching for a suitable donor, which is not easy. The probability of the existence of an unrelated donor who is HLA-matched is 1:100,000. This requires entire registers of typed donors, numbering several hundred thousand people. Harvesting umbilical cord blood helps to partially solve this problem.

Clinical use

Cord blood contains a large number of stem cells, which could be used in the future to treat a number of serious diseases.

Blood obtained from the placenta is a rich source of hematopoietic cells. The concentration of colony-forming units in it significantly exceeds their amount in the blood of an adult, even after stimulation with growth factors. Its composition is similar to bone marrow tissue. Therefore, stem cells contained in umbilical cord blood can be successfully used in hematology to treat the following diseases:

• myelodysplastic syndromes;
• some congenital diseases (hereditary hemoglobinopathies, Barr syndrome, etc.).

Transplantation of hematopoietic cells obtained from placental blood is a promising direction in medicine, which is already used in neurology (consequences of injuries, degenerative diseases of the nervous system), rheumatology (diffuse), oncology and other industries.

The effectiveness of such treatment is determined by:

• timely diagnosis and treatment of the disease;
• degree of histocompatibility (according to the HLA system) of the donor and recipient;
• age of the patient (gives good results in children under 5 years old);
• the number of transplanted stem cells (if there are few of them, the risk of relapse of the pathological process or graft failure increases).

Blank

Umbilical cord blood is obtained during childbirth either vaginally or by caesarean section. At the stage of planning the procedure, the pregnant woman is thoroughly examined and diseases of an infectious nature are excluded (, etc.).

In preparation for childbirth, a blood collection system is prepared under aseptic conditions. It consists of a special container with a hemopreservative and a device for drawing blood.

During normal childbirth through the vaginal birth canal, blood sampling can be carried out in two ways:

• If the placenta is in the uterine cavity and has not yet separated, then blood exfusion is performed after applying a clamp to the umbilical cord and separating the newborn from the fetal site. To do this, the umbilical cord is thoroughly treated with antiseptic solutions, after which the umbilical vein is punctured, placing the container for collecting material 50-70 cm below the mother’s abdomen so that the blood flows into it spontaneously.
• If the placenta has already been separated from the uterine cavity, then it is placed on a special frame with the fetal part downwards, then the umbilical cord vein is also processed and punctured, after which blood is obtained into a container.

An additional 10 ml of blood is taken from the umbilical cord artery for the initial stage of examination for blood type and hidden infections.

After the procedure is completed, the container is disconnected and transported to the cord blood bank in a special refrigerator or an additional container protected from temperature extremes. In this case, the duration of storage of blood with a hemopreservative before its fractionation should not exceed 24 hours. Otherwise, the stem cells die.

Stem cell storage

Stem cells are stored in a container with liquid nitrogen for up to 25 years.

Isolation of hematopoietic cells from umbilical cord blood is carried out under aseptic conditions.

• To do this, the blood is centrifuged at high speeds, as a result of which the plasma is separated from it.
• After this, sedimentation of erythrocytes begins by adding a sedimentation substance (gelatin, hydroxyethyl starch).
• The resulting cell suspension is mixed with physiological solution and centrifuged twice.
• Then, using a syringe, the cell sediment is separated and prepared for freezing and long-term storage.

Stem cells obtained from umbilical cord blood are stored at low temperatures in a frozen state:

• in refrigerators with a temperature of -80 degrees (up to 6 months);
• in liquid nitrogen vapor at a temperature of -150 degrees (several years);
• in containers with liquid nitrogen and a temperature of -196 degrees (more than 20 years).

To freeze the cell suspension, it is pre-cooled to +4 degrees in an ice bath or in a refrigerator. Then this suspension is taken up with a syringe and transferred to a canning bag, adding a fencing solution drop by drop, after which the bag is sealed and placed in a special apparatus for program freezing. Moreover, the process itself is carried out according to a four-stage program, which allows maintaining cell viability for a long time.

To use frozen stem cell samples, immediately before transfusion, the cell suspension is slowly defrosted in a water bath at +40 degrees. After thorough mixing, a test is performed to determine the safety of the cells and their viability.

Laboratory testing

The use of blood obtained from the umbilical cord in clinical practice requires special testing in a laboratory. This allows you to determine the HLA system, assess the quality of the drug and identify the potential for infection with infectious diseases.

The list of necessary laboratory tests includes:

• determination of the volume of umbilical cord blood and the content of cellular elements in it (stem cells, leukocytes, erythrocytes);
• blood test for markers of viral hepatitis;
• biochemical blood test ();
• detection of antibodies to HIV, Treponema pallidum,;
• blood culture for sterility;
• determination of HLA genotype, blood group according to the AB0 system and Rh factor.

To conduct all studies in full, about 10 ml of blood is required. Of these, 4 ml are immediately taken for testing, and the remaining 6 ml are centrifuged and frozen, after which they are tested again. This makes it possible to assess the quality of the transplant and predict the time of engraftment of hematopoietic cells in the patient’s body.

Umbilical cord blood is used very sparingly for research in order to minimize the loss of hematopoietic cells.

• Determination of group affiliation, HLA phenotype, and biochemical parameters is carried out in a portion of blood taken from the umbilical cord artery.
• Bacteriological research is carried out in the red blood cell mass remaining after centrifugation.
• Serological tests of blood serum to detect infections are carried out using plasma obtained through the fractionation process.
• The concentration of hematopoietic precursor cells is assessed in a cell sediment obtained by dividing blood into fractions.

Advantages and disadvantages of using cord blood

Currently, many parents are thinking about whether it is worth harvesting their child’s umbilical cord blood, is it important or not? In order to answer these questions, let's consider the benefits of this treatment method.

1. The procedure is absolutely safe (does not harm the health of the mother and child).
2. Does not require additional pain relief.
3. Has a low risk of contracting infectious diseases.
4. Provides the possibility of long-term storage of hematopoietic cells.
5. Provides biological life insurance for a child in the event of the development of serious diseases (especially the hematopoietic system).

However, there are also disadvantages to using umbilical cord blood as a source of stem cells.

1. The main one is the relatively small volume of material obtained and its loss during procurement and laboratory testing.
2. Another disadvantage of this procedure is its high cost with a low probability of use in a child. However, it is hardly comparable to the cost of a bone marrow transplant, which amounts to tens of thousands of dollars.

Currently, in Russia and other countries there are special cord blood banks. These can be private and government entities. The latter pursue the goal of creating a certain supply of biological material that can be used for scientific research and treatment of patients.

Private banks store personalized samples that can be used in case of illness. They offer their clients different tariffs:

• The average cost of collecting and storing umbilical cord blood at Gemabank is 65,000 rubles, each year of storage is paid separately (7,000 rubles).
• At the Cryocenter stem cell bank, a stem cell storage package (25 years) has a total cost of about 230,000 rubles.

The term “stem cells” in medicine refers to immature, undifferentiated cellular structures. They have the ability to self-renew, divide through mitosis and transform into cells of other organs and tissues, completely restoring them.

Why is cord blood saved?

Having heard about stem cell treatment methods, patients often wonder what cord blood is needed for and why only it. The value of this biological material lies in the fact that it contains active stem cells, which are excellent for treatment. These blood cells are used in transplantology and to treat diseases such as:

• severe immune disorders;
• diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
• diabetes.

Treatment of joints with stem cells

Treatment of arthrosis with stem cells not only helps to get rid of the main symptoms of the disease, but also restores bone tissue. Stem cells are no less effective in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. With such disorders, the immune system constantly attacks the joints, destroying cartilage tissue. Applicable medications They only temporarily slow down inflammatory processes and reduce the intensity of pain.

The uniqueness of the use of stem cells in the treatment of joint diseases lies in:

• active regeneration of damaged joint tissues (once they enter the body, cells differentiate, replacing damaged areas of cartilage tissue);
• activation of the immune system, protecting the body from immune attacks;
• improving tissue trophism and normalization;
• induction of cytokines – anti-inflammatory factors;
• trophism of tissues and normalization of metabolism.

Stem cell treatment for diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease. Stem cell treatment significantly improves the picture of what is happening. In this case, cellular structures synthesized by the patient’s body are used. They combat the underlying cause of diabetes by reducing hyperglycemia. As clinical trials show, the method is also effective in combating hypoglycemia - it reduces the incidence of shock.

The course of stem cell therapy itself involves introducing them into the body through the pancreatic artery using a catheter. The stem material is first collected from the patient’s iliac crest with a thin needle under local anesthesia. The procedure lasts 30 minutes. The collected cells are sent to the laboratory, where the quality of the cells is determined, tested and counted. Only after this the stem cells are ready to be introduced into the body. The injection site is selected individually (intravenously, leg muscles, pancreatic artery).

Stem cell treatment for stroke

Stroke refers to diseases accompanied by impaired cerebral circulation. The affected areas do not receive enough oxygen, which leads to irreversible consequences in the absence of proper therapy. The goal of the therapy is the complete restoration of damaged areas of brain tissue. The first positive results can be seen 3 months after the introduction of stem cells.

To carry out the manipulation, you can use both stem cells from umbilical cord blood and those taken from the patient’s own ilium. Local anesthesia is first required. The collected bone marrow sample is sent to the laboratory, where it undergoes thorough processing - stem cell isolation. In this case, the samples do not come into contact with air to avoid infection.

The introduction of the material obtained as a result of numerous manipulations is carried out by. Cellular structures are injected directly into the cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the spinal cord. Local anesthesia of the injection area is first performed. The procedure itself takes 30 minutes. The patient is under medical supervision for 3-4 hours, after which he is sent home.

Cancer stem cell treatment

Cord blood has shown excellent results in the treatment of cancer. The young stem cells contained in it are actively involved in restoring lost parts of organs through rapid division and differentiation. The result is not immediate - the therapeutic effect can appear after 1-2 months. At the same time, the main course of therapy is carried out, aimed at preventing the spread of the tumor.

Stem cell treatment for optic nerve atrophy

The use of stem cells in ophthalmology involves the restoration of not only areas of the damaged retina, but also the restoration of the functioning of the optic nerve. The implanted cells are quickly directed to the damaged area, adhere to the tissue, differentiate and transform into healthy cellular structures of the required type. The procedure for implanting stem cells is carried out directly into the eye. A similar manipulation can be used for other pathologies of the visual system:

• taperetinal dystrophy;
• taperetinal degeneration.

Stem cell rejuvenation

Initially, stem cell transplantation was carried out solely for the purpose of rejuvenation. This method is called revitalization (from Latin - return to life) and involves the restoration of incipient damage in organs and tissues caused by age-related changes. The main theory of triggering the mechanism of aging of the body today is considered to be a decrease in the pool of stem cells with a simultaneous decrease in their potential.

Research shows that aging processes in the body begin as early as 30 years of age. At the same time, a woman’s body, according to American scientists, remains absolutely healthy up to a maximum of 44 years, and a man’s – up to 40. Stem cell transplantation significantly reduces the rate of destructive processes in the body. The number of procedures and the volume of introduced cellular material are selected individually. Autologous cells, that is, the patient’s own cells, are best suited for healing.

Collection and storage of umbilical cord blood

Each woman in labor, if desired, can first enter into an agreement with the clinic for the collection and subsequent storage of blood from the umbilical cord. Umbilical cord blood is preserved in special banks - medical institutions that provide specialized services. The duration of the storage period is set by the patient himself, so this service is paid and depends entirely on the wishes of the client.

Cord blood collection

To isolate blood stem cells, the material is collected immediately after the baby is born. This is the only way to get them. After the baby is born, the obstetrician cuts the umbilical cord, after which a needle is inserted into one of its veins and the blood is collected in a special sterile bag. The procedure lasts no more than 3 minutes and is absolutely painless for the baby and his mother.

The collection does not require anesthesia and is carried out without physical contact with the baby. The procedure is absolutely safe. In this case, umbilical cord blood can be collected both during natural childbirth and during those carried out by caesarean section. A prerequisite is the preliminary expression of the mother's wishes in writing.

Cord blood storage

Freezing cord blood allows you to store biomaterial for a long time. After collection, the laboratory receives a sterile sealed bag containing the blood itself and a component that prevents it from clotting. Under sterile conditions, laboratory technicians extract the stem cell concentrate by centrifugation. The remaining part, the plasma, is subjected to numerous tests for infections and viruses before being sent to the umbilical cord blood bank. The sample is examined for:

• AIDS;
• hepatitis;
• syphilis.

A cryoprotector is added to the examined sample - a substance that prevents cell destruction under the influence of low temperature. Each sample is assigned a unique number and then placed in a bank. Storage is carried out in liquid nitrogen at a temperature of –196 degrees. This is what the stem cell bank does. Institutions specializing in cord blood storage have 20 years of experience in preserving the material.

Stem cell banks

A bank of umbilical cord blood stem cells in the CIS countries exists in almost every big city. Storage conditions at individual institutions may vary, so please contact us in advance to obtain prior information. An agreement is concluded with the patient, which specifies the cost of providing services and the duration of storage. Similar services are provided:

1. In the Republic of Belarus:

• 9 City Clinical Hospital, Minsk;
• State Institution Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology, Minsk.

2. In Russia:

• Gemabank, Moscow;
• "Flora-Med", Moscow;
• Volga Region Bank of Hematopoietic Cells, Samara;
• Trans-Technologies LLC, St. Petersburg.

3. In Ukraine:

• Ukrainian Stem Cell Bank, Kyiv.

How much does it cost to store umbilical cord stem cells?

Wanting to preserve valuable cells for further treatment, patients often ask how much it costs to store cord blood. Prices are constantly changing, at the moment they are set at the following level:

1. In the Russian Federation: collection – $500–700, storage – $150–200 for 1 year.
2. In Ukraine: fence – $450–600, storage – $100–200 per year.
3. In Belarus: stem cell collection – $500–600, storage – $100–150 per year.