Umbilical Cord Blood May Help When Other Sources Cannot
The chances of a successful bone marrow or cord blood transplant are better when the blood-forming cells are from a donor who closely matches the patient. However, studies suggest that cord blood may not need to match as closely as is required for a marrow donor. Umbilical cord blood may be especially promising for:
- Patients who have difficulty finding a matched marrow donor
- Patients from diverse heritages who often have an uncommon tissue type
- Patients who have a life-threatening genetic disorder
- Patients who need a transplant quickly