Advantages of Cord Blood Cells
Who knew that the umbilical cord, traditionally discarded as a by-product of the birthing process, could provide millions of children around the world with the gift of life?
If you are a pregnant mom, please give serious thought to saving or donating this miraculous gift with others. Save your newborn's umbilical cord and save another precious baby in need of life. Thank you and bless you.
- Cord blood cells, being less mature than stem cells in adult bone marrow, can more easily adapt to their new surroundings and respond to signals that differentiate them into the needed kind of cell.
- It is believed that cord blood cells are less likely to attack the recipient because they are young and more forgiving than bone marrow cells.
- During pregnancy, cord blood cells have learned how to tolerate the mother's immune system.
- Ounce for ounce, there are nearly ten times as many blood-producing cells in cord blood.
- In cord blood there is less chance of the blood carrying infectious agents.
- Cord blood is rarely contaminated by viruses often found in bone marrow (ie. CMV virus).
- Cord blood transplant patients appear to suffer less from acute Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD) than patients who receive bone marrow transplants.
- The risk of cord blood cells mounting a serious immune attack against host tissues is only about 10%, the same as with a perfectly matched related bone marrow.
- Availability - once cord blood is saved it is available whenever it is needed.
- Children with rare metabolic diseases tend to regain organ function more rapidly when given cord blood rather than traditional bone marrow.
- Cord Blood Transplants have been shown to halt the progressive brain damage that is caused by metabolic diseases such as Krabbe Disease.
- Patients with Krabbe Disease who have survived transplant have all stabilized and/or gained skills following transplantation.
- By performing the transplant at birth the progression of Krabbe Disease is halted before damage by this horrible disease takes effect.