Everyone knows that red blood cells are the key elements of the blood in the body, but do you know where they come from? The most important factors that help the entire body to function well are created inside the bones. It is none other than that of the red blood cells.
They are produced inside the bone surfaces from the bone marrow, which is made of spongy matter. The process of producing red blood cells via bone marrow is known as erythropoiesis.
They mingle in the circulation bloodstream and carry the oxygen throughout the body, which helps all the other organs function. People are knowledgeable when it comes to bone health. They try to consume a lot of Vitamin D and calcium to make their bones stronger.
But when the bone marrow quits the job of producing the red blood cells, there comes serious trouble. Here is the list of information about the bone marrow failure and its treatment:
Bone Marrow Failure
Bone marrow failure progresses when the bone marrow cannot produce enough healthy blood cells for bodily needs. Not only the blood cells but they also produce the white blood cells and the platelets. These include:
- The red blood cells usually carry oxygen throughout the body.
- The White blood cells fight disease and infection and prevent harmful pathogens from creating an illness inside the body.
- Platelets help the blood cells to accumulate in certain places when there is an injury or open wound, and it stops bleeding and then seals the opening of the cuts.
Causes and treatment of the bone marrow failure
Bone marrow failure is due to many reasons but is most commonly inherited by genetic mutations interrupting normal blood cell production in the body. Many people get diagnosed with bone marrow failure while they were children.
People with these conditions require treatments with blood transfusions and other medications to surge normal blood production. In some patients, a blood stem cell transplant from a healthy donor will be really helpful.
Types of Bone Marrow Failure
Bone marrow failure is due to the decreased capacity to make enough blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. This can lead to increased exhaustion, infection, bruising, and bleeding. Below mentioned are some common types of bone marrow failure. For every disorder, exclusive structures and allied conditions require specific nursing and monitoring.
Here are the types of bone marrow disorders:
i) Fanconi anemia
Fanconi anemia is a condition when an inherited disorder is due to genetic mutations. It results in an impaired ability to repair damages in the DNA. But when the DNA repair is not working properly, blood stem cells tend to accumulate unnecessary DNA damage.
And it finally leads to decreased blood cell production in the body. Fanconi anemia has an increased risk of evolving some cancers and requires monotonous screening by doctors proficient in Fanconi anemia.
ii) Shwachman-Diamond syndrome
Shwachman-Diamond syndrome is also an inherited disorder. It happens because of the inability to properly absorb the food from the small intestine because of the reduced function of the pancreas. Frequent infection and low growth among the kids are due to the low white blood cell counts in the blood.
It would be best to undergo a routine blood count test and a bone marrow assessment to monitor the worsening blood production and blood cancers. In addition to the blood-related issues, patients with this syndrome are evaluated for pancreatic function. They will be referred to a gastroenterology specialist if needed.
iii) Dyskeratosis congenital disorders
The telomere is nothing but the ends of your chromosomes. Dyskeratosis congenital is another inherited telomere biology disorder due to genetic mutations which affect the telomere length.
Telomeres are nothing but the end of chromosomes. Patients with this disorder have short telomeres, decreased blood production, and many other abnormalities in their nails, skin, and mouth lining.
Doctors provide a complete genetic and clinical assessment of patients with a telomere biology disorder. This will be including telomere length measurement and genetic testing for patients and their family members. This is for identifying the blood cancer surveillance and evaluation of lungs and liver functioning.
iv) Aplastic anemia
Less production of blood stem cells in the body causes aplastic anemia. It further leads to low numbers of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets in your body.
This can lead to increased exhaustion, infection risk, bruising or causes excessive bleeding. It is quite important to regulate the cause of aplastic anemia and gain the best treatment plan from your doctor.
v) Diamond-Blackfan anemia
Diamond-Blackfan anemia is caused when the production of red blood cells in the body decreases, which are essential to carry oxygen from the lungs to other body parts.
Most patients with this condition are diagnosed very early in their childhood and might require transfusions of red blood cells from another individual.
Treatments for bone marrow failure
There’s usually no limit to the number of blood transfusions you can have. But it is possible that complications may sometimes arise with multiple transfusions. That is because the transfused red blood cells contain iron that can accumulate in your body. If not treated in its early stages the iron overload can damage vital organs in our body.
Medications may help you get rid of excess iron in your body, and over time your body can develop antibodies to transfused blood cells. It will make them less operative at relieving your symptoms.
The regular use of immunosuppressant medication makes this complication much lesser to happen.
1. Stem cell transplant
Once a healthy matching donor is found the doctors will remove and replace diseased bone marrow through radiation therapy or chemotherapy and healthy stem cells from the donor are filtered from the bloodstream.
The doctors will inject the healthy stem cells intravenously into the bloodstream. Finally, they migrate to the bone marrow cavities and produce new blood cells.
2. Immunosuppressants
Some of the drugs, such as cyclosporine and anti-thymocyte globulin, tend to control immune cell activity, damaging your bone marrow.
A combination of cyclosporine and anti-thymocyte globulin is often used for treating bone marrow disorders. It will help your bone marrow to recuperate and produce new blood cells.
Bone Marrow Transplant in India
India is one of the best medical tourism destinations for bone marrow transplant surgery because Indian hospitals offer quality treatment at an affordable cost.
The Bone Marrow Transplant Cost in India is almost half of what it will cost in various other medically developed nations like the USA or European countries.
Bottom line:
However, when you feel weak or lazy, or you find yourself having any symptoms of bone problems, then you can consult the doctor. Because no matter how fatal that disease might be, they will help you sustain good health by offering treatments that will reduce your illness.
Never take the checkups lightly because they will help you screen for any diseases that are developing in the early stages of your body. So that you can terminate the condition right before it has an impact on your health. So, ensure that you are disease-free to stay healthy and happy.
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