by O. Lawrence Stitt, M.D.

Q. Why are people saving umbilical cord blood and stem cells? Should I?

For many years, we have known that umbilical cord blood and bone marrow contain cells that are the building blocks for all tissues of the body. These cells are called stem cells. Stem cells
have already been used to treat over 70 diseases. Unfortunately, many people are not familiar with the many uses of stem cells nor the methods used to preserve them. Fortunately, there are many centers that can educate the public regarding preservation of stems cells using a method called cord blood banking.

Cord Blood Centers help build a bridge between life-saving technology and families with a desperate medical need. Countless people believe that stem cells can only be used for the newborn that produces them. However, stem cells can also be used for family members and even non-family members in some cases. Newborn stem cells are no different from stem cells
collected from bone marrow or embryonic stem cells. The benefit of newborn stem cells is that they provide a number of advantages that stem cells from other sources do not.

To begin with, newborn stem cells do not come from fetal tissue so they do not involve the moral and ethical issues that are faced when dealing with fetal tissue. Next, when compared to bone marrow cells, cord blood stems cells are naïve. That is they do not suffer from problems of aging and possible immune system incompatibilities. Furthermore, they have lower rates of infection especially with cytomegalovirus. Finally, the collection process is not complicated.

With bone marrow donation the process may be painful, and discomfort may discourage patients from donating. In contrast, newborn stem cells are collected from cord blood and can be taken right from the placenta after it is delivered. Therefore, the collection process does not interfere with the actual delivery of the baby.

After the stem cells are collected they must be preserved. Public cord blood banks collect and store blood for use by anyone who has a need for stem cell transplantation. Private cord blood banks are for-profit organizations that aid in the collection of cord blood for families who are willing and able to pay for the service. With private banking, the stem cells are typically used for the newborn who donates or for a family member should the need arise. There is usually an annual fee for the cord blood to be stored in private banks.

Collecting cord blood can be a useful means to help a donor, family members and others in need, yet there are considerations to keep in mind when deciding to preserve cord blood. At the outset, you must make sure that the company that stores the blood is a reputable company with years of experience. To trust something as precious as cord blood to an inexperienced, financially unstable company might result in cord blood not being available when needed. Umbilical cord blood transplantation has been shown to be successful and is still investigational. So, take your time and do your research. Umbilical cord preservation can be lifesaving for those in need.

Dr. Stitt earned a Medical Degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville TN, completed internship at Hutzel Women's Hospital at Wayne State University in Detroit Michigan, was Chief Resident University of Maryland Department OB/GYN, and currently practices in Columbus.

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