November 25, 2023, 2:59 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
In the womb, the umbilical cord supplies the baby with everything it needs. After birth, it usually ends up in the trash. Yet, the blood it contains can save lives. What parents should know about it.
Oxygen and all essential nutrients: They reach the baby through the umbilical cord, allowing it to develop well. After birth, the umbilical cord is cut and typically discarded. However, it contains–or more precisely, the blood within it contains–valuable stem cells that can help children and adults. FITBOOK explains how parents can donate umbilical cord blood and what it costs to store it.
Overview
Why umbilical cord blood is so valuable
The blood contained in the umbilical cord has valuable stem cells similar to those in bone marrow. These stem cells can develop into various types of blood cells. This means they can help children and adults with leukemia–a type of blood cancer–or other diseases of the blood-forming system. Leukemia is the most common cancer in children, with 700 diagnoses per year in Germany (FITBOOK reported).
When and how is umbilical cord blood collected?
After birth, the blood is collected through a puncture in the umbilical vein and captured in a special container. The blood is transported to a cord blood bank and processed to separate its components. The cell concentrate is mixed with a preservative solution and frozen.
Storage and costs
In autologous storage, the umbilical cord blood is stored for the child itself. The idea is that if the child develops a disease like leukemia, a suitable stem cell donation is immediately available.
In medicine, “autologous” refers to the transfer of the body’s own cells or tissue.
Autologous storage is available from various providers. Parents must cover the costs themselves–depending on the offer, they range from 1,000 to 3,000 euros for 18 years of storage. After that, the child can decide whether to continue the contract. If they choose to do so, the costs continue as well.
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How does umbilical cord blood donation work?
A so-called directed donation (allogeneic cord blood donation) is also possible: The stored umbilical cord blood is used for a sick sibling.
In an allogeneic donation, the umbilical cord blood is collected and stored in a public bank. It is then available to patients worldwide but is not reserved for the child from whom it originated. The donation is free for parents.
When a donation is not possible
In some cases, donating umbilical cord blood is not possible. For example, if the mother is under 18 at the time of birth, if complications occurred during pregnancy, or if the mother or father has certain diseases.
Leukemia is the most common type of cancer in children.
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Which is better: storage or donation?
Autologous storage–that is, storage intended to benefit the child itself–is not necessarily helpful in the case of leukemia.
This is the assessment of Joannis Mytilineos, medical director of the Central Bone Marrow Donor Registry Germany (ZKRD). It has been shown that one’s own cells do not fight blood cancer as effectively as those from a foreign donation.
It is also good to know, especially if storage is to continue into adulthood: “There is only a limited number of stem cells in umbilical cord blood, which is usually not enough for adults,” says the physician. “However, I do not want to rule out the possibility that the cells could help in the future.”
And: Directed umbilical cord blood donations, such as for siblings, are very rare, says Prof. Gesine Kögler. She heads the José Carreras Stem Cell Bank at the University Hospital Düsseldorf. “In about 25 percent of cases, siblings are suitable donors.”
Allogeneic umbilical cord blood donations are available worldwide. Gesine Kögler emphasizes: “Unrelated umbilical cord blood has been established as a drug for over 70 hematological diseases.” These include diseases affecting the blood-forming system, such as leukemia, genetic disorders, or sickle cell disease. This is a congenital genetic defect that causes red blood cells to deform and take on a sickle shape. In Germany, about 150 children are diagnosed with sickle cell disease each year. Corresponding blood tests have been covered by health insurance since 2021, with collection occurring between the 36th and 72nd hour of life.
For the past 10 to 15 years, adults have also been treated with stem cells from umbilical cord blood donations–two suitable preparations are used for them to ensure the number of stem cells is sufficient.
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What do parents need to know before donating umbilical cord blood?
If expectant parents want to donate umbilical cord blood, they should inform themselves before the birth. The donation cannot be collected in all maternity hospitals. Lists of collection clinics can be found through cord blood banks. An overview is available on the ZKRD website. Midwives or gynecologists usually also have information on the topic.
The significance of umbilical cord blood donations is not as great in this country, explains Mytilineos. “This is because we have many registered and reliable stem cell donors.”
However, cord blood products generally have the advantage of being quickly available. And: They are especially needed abroad for people in need. Mytilineos says: “Every donation is important.”
*With material from dpa