The University Hospitals of Geneva have one of the two fetoplacental blood banks in the country. This reserve of blood from the umbilical cord can prove useful in the treatment of certain serious illnesses such as leukemia. Donations, painless, are possible at the birth of a child.
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Determinant in the treatment of certain diseases, umbilical cord blood donation remains little known. The University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG) have one of the two fetoplacental blood banks in Switzerland, a reserve of blood from the umbilical cord.
Some 4,000 babies are born on average each year in this maternity hospital, the largest in the Alpine country. And last year, 707 patients donated their umbilical cord blood. A gesture, without danger for mother and child, which can save lives.
“Once the baby is born, we clamp the cord, we cut it. We then disinfect the cord still connected to the placenta, in the uterus, and make a puncture to collect the blood which will be collected in a bag”summarizes Doctor Sara de Oliveira, assistant doctor in the obstetrics department.
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How donating umbilical cord blood can save lives • ©France Télévisions
This bag of blood is then processed by the cell therapy laboratory, then stored at very low temperature in liquid nitrogen in a cryobank, one of the two public fetoplacental blood banks in Switzerland, at the HUG. The establishment preserves this blood, which is very rich in stem cells, which give rise to different blood cells, in particular red blood cells and white blood cells.
“These stem cells are used to treat oncological diseases, in particular leukemia. The treatment of this blood cancer is done through chemotherapy, a very intensive treatment which will kill the cancer cells, but also the stem cells. (. ..) Through this infusion of fetoplacental blood – cord blood – we will be able to reconstitute the immune system which was killed by chemotherapy”explains Professor Jean Villard, doctor at the HUG transplant immunology unit.
It is mainly sick children who benefit from this donation, because the quantity of cells present in umbilical cord blood is often insufficient to treat adults. The patient must also find a compatible pocket to benefit from the donation.
“Once the bag is transported (to the patient), after having thawed it, it will simply be an infusion of this fetoplacental blood. And there, through an operation that I describe as ‘almost miraculous’, the stem cells will be capable of returning to their site, the bone marrow, to continue producing the different lineages of blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells, etc.adds Professor Villard.
In France, cord blood transplantation represents approximately 8% of total hematopoietic stem cell transplants, and up to 27% in children. Bone marrow donation remains the primary source of these transplants. This also contains stem cells used to produce blood cells.
Cord blood thus represents a complementary source, offering patients more chances of recovery. The reserves are all linked to a file which currently brings together 800,000 units or bags of cord blood stored around the world.
How can healthcare providers effectively communicate the importance of umbilical cord blood donation to expecting parents to increase participation rates?
1. What are the main advantages of umbilical cord blood donation and storage for medical purposes?
2. How has the practice of cord blood donation evolved over time, and what are the current trends in terms of donor rates and patient populations being treated with this type of therapy?
3. What are the challenges associated with raising awareness about umbilical cord blood donation among parents and healthcare professionals, and how can these barriers be overcome?
4. How does the storage and preparation process for fetoplacental blood bank work, and what measures are taken to ensure the safety and efficacy of the collected blood?
5. Can you discuss the scientific research and clinical trials underway to explore alternative therapies using umbilical cord blood and its potential for treating other diseases beyond leukemia?
6. How is the availability and access to fetoplacental blood banks and cord blood units affected by geographical location and socio-economic factors?
7. What role do ethical considerations play in the collection and use of umbilical cord blood, and how are these issues being addressed in the healthcare and research communities?
8. In terms of public health policies, are there any initiatives being proposed or implemented to promote cord blood donation on a larger scale and improve access to this potentially life-saving resource?
