Choose the first letter of the word or the term you're looking for.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A
Allograft
A transplant using cells from a healthy unrelated donor.
Autograft
A transplant using the patient’s own cells. Stem cells are collected, diseased cells removed and healthy cells returned to the patient.
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B
Bone marrow
Found in the centre of all hollow large bones. It is where primitive blood stem cells (blood stem cells) are produced. Blood stem cells develop into the blood platelets and red and white blood cells.
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C
Chemotherapy
The use of chemical substances to treat disease. In its modern-day use, it refers almost exclusively to drugs that are used to treat cancer.
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D
Donor
The related or unrelated person who donates their bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells for transplant to a patient.
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E
Engraftment
The acceptance of the donor’s healthy blood stem cells after they are infused into the patient’s own blood stream. If they are engrafted, the donor’s blood stem cells then begin to produce normal blood cells.
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G
G-CSF
If a donor chooses to donate his peripheral blood stem cells he receives an injection of Granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-SCF). This stimulates the production of certain white blood cells in the bone marrow and in the blood. G-CSF also ensures that the stem cells are released from the bone marrow into the blood.
Graft
Another name for the bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells that are collected from the donor and transplanted into the patient.
Graft versus Leukaemia (GvL)
Graft versus Leukaemia (GvL) is a beneficial immune response in which white blood cells from the donor attack and destroy patient leukaemia cells.
GvHD – graft versus host disease
Graft versus host disease. A patient’s immune normally identifies 'foreign' cells in the body, such as bacteria or viruses, and attacks them, helping to protect against infection. Sometimes the patient's new immune system recognises the patient as different from the bone marrow donor. As a result the donor's white cells, living in the patient, will attack the patient (its host).
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H
Harvest
The process of collecting the bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells from the donor.
Hematology
Study of the blood
HLA
human leucocyte antigen - the name for the antigens that determine the tissue type and that have to be matched between the donor and the patient. These molecules exist in many very similar but different forms.
Host
The patient (recipient) who receives donated stem cells
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L
Leukaemia
Leukaemia is a cancer of the white blood cells.
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M
Match
Patient and donor have the same tissue types
Mis-match
Patient and donor have different tissue types
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P
Peripheral blood stem cells
The blood stem cells that circulate the body.
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R
Radiotherapy
The treatment of disease by radiation.
Red blood cell
A cell type present in blood involved in transporting oxygen throughout the body
Related donor
A donor who is ‘blood-related’ to the patient.
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T
Tissue-type
An individual’s tissue-type is defined by the characteristics of six genes (A, B, C, DRB1, DQB1 and DPB1), collectively known as the human leukocyte antigen group (HLA). Testing for HLA antigens, known as “tissue-typing”, is usually performed on a small blood sample and involves analysing the genes that code for the HLA proteins.
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U
Unrelated donor
A donor who is not blood related to the patient.
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W
White blood cell
A type of cell present in blood involved in the immune response to fight infection.
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