Cord blood
The power of cord blood
The cord blood which remains in the umbilical cord following birth
and after the cord is cut is a valuable source of stem cells which
are the perfect DNA match for that child.
Storing the cord blood enables that child to receive
autologous (i.e. their own) stem cell transplants later in life,
however this is a decision that parents need to make in advance of
the birth, by registering with a cord blood bank.
The cord blood collection process is simple and painless
for both mother and child, and happens straight after the baby is
delivered. There are no adverse side-effects of cord blood
collection for the mother or child.
Cord blood transplants have been saving lives since 1988
when the first cord blood transplant took place in France, to treat
a child with Fanconi's Anaemia. Since then, cord blood has been
used in over 20,000 transplants to treat numerous childhood
conditions, most notably in oncology, for which it is a standard
treatment option used to rebuild the immune system following
chemotherapy and radiation.
Stem cell research is a rapidly evolving area of medicine which
is likely to produce significant breakthroughs in the treatment and
cure of degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's
disease.
There is also a growing body of research which shows that
a child's own cord blood may play a role in the treatment of other
conditions, such as spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury,
cerebral palsy and Type 1 diabetes.
In New Zealand, cord blood stored with CordBank has
already been used to save the lives of three children suffering
from birth-related brain injuries, and stage four cancer
(Neuroblastoma). A fourth child is currently seeking
treatment.
Maia Friedlander was the firstNew Zealandchild to be
successfully treated with her own cord blood after suffering oxygen
deprivation at birth which left her "disconnected" and
developmentally delayed. In 2008, Maia was reinfused with her own
cord blood at DukeUniversity in the United States by Dr Joanna
Kurtzberg, a leading pediatric oncologist. Two years on from her
reinfusion, Maia is at school and enjoying a fulfilling family
life.
A second child, who had been diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 2
years old following a traumatic birth, also underwent a successful
autologous cord blood reinfusion at Duke University in 2010, and a
third child is currently seeking treatment.
In 2007, cord blood stored at CordBank was used in an
autologous stem cell transplant to treat four-year old, Frances
Everall who was diagnosed with a stage four Neuroblastoma at
Starship Hospital in Auckland. Following rigorous cancer treatment,
a simple reinfusion with Frances' own cord blood rebuilt her immune
system and restored her to health. Today, Frances is a happy,
healthy, energetic 7 year old with her cancer in full
remission.
Cord blood banking has been available to children and
parents in New Zealand through CordBank since 2002. The company is
licensed by Medsafe, the regulatory arm of the Ministry of
Health.
For a free information pack and DVD, call 0800 CORDBANK,
email info@cordbank.co.nz or
click
here