Cord Blood Banking - More Options for Expecting Parents

Cord Blood Banking:
As life-threatening diseases, such as many types of cancer, become more commonplace, more and more parents are turning to placental and cord blood banking to help them secure potentially lifesaving treatment options their children may one day need.

Cord blood has been successfully used to treat more than 8,000 patients with some 80 known diseases, including leukemia and other cancers. Today, thousands of patients are searching for suitable stem cell units, such as those found in Cord Blood, to treat cancer or Cord Blood disorders. Unfortunately, despite 7 million donors on registries around the world, more than 30% of patients requiring stem cell transplants are unable to find a suitable match. The proportion of unsuccessful searches is even greater among patients not of Northern European descent.

There are two unique ways for parents of a newborn to save stem cells to help them prepare for their family's potential future health needs. The first is the more traditional method of collecting stem cells from the umbilicalCord Blood immediately after birth. This noninvasive method is quick and painless for both baby and mother, and may offer parents the peace of mind they seek from having secured treatment options that may one day save their families.

 The second method of Cord Blood Banking is also noninvasive, quick and painless for both baby and mother. It involves collecting placenta-derived stem cells in addition to cord blood stem cells. This procedure increases the total number of stem cells banked and yields two separate stem cell collections, which increases treatment options.

 For example, if there was a need for stem cells, one collection could potentially be used for the baby and the other for another family member, assuming a suitable match. Also of importance is the fact that increasing the total number of cells transplanted improves the potential for a successful treatment. Another advantage of collecting placenta-derived stem cells in addition to traditional cord blood banking, is that the placenta is 10X richer in CD34+ cells, which studies show are the cells that matter most for treatment success and survival.

Placental and cord blood banking may become even more valuable in the future with exciting research under way to find new medical uses in areas such as: diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, muscular dystrophy, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke, and even spinal Cord Blood Banking injury. Many parents see placental and cord blood banking as valuable tools to help them secure potentially lifesaving treatment options their families may some day need.

LifebankUSA is currently the only cord blood banking provider to offer the option to collect stem cells from two of the richest sources of blood forming stem cells: the placenta and cord blood. For more information, please visit the company's website.

1.The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Cord blood stem cell transplantation. Accessed February 16, 2007.

2. Wagner, J, et al: Blood 2000 (5):1611-1618

3. Stem Cell Research Foundation. Frequently asked questions. Accessed February 6, 2007.

4. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Cell-based therapies for regenerative and reparative medicine: vision, scope, and directions. Bethesda, Md: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; 200.(Cord Blood) Banking

Lifebank USA is a company specializing in cord blood banking. They are the only group that offers both umbilical and placenta cord blood banking [http://www.lifebankusa.com/placentacord.php]. Those interested in this potentially life-saving procedure can learn more by visiting http://www.lifebankusa.com/.Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Y._Tilden