What To Expect Before a Blood and Marrow Stem Cell Transplant

Finding a Donor

If you're going to get stem cells from another person, your doctors will want to find a donor whose stem cells match yours as closely as possible.

A close match can reduce the risk that your immune system will attack the donor cells. It also reduces the risk that cells from the donor's marrow or blood will attack your body.

HLA Tissue Typing

People having transplants are matched with donors through a test called HLA tissue typing. HLAs are proteins found on the surface of white blood cells. Your immune system uses HLAs to tell which cells belong to you and which don't.

Because HLA markers are inherited, an identical twin is the best donor match. Brothers or sisters also can be good matches. However, many people don't have a good match in their families.

If no matching donor is found in your family, the search widens to include people outside the family. Millions of volunteer donors are registered with the National Marrow Donor Program. Your doctors will look for:

• Donors who are an HLA match but not a family member
• Family members who aren't exact HLA matches
• Unrelated donors who aren't exact HLA matches
• Umbilical cord blood that's an HLA match

People who provide their own stem cells for later use don't need to go through HLA matching.

Medical Tests and Exams

You also will need other medical tests and exams before a stem cell transplant. Your doctors will want to make sure you're healthy enough to have a transplant. They also will want to find out whether you have any medical problems that could cause complications after the transplant.

Blood Tests

Blood tests are used to check for HIV, herpes, pregnancy, and other conditions. These tests help doctors learn about your overall health.

Chest X Ray and Lung Function Tests

A chest x ray creates a picture of the structures in your chest, such as your heart and lungs. It can show whether your heart is enlarged or whether your lungs have extra blood flow or extra fluid.

Lung function tests tell doctors whether you have a lung infection or disease. They also show how well your blood is able to carry oxygen through your body.

Computed Tomography Scan, Skeletal X Ray, or Bone Scan

These tests provide detailed images of your body. They're used to see whether you have any tumors in your bones that might complicate a transplant.

Dental Exam

A complete dental exam is used to check for problems that might cause an infection after your transplant.

Heart Tests

Heart tests, including EKG (electrocardiogram) and echocardiography, are used to find any conditions that might get worse after the transplant.

An EKG detects and records your heart’s electrical activity. Echocardiography uses sound waves to create a moving picture of your heart. The picture shows how well your heart is working and its size and shape.

Bone Marrow Biopsy

A bone marrow biopsy helps show whether your bone marrow is making enough healthy blood cells. If you're being treated for a blood cancer, this test shows whether your cancer is inactive.