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Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT), also known as a Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT), is a highly specialized treatment used to manage serious blood disorders, bone marrow failure syndromes, immune disorders, and blood cancers. For many patients, it offers the best chance for long-term remission or cure when conventional treatments are no longer effective.

At Rajagiri Hospital, Kochi, we provide advanced Bone Marrow Transplant in Kerala through a dedicated multidisciplinary transplant program. Our team of experienced hematologists, hemato-oncologists, transplant physicians, infectious disease specialists, intensivists, pathologists, transfusion medicine experts, and specialized transplant nurses work together to deliver safe, evidence-based, and personalized care.

From diagnosis and donor evaluation to transplantation, rehabilitation, and long-term follow-up, every stage of treatment is carefully planned to help patients achieve the best possible outcomes.

What is Bone Marrow Transplant?

Bone marrow is the soft tissue inside our bones responsible for producing red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. When the bone marrow becomes damaged due to diseases such as leukemia, lymphoma, aplastic anemia, or inherited blood disorders, it can no longer produce healthy blood cells.
A Bone Marrow Transplant replaces diseased or damaged bone marrow with healthy blood-forming stem cells. These stem cells gradually restore normal blood production, strengthen the immune system, and improve the body's ability to fight infections.
Depending on the patient's condition, stem cells may be collected from the patient or from a compatible donor. 

Who Needs a Bone Marrow Transplant?

Leukemia

Lymphoma

Multiple Myeloma

Aplastic Anemia

Thalassemia Major

Sickle Cell Disease

Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)

Certain inherited immune deficiency disorders

Selected childhood cancers such as Neuroblastoma

Bone Marrow Transplant Procedure

The Bone Marrow Transplant process involves several carefully coordinated stages. 

How it Works:

Comprehensive Evaluation

Donor Matching

Stem Cell Collection

Conditioning Therapy

Stem Cell Infusion

Engraftment and Recovery

types of bone marrow transplants

1. Autologous Bone Marrow Transplant
In an autologous transplant, the patient’s own stem cells are used.

How it works: Healthy stem cells are collected from the patient's blood or bone marrow before they undergo high-dose chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The collected cells are frozen and stored. After the intense cancer treatment destroys the remaining diseased cells (and unfortunately, the healthy marrow), the stored stem cells are thawed and infused back into the patient's body to rebuild the immune system.

Main Advantage: There is virtually no risk of the body rejecting the cells or developing a serious complication called Graft-versus-Host Disease (GvHD), because the cells are the patient's own.

Commonly used for: Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.

2. Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplant
In an allogeneic transplant, the stem cells come from a donor. The donor's tissue type must closely match the patient's genetic markers (HLA matching) to reduce the risk of complications.

How it works: The patient undergoes chemotherapy or radiation to destroy their diseased bone marrow. Then, they receive the healthy stem cells harvested from the donor.

Types of Donors:

Matched Related Donor: Usually a sibling who is a perfect genetic match.

Matched Unrelated Donor (MUD): An anonymous volunteer donor found through a national or international bone marrow registry.

Haploidentical Transplant: A "half-match" donor, typically a parent, child, or sibling.

Umbilical Cord Blood Transplant: Stem cells are taken from a newborn's umbilical cord blood after birth and stored in a cord blood bank for whoever needs them.

Main Benefit: The donor cells can create a new immune system that actively fights any remaining cancer cells (known as the "graft-versus-tumor" effect).

Commonly used for: Leukemias (AML, ALL), myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and certain non-cancerous blood disorders like aplastic anemia or sickle cell disease.

Donor Evaluation and Stem Cell Matching

Successful transplantation depends greatly on donor compatibility.
Our transplant team performs:

1. HLA typing
2. Donor health screening
3. Infectious disease testing
4. Blood investigations
5. Medical fitness assessment
6. Donor counseling
When a fully matched donor cannot be identified, alternative donor options such as haploidentical transplantation may be considered.

Recovery After Bone Marrow Transplant

Recovery varies depending on the transplant type, underlying disease, and the patient's overall health.

Recovery care includes:

1. Protective isolation
2. Infection prevention
3. Nutritional support
4. Blood count monitoring
5. Medication management
6. Rehabilitation
7. Long-term follow-up

Although hospitalization may last several weeks, immune recovery continues over the following months. Regular follow-up is essential to monitor progress and manage any complications.

Risks and Possible Complications

Bone Marrow Transplant is a complex procedure, and some patients may experience complications.
Possible risks include

1. Infection
2. Fatigue
3. Low blood counts
4. Nausea
5. Bleeding
6. Organ-related complications
7. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in donor transplants

 

At Rajagiri Hospital, patients receive treatment in specialized transplant units equipped with advanced infection-control measures and continuous multidisciplinary monitoring to minimize these risks.

Why Choose Rajagiri Hospital for Bone Marrow Transplant in Kerala?

 
Comprehensive transplant care delivered by experienced specialists, advanced technology, and a patient-centered approach.
Expertise
Experienced Hematologists & BMT Specialists
Dedicated Bone Marrow Transplant Team
Evidence-Based Transplant Protocols
Advanced Technology
Dedicated HEPA-Filtered BMT Units
Advanced Stem Cell Processing Laboratory
Modern Diagnostic & Molecular Testing Facilities
Patient-Centered Care
Personalized treatment plans
Rehabilitation and therapy support
Long-Term Follow-Up & Rehabilitation

OUR EXPERT TEAM

Schedule an appointment with the Bone Marrow Transplant specialists at Rajagiri Hospital, Kochi, to discuss your diagnosis, donor options, and personalized treatment plan.

Dr. Roy J Palatty

Consultant - Clinical Hematology, Hemato-Oncology, Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy

Dr. Nikhil M Kumar

Consultant - Clinical Hematology, Hemato-Oncology, Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy

Frequently
Asked Questions

01 What is a Bone Marrow Transplant?

A Bone Marrow Transplant is a procedure that replaces diseased or damaged bone marrow with healthy blood-forming stem cells to restore normal blood cell production.

02 Which diseases can be treated with Bone Marrow Transplant?

Bone Marrow Transplant is commonly used to treat leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, aplastic anemia, thalassemia, sickle cell disease, MDS, and several inherited blood disorders. 

03 Who can donate bone marrow?

 

Healthy individuals who are medically fit and have suitable HLA compatibility may be eligible to donate stem cells.

04 Is Bone Marrow Transplant painful?

The transplant itself is similar to a blood transfusion. Some discomfort may occur during stem cell collection or conditioning therapy, but these are managed by the medical team. 

05 How long does recovery take after Bone Marrow Transplant?

Initial recovery usually takes several weeks, while complete immune system recovery may take several months depending on the transplant type. 

06 What are the common side effects?

Common side effects include fatigue, nausea, infections, low blood counts, and, in donor transplants, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). 

07 What is the success rate of Bone Marrow Transplant?

The success rate depends on factors such as the patient's age, underlying disease, donor compatibility, and overall health. Early diagnosis and treatment improve outcomes.

08 Why choose Rajagiri Hospital for Bone Marrow Transplant in Kerala?

Rajagiri Hospital combines experienced transplant specialists, advanced infrastructure, evidence-based treatment protocols, multidisciplinary care, and dedicated transplant support services to provide comprehensive Bone Marrow Transplant care for patients from Kerala, across India, and internationally. 

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