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Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
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<p>Hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) is the <a href="/facts/Organ_transplantation/1jNvVJn6">transplantation</a> of <a href="/facts/Multipotent_hematopoietic_stem_cell/RQNE9IRu">multipotent hematopoietic stem cells</a>, usually derived from <a href="/facts/Bone_marrow/4dfudk0H">bone marrow</a>, <a href="/facts/Peripheral_blood/JWpftkEr">peripheral blood</a>, or <a href="/facts/Umbilical_cord_blood/Nh9ChjmE">umbilical cord blood</a>, in order to replicate inside a patient and produce additional normal blood cells. HSCT may be <a href="/facts/Autologous_stem_cell_transplantation/xfqUAmlR">autologous</a> (the patient's own stem cells are used), <a href="/facts/Syngeneic_stem_cell_transplantation/Qe7E0RQB">syngeneic</a> (stem cells from an <a href="/facts/Identical_twin/9QSssff4">identical twin</a>), or <a href="/facts/Allotransplantation/WfJs449u">allogeneic</a> (stem cells from a donor). </p><p>It is most often performed for patients with certain <a href="/facts/Cancer/PVW6n1D0">cancers</a> of the <a href="/facts/Blood/03zEulkj">blood</a> or bone marrow, such as <a href="/facts/Multiple_myeloma/Pp9Tt33l">multiple myeloma</a>, <a href="/facts/Leukemia/WpEfW0Qh">leukemia</a>, some types of <a href="/facts/Lymphoma/418wcMEl">lymphoma</a> and <a href="/facts/Immunodeficiency/CIEujXmc">immune deficiencies</a>. In these cases, the recipient's immune system is usually suppressed with <a href="/facts/Radiation_therapy/j60q5EC6">radiation</a> or <a href="/facts/Chemotherapy/fWTLbaUT">chemotherapy</a> before the transplantation. Infection and <a href="/facts/Graft-versus-host_disease/UjspvMVa">graft-versus-host disease</a> are major complications of allogeneic HSCT. </p><p>HSCT remains a dangerous procedure with many possible complications; it is reserved for patients with life-threatening diseases. As survival following the procedure has increased, its use has expanded beyond cancer to <a href="/facts/Autoimmune_diseases/sojBeQ7t">autoimmune diseases</a> and hereditary <a href="/facts/Skeletal_dysplasia/YnW1Gpe3">skeletal dysplasias</a>, notably <a href="/facts/Malignant_infantile_osteopetrosis/Ua9ETHNj">malignant infantile osteopetrosis</a> and <a href="/facts/Mucopolysaccharidosis/lD9ECGHX">mucopolysaccharidosis</a>. </p>