Final answer:
A bone marrow transplant involves replacing a patient's diseased marrow with healthy marrow from a compatible donor to treat severe anemia forms or certain cancers like leukemia. The matching process is crucial to avoid immune rejection, and once infused, the new marrow produces healthy blood cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The transplantation of healthy bone marrow from a donor to a patient to stimulate the formation of blood cells is known as a bone marrow transplant. This procedure is a critical treatment for patients with certain forms of anemia, such as thalassemia major and sickle cell anemia, as well as for those suffering from specific types of cancer, including leukemia. The intent is to replace a patient's diseased or damaged bone marrow with healthy marrow from a compatible donor.
For a successful bone marrow transplant, a matching donor is crucial to minimize the risk of tissue rejection by the recipient's immune system. The patient's existing marrow must first be eliminated using radiation or chemotherapy treatments. Afterward, the donor's healthy stem cells are intravenously infused into the recipient's bloodstream, where they migrate to establish themselves in the bone marrow, commencing the production of new, healthy blood cells.
When performed successfully, a bone marrow transplant can significantly improve or even cure the patient's condition by allowing the new marrow to produce healthy erythrocytes (red blood cells), leukocytes (white blood cells), and other formed elements necessary for proper bodily function.