| The University of Iowa Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program began in 1980 and has grown from a 2-bed unit to a total of approximately 30 beds. The transplants performed at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics may be autologous (patient receives own stem cells), allogeneic (patient receives stem cells from a family member or an unrelated individual), or syngeneic (patient receives stem cells from an identical twin). |
The Adult Blood and Marrow Transplant Unit at
The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
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| The details differ for each type of transplant. It is, therefore, important that you understand fully the course for the type of transplant being considered for you. Some patients may be candidates for certain research studies and will be provided with appropriate counseling and consent forms
Each transplant procedure involves the use of high dose chemotherapy with or without radiation to destroy the diseased marrow or tumor. The precise treatment to be used is dependent on previous treatments you may have received, your type of disease, and the status of your disease (how well controlled your disease has been). If you are to receive stem cells from another person, this therapy must also destroy your immune system so that the new stem cells are not rejected. Whatever approach is used, the concept behind stem cell transplantation remains the same: to destroy the tumor and/or diseased bone marrow, then give back healthy blood–forming stem cells from either the marrow or blood stream to restore bone marrow function. The "stem cell" is a precursor cell that has the capacity to create all the necessary cells in the blood stream.
A consultation visit is highly advisable prior to admission to our transplant unit. This visit will allow you to determine if our program is best for you and it will allow us to determine if what we have to offer is the best fit for your needs. This visit should be scheduled through our transplant patient coordinator in conjunction with your physician. A stem cell transplant usually requires a stay of six to twelve weeks in Iowa City. The first six to eight weeks are usually spent on the Adult Blood and Marrow Transplant Unit. Following discharge from the transplant unit, some patients will be required to stay in Iowa City for intensive monitoring of their progress. Your length of stay in Iowa City will depend upon such things as your type of transplant, complications that may have occurred, and availability of highly specialized medical care in your home community.
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