Why cord blood transplants are so rare – CBCLow numbers doesn’t mean low importance, says Canadian Blood ServicesNov 14, 2024If it weren’t for a stem cell transplant — less than half a cup of blood from a stranger’s umbilical cord — four-year-old Tristan Ford would almost certainly have died as an infant, his parents say. Ford suffers from Griscelli syndrome, an inherited condition that could cause severe problems with brain function or the immune system. It’s one of the 80 conditions, ranging from blood cancers, blood disorders, immune disorders and metabolic disorders, that doctors currently treat with a stem cell transplant from cord blood. Umbilical cord blood is a rich source of stem cells. They’re more flexible: because a baby’s immune system is less mature, their stem cells can successfully be transplanted to patients, even if the cells don’t perfectly match.
