Many Italian patients every year require a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, the only possible cure for some blood diseases. The search for a compatible donor is a challenge: the possibility of finding a “genetic twin” between non -consanguinei is just 1 out of 100 thousand. And it is here that Adoces Treviso comes into play, which in these days has celebrated 30 years of commitment to spreading the culture of the gift. We talked about it with Alice Vendramin Bandiera, president of Adoces Trevisoasking some questions to understand the importance of this gesture of generosity.
Who are the people we help with the donation of stem cells?
“About 2000 per year are Italian patients with leukemia or other serious pathologies of the hematopoietic system (fabric responsible for the production of blood) such as leukemias, lymphomas, myelomas, medullary aplasia, hemoglobinopathies, autoimmune and others who need the transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells, a procedure that provides for the replacement of the suffering stem cells with sick or ill -stamped cells stem by healthy donor. When a disease is diagnosed that has the indication of the transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells from a housing donor, i.e. from a subject different from the recipient itself (otherwise we would speak of self -transplantation), the patient is addressed to one of the transplant centers where he and his family are subjected to the compatibility test (HLA typing) to establish if the compatible donor is present inside the family. Statistically, two brothers are only 25% likely to be identical HLA, only a part of the sick so it can be transplanted. Recall that another important source for transplants is the blood of the umbilical cord. For patients who do not find suitable donors in the family, the transplant center activates the research at the Italian Ibmdr donor register to verify the availability of a donor or a donation of compatible cord blood ».
What are the age groups or pathologies for which the expectation of a donor is more critical?
«There are no age groups or pathologies for Italian patients. It is very difficult to find compatibility for patients who come from non -European countries living in our country because there are few compatriots in the register “.
Bone marrow donation is often the only hope for those who fight against serious blood diseases. Why is compatibility so rare?
«Finding a compatible HLA donor is extremely rare. The HLA system is a set of genes inherited by the mother and half by the father, generating billions of combinations. If in the family the genetic compatibility is 25%, between non -consanguinei it is very rare, 1: 100,000. That’s why many donors registered in the register are needed, to offer the greatest number of patients the greatest possibilities of finding a compatible one and being able to access the transplant and a new life hope. “
How do you subscribe to the IBMDR register?
«You can enroll in the transfusion medicines present in each hospital. Or you can record in the http: //adocesfed.I platform to check if there are the necessary suitability requirements. If so, we are recalled by the nearest hospital transfusion center, make an interview with the doctor and undergo a simple blood sampling (in some salivary champion centers) for HLA typing, which defines the genetic combination of the potential donor, data that are entered in the Italian register donor’s donors Ibmdr bone “.
What are the basic requirements (age and health) and what are the next steps, from the initial test to the actual donation?
«Anyone, as long as he is healthy and with body weight of more than 50 kg, can become donor of hematopoietic stem cells. He must be between 18 and 36 years old not completed and be in good health. Unfortunately, this age limit excludes thousands of members every year, to whom as many young donors should take over, also involving those who come from other countries they can help, their sick people who need transplant. In the rare case of found compatibility with a patient (1 out of 100000), it is recalled at the same donor center for further insights and, in over 90% of cases, the donation of CSE (hematopoietic stem cells) takes place through the collection of hematopoietic stem cells from peripheral blood (StaminoAFeresi), at a transfusion center, lasting 3-4 hours. “
You talked about approximately 40% of compatible members who do not reach donation. For a donor, when and why does it take place again before or after including the process? How can we work so that there are no more retreats to the last?
“The 2023 register data reported that 25% of the volunteers registered in the Italian Register of Ibmdr donors do not come to the donation, for withdrawal of consent or because there are no requirements to be able to donate. In 2024 this percentage rose to 38%. Unfortunately, many enrollments are made in the squares, perhaps following appeals for a single patient and perhaps they are not well explained that those who enroll in the register do it for all patients, who must remain anonymous. The work of Adoces Treviso, as well as that of the Italian Adoces Federation, is characterized by the effort to spread the “Culture of the gift”, in the belief that without information and awareness it is not possible to internalize the importance of the donation, a gesture that can determine the salvation of a patient pending transplantation. A fundamental commitment, especially in the light of the worrying data of the renunciations to donate: in Italy 4 out of 10 volunteer donors, found compatible with a patient for transplantation, do not finalize the donation. One of the projects that have this goal is “Bimbo Dona Dad Dona”, a project for a family gift, where, alongside the donation of the cord blood, the dad also enrolls in the IBMDR register. Think of the cord blood, today the non -suitable bags for transplantation are however very precious for therapeutic use: from the now consolidated production of platelet gel and eye drops to the most recent uses in the transfusion of premature babies, a program that we will support so that it can be started in Neonatal intensive care of Treviso. “
There is a lot of confusion and fear about donation. In terms of time, pain and health risks, what really ‘costs’ to a bone marrow donor or stem cells?
«A person subjected to the donation of hematopoietic stem cells does not run any risk to health, otherwise it would not be subjected to the donation. Those who register in the register must know that in the event of compatibility it gives over 90% of cases through StaminoAferesi ».
When subscribing to the consent for registration in the register you can choose an option either CSE or marrow or both modes. ” What is the message you give to those who fear that it is too invasive intervention?
“To inquire well, in over 90% of cases it is a blood sampling, before enrolling in the IBMDR register and making yourself available to save a life to a patient waiting for the transplant, and if he is still afraid not to register”.
