Stem cells after the birth of a child. Stem cells - everything you wanted to know about cord blood

Girls, today I read an article about fence cord blood on stem cells.

Cord blood preservation: why and how?

Among the many activities that are offered to pregnant women, the collection and storage of umbilical cord blood stands apart. The essence of the procedure is as follows: immediately after childbirth, blood is obtained from the umbilical cord, which belonged to the fetus. The cells isolated from it are frozen and stored in a special bank until they are needed.

The value of cord blood lies in the fact that it contains biologically active stem cells, and therefore is well suited for the needs of cell therapy and transplantation.

Cord blood banks are divided into nominal ones - they store the blood of those children whose parents have entered into an appropriate contract, and register banks created on the basis of gratuitous donation. Any person who needs cord blood for treatment can apply to the register bank. However, the problem is to choose suitable blood it can be very difficult: it is necessary to match the main antigenic systems, otherwise foreign cells will cause a rejection reaction in the patient. Unfortunately, in Russia, the collection of register banks is quite poor, so you often have to look for blood abroad, which takes time (from 6 months to a year) and a lot of money (from 15,000 Euros). A possible way out of this situation is to store own blood even at birth: it will always be available and, if necessary, ideal for transplantation.

Why is cord blood valuable?

Cord blood is rich in hematopoietic stem cells, i.e. progenitor cells of blood elements. They are used for transplantation when their own hematopoiesis is disturbed: with leukemia, severe disorders immune system and other diseases. Opponents of cord blood storage reasonably note that such pathologies, although life-threatening, are rare. However, on the other hand, in the future it is assumed that stem cells will be used for more broad indications. In any case, thousands of cord blood transplants have already been successfully performed, saving the lives of patients with previously considered incurable diseases.

Cord blood is not the only source of hematopoietic cells, but it has a number of advantages: easy and safe obtaining, youth, and therefore high functional activity stem cells and immunological compatibility. In order to use pre-prepared blood, it takes from several days to several weeks.

Cord blood from a newborn can be used to treat other family members. Successful transplants have been documented in parents, grandparents, and even cousins and sisters. However, children of the same parents with many children have the greatest chance of being compatible.

To save or not to save cord blood, each parent decides depending on their financial situation and how necessary they consider this procedure. It should be taken into account that cord blood sampling is especially indicated for those children whose families have experienced severe diseases of the hematopoietic system or already have sick children who can be cured with umbilical cord blood of a brother or sister, as well as ethnic minorities who find it difficult to find a compatible donor in international banks - registers.

How is cord blood collected?

After the baby is born, the midwife ties and cuts the umbilical cord. Then the maternal end of the umbilical cord is processed sterile solution and with the help of a needle, blood is taken from the umbilical vein into a special sterile container with an anticoagulant. Cord blood is usually small, about 80 ml, so it is advisable to additionally extract all the blood in the placenta.

The procedure is completely painless and takes a few minutes. It can be carried out as normal delivery and during caesarean section. Moreover, at multiple pregnancy it is technologically possible to collect cord blood from each of the children.

How are stem cells isolated?

Not later than one day after the sampling, the sample enters the bank. Before sending blood for storage, it must be carefully processed. First, the sample is checked for infections, the blood type and Rh factor are determined, then they are “processed”, that is, a stem cell concentrate is obtained. By using special device remove excess plasma and virtually all red blood cells. The resulting concentrate is analyzed under a microscope to determine cell viability. The next stage is cell freezing, which should not lead to their death. For this purpose, a cryoprotectant is added to prevent the formation of "sharp, cell-tearing" ice crystals. Then the concentrate is smoothly frozen to -90°C and placed in quarantine storage (liquid nitrogen vapor, -150°C), where they are until the moment when the results of all analyzes are ready. Finally, after about 20 days, the samples are transferred to permanent storage (liquid nitrogen, -196°C).

The output is from 5 to 7 tubes of concentrate. In addition to the main test tubes, several satellite test tubes are prepared - they contain minimum volume plasma and cells, sufficient for analysis. For example, if the owner of the blood wants to use it for his relative and needs to check for compatibility, it will not be necessary to thaw the main sample - it will be enough to remove the satellite tube.

How are stem cells stored?

Cord blood cells are stored in special containers with liquid nitrogen in a separate room, located deep underground. low temperature supports special automated system, continuously monitoring the level of liquid nitrogen. It will work even if the central power supply is turned off. The cord blood bank is guarded around the clock.

Studies show that in this state, the cells remain practically intact for many years. Even now there is no doubt that they do not lose their properties in 15-17 years. Theoretically, frozen cells can be stored indefinitely.

Who owns stem cells?

Until the child reaches the age of majority, the supply of cord blood cells belongs to his parent or the person specified in the storage agreement. After the age of majority, the child himself becomes the owner.

How much does the contract cost?

In order to collect, isolate and freeze cord blood cells, you will have to pay a one-time fee of about 2000 Euros. In the future, storage of the sample will cost 3,000 rubles per year (the amount is prescribed in the contract and subsequently does not change).

What should you do if you want to save cord blood?

At any stage of pregnancy, you need to be tested for infections and conclude an agreement. Then, bank employees will deliver a personalized kit with a unique barcode to the maternity hospital in advance, arrange with the doctor and midwife, and ensure the collection and delivery of blood to the bank, where stem cells will be isolated from it.

It does not matter whether paid or free childbirth is supposed, or C-section. If a woman is delivered by ambulance with contractions to the nearest maternity hospital, you should call the 24-hour telephone and report your location - the bank employees will agree with the doctors.

Has anyone used this service? Is she worth it or not? Who gave birth in TsPSiRe, were you offered this service?

Keeping your baby's source of healthy cells possible during childbirth is called - bioinsurance. Cord blood is a source of healthy hematopoietic (blood-forming) stem cells. This valuable biomaterial can be collected only once in a lifetime - at the birth of a child.

The stored cord blood cells, if necessary, will suit not only the child himself, but also, with a high probability, his close relatives: first of all, siblings.

Cord blood cells are used to treat more than 100 diseases: diseases of the blood, the immune system, including oncohematological, and a number of hereditary diseases, as well as cerebral palsy, autism and some others.

How to make a decision?

Stem cell storage should be considered as biological health insurance, especially if the parents have:

desire to protect the child possible problems with health in the future
belonging to rare ethnic groups
older child in need of a stem cell transplant, genetic predisposition to certain diseases

Cord blood collection

The blood collection procedure is simple, painless and safe for both mother and child, and takes no more than 5 minutes. At the time of delivery, after the umbilical cord is cut, the doctor inserts the needle of the blood collection system into the vein of the severed umbilical cord and the blood flows by gravity from the placenta into a sealed bag. The container collects only the blood that after the birth of a child in most maternity hospitals is subject to disposal. At the same time, not a gram of the blood of the newborn or his mother gets into the container.

You should be aware that there are contraindications to cord blood sampling, further isolation and storage of stem cells: positive results mother's blood testing for infectious agents: HIV, hepatitis B, C

Gemabank provides everything necessary for cord blood collection in the form of the following kit: a sterile disposable cord blood collection system, disposable means for sterile blood collection (gloves, alcohol wipes, diapers, etc.), documentation. All consumables are packed in a plastic container for transportation. This kit must be taken with you to the hospital.

Cord blood processing and hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) isolation

After all the blood has been collected, the container in a special package is delivered to the Gemabank laboratory within 36 hours. At the request of the client, delivery can be carried out both independently and by a Gemabank courier.

The Gemabank laboratory is built in accordance with the most stringent global quality and safety GMP standards. Here, in an environment of complete sterility, HSC concentrate is released from the umbilical cord blood. The blood is also tested for infections, blood typing and Rh factor.

Within 5 working days after the delivery of the kit to the laboratory, representatives of Gemabank contact the client and provide information on the volume and number of isolated cells.

According to statistics, about 200 million births occur annually in the world, during which about 20 thousand tons of umbilical cord blood are destroyed. Although many doctors claim that it is extremely valuable. Today, propaganda for the preservation of cord blood has begun to develop actively, and more and more often young parents sign contracts for its cryopreservation in order to have a kind of “insurance” for the child in the future. After all, it is believed that with the help of stem cells that make up its composition, almost all diseases can be cured, including thunderstorms today- oncology. How exactly cord blood works and why stem cells are taken in maternity hospitals - in the material of AiF.ru.

Easier reactions, fewer infections

According to doctors, cord blood and the stem cells in it are much better and healthier than other types of blood. True, we are most often talking about its demand for severe pathologies that require, for example, a long serious treatment or transplants. The advantages of own stem cells are:

Less risk of transmission of hidden viral infections
Less frequency and severity of graft-versus-host disease
No risk to the donor, etc.

Stem cells appear in the embryo from the very beginning of its formation in the womb. At first, they are the internal cell mass, from which all human tissues and organs are later formed. Such cells divide very quickly and turn into 350 cells. various types. Their main property is to protect the body from various pathological microorganisms. As soon as they receive a signal of an "attack", they are sent to the lesion and turn into additional cells of the organ or tissues that fight the infection. Thus, they can help restore balance and replace damaged body parts.

But there is also a minus: over time, stem cells lose their efficiency and weaken, it becomes more difficult for them to deal with stress. And this is where pre-prepared backup options can come to the rescue.

The highest quality concentrate

Today it is considered most correct to take blood from infants. After all, their stem cells are still “fresh”, not deformed and not “tired”. The process of taking blood from the umbilical cord, which, in principle, no one needs after childbirth, since it has already fulfilled its purpose, is automated. Therefore, doctors at the output receive a concentrated composition rich in stem cells. High Quality. The viability of cells after such isolation, as studies show, is 99.9%. For the procedure, parents are given an individual set, which can be given in their hands or immediately delivered to the maternity hospital. The collected blood can even be transported to other regions: the conditions will need to be negotiated with the personnel of the cryobank.

Next comes the cryopreservation procedure. After all, this is the only way to save blood and cells on long term. If necessary, it remains only to defrost them and carry out treatment. According to experts, therapy with such a remedy has been carried out in the world for 15 years. In the list of areas in which they fight diseases through such treatment:

Oncology
Hematology
Gastroenterology
Genetics
Gynecology
Dermatology
Cardiology
Neurology
Ophthalmology
Urology
Phlebology
Surgery
Endocrinology

How are cells stored?

Before storing cells, they must be prepared for freezing. To do this, they are placed in special cryocontainers, which are plastic bags or test tubes. What exactly will be used is determined by the amount of material. Each stem cell sample must be labeled and a unique code consisting of numbers or strokes is used for this. Later, all information is entered into a special database and duplicated, so that the probability of errors is 100% eliminated.

Stem cells are soft-frozen in special facilities that maintain the optimal cooling rate and allow them to maintain their maximum viability.

Containers with cells after freezing are placed in separate boxes and immersed in liquid nitrogen. Thus, they are protected from external influence to keep them active for long period time. The electronic sensors that are in the storage facilities are responsible for monitoring the level of nitrogen around the clock without interruption.

It should be borne in mind that such a procedure is not from the category of cheap ones. So, on average, the cost of cord blood sampling is 70,000 rubles. And subsequent storage is determined by the conditions of different cryobanks, but on average, each month will cost 10,000 rubles.

The value of cord blood lies in the fact that it contains biologically active stem cells, and therefore is well suited for the needs of cell therapy and transplantation.

Cord blood banks are divided into nominal ones - they store the blood of those children whose parents have entered into an appropriate contract, and register banks created on the basis of gratuitous donation. Any person who needs cord blood for treatment can apply to the register bank. However, the problem is that it can be very difficult to find the right blood: it is necessary to match the main antigenic systems, otherwise foreign cells will cause a rejection reaction in the patient. Unfortunately, in Russia, the collection of register banks is quite poor, so you often have to look for blood abroad, which takes time (from 6 months to a year) and a lot of money (from 15,000 Euros). A possible way out of this situation is to store your own blood at birth: it will always be available and, if necessary, ideal for transplantation.

The cord blood preservation procedure is well developed and available on a contract basis to any parents - only few people have heard of it. We decided to find out more about this possibility and turned to the leading nominal cord blood bank for information. The Bank of Stem Cells "CryoCentre", created on the basis of the Scientific Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology.

Why is cord blood valuable?

Cord blood is rich in hematopoietic stem cells, i.e. progenitor cells of blood elements. They are used for transplantation when their own hematopoiesis is disturbed: with leukemia, severe disorders of the immune system and other diseases. Opponents of cord blood storage reasonably note that such pathologies, although life-threatening, are rare. However, on the other hand, in the future it is assumed that stem cells will be used for a wider range of indications. In any case, thousands of cord blood transplants have already been successfully performed, saving the lives of patients with previously considered incurable diseases.

Cord blood is not the only source of hematopoietic cells, but it has a number of advantages: easy and safe collection, youth, and therefore high functional activity of stem cells and immunological compatibility. In order to use pre-prepared blood, it takes from several days to several weeks.

Cord blood from a newborn can be used to treat other family members. Successful transplants have been documented in parents, grandparents, and even cousins. However, children of the same parents with many children have the greatest chance of being compatible.

How is cord blood collected?

After the baby is born, the midwife ties and cuts the umbilical cord. Then the maternal end of the umbilical cord is treated with a sterile solution and blood is taken from the umbilical vein with a needle into a special sterile container with an anticoagulant. Cord blood is usually small, about 80 ml, so it is advisable to additionally extract all the blood in the placenta.

The procedure is completely painless and takes a few minutes. It can be performed both during normal childbirth and during a caesarean section. Moreover, in case of multiple pregnancies, it is technologically possible to collect cord blood from each of the children.

How are stem cells isolated?

Not later than one day after the sampling, the sample enters the bank. Before sending blood for storage, it must be carefully processed. First, the sample is checked for infections, the blood type and Rh factor are determined, then they are “processed”, that is, a stem cell concentrate is obtained. With the help of a special device, excess plasma and almost all red blood cells are removed. The resulting concentrate is analyzed under a microscope to determine cell viability. The next stage is cell freezing, which should not lead to their death. For this purpose, a cryoprotectant is added to prevent the formation of "sharp, cell-tearing" ice crystals. Then the concentrate is smoothly frozen to -90°C and placed in quarantine storage (liquid nitrogen vapor, -150°C), where they are until the moment when the results of all analyzes are ready. Finally, after about 20 days, the samples are transferred to permanent storage (liquid nitrogen, -196°C).

The output is from 5 to 7 tubes of concentrate. In addition to the main tubes, several satellite tubes are prepared - they contain the minimum volume of plasma and cells sufficient for analysis. For example, if the owner of the blood wants to use it for his relative and needs to check for compatibility, it will not be necessary to thaw the main sample - it will be enough to remove the satellite tube.

How are stem cells stored?

Cord blood cells are stored in special containers with liquid nitrogen in a separate room located deep underground. The low temperature is maintained by a special automated system that continuously monitors the level of liquid nitrogen. It will work even if the central power supply is turned off. The cord blood bank is guarded around the clock.

Who owns stem cells?

How much does the contract cost?

What should you do if you want to save cord blood?

At any stage of pregnancy, you need to come to the cord blood bank, get tested for infections and conclude an agreement. Then, bank employees will deliver a personalized kit with a unique barcode to the maternity hospital in advance, arrange with the doctor and midwife, and ensure the collection and delivery of blood to the bank, where stem cells will be isolated from it.

It does not matter whether paid or free births or caesarean sections are supposed. If a woman is delivered by ambulance with contractions to the nearest maternity hospital, you should call the 24-hour telephone and report your location - the bank employees will agree with the doctors.

Appeared in maternity hospitals the new kind fraud

Today, in antenatal clinics and maternity hospitals, pregnant women are subjected to aggressive marketing by unusual "consultants". They convince already suspicious women in labor that only umbilical cord blood will cure their babies if they get cancer, diabetes - and so on. medical directory. And then they offer to collect, freeze and store this blood "for only 90 thousand rubles." "ХХХХ" conducted an investigation and found out: "consultants" are lying, cord blood does not cure diseases. But businessmen earn hundreds of millions of rubles a year on it. And employees of maternity hospitals actually became distributors in this cynical business.

I came to the Moscow Maternity Hospital No. 4 for courses for pregnant women. On the stands, along with brochures on child care, booklets of the XXXX stem cell bank are placed. Before that, I did not know anything about this service - the isolation of stem cells from the umbilical cord blood of a newborn. But as soon as I registered on specialized forums, my mail was bombarded with advertisements. “The use of stem cells in oncological diseases, such as leukemia, makes it possible to start treatment in a timely manner, without wasting time looking for a donor. bone marrow”, the stem cell bank assured me. Magazines for pregnant women are full of reviews of stars who have entrusted the bank with “the most expensive”. The service costs about 60 thousand rubles for cell isolation and 4 thousand for each year of storage. You can pay immediately for 20 years of storage - 90 thousand.

Untimely death of the bone marrow

Classes in the maternity hospital begin. Seven women, weighed down by the stomachs of the third trimester, pass into the hall. Today a neonatologist talks about breast-feeding. Somewhere in the middle of the lecture, he says:

- During childbirth, cord blood stem cells are collected from us. They protect the child and his relatives from oncology! Both from cerebral palsy and from senile dementia even being treated! Now I will give you discount coupons, they have my name on them. Show them in "ХХХХ" - he signs the papers.

The Moscow market was divided into three banks of stem cells: "ХХХХ", "ХХХХ" and the bank at "ХХХХ". If parents decide to donate stem cells to a company that is “unfriendly” to the maternity hospital, the maternity hospital requires an additional payment of 2,000 to 10,000. These banks have branches in other cities of Russia, they have competitors only in St. Petersburg and Samara. All this is very reminiscent network marketing, and the role of distributors is played by employees of maternity hospitals and clinics.

The next day, maternity class begins with a visit from a closet-like aunt in a white coat who introduces herself as the OB-GYN from XXXX. In fact, we paid 1.5 thousand rubles each to be told about the course of childbirth for two hours. But the obstetrician-gynecologist begins to explain to us that sometimes children get blood cancer:

- There are situations when the bone marrow is either seriously damaged or completely disappears, because radiation or chemotherapy is performed. And this is the main source of immunity and hematopoiesis. A person who does not have a bone marrow cannot be among us - this air is deadly for him!

Expectant mothers have a cold heart, as if the bone marrow of their children has already disappeared.

“Therefore, it is desirable that each child has biological insurance in the form of their own stem cells. They can be used for transplantation not only for a child, but also for parents and brothers and sisters. In addition to oncology, stem cells have already begun to treat cardiovascular diseases, cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease. In this maternity hospital, two daughters of a father with Parkinson's disease gave birth to three children, all of whom had stem cells for storage. These cells were subsequently injected into the father, i.e. grandfather, and provided remission for 15 years! — The consultant's eyes glow like those of a Jehovah's Witness, broadcasting about the imminent second coming of Christ.

And none of us doubted the story of "grandfather's cure", although 15 years ago there was not a single stem cell bank in Russia, and Parkinson's disease was not treated with umbilical cord blood even abroad.

Excursion to the cryostorage

Every Thursday on "XXXX" day open doors for pregnant. Considering the scale of the advertisement, I expected to see a luxurious office. After all, there is "a sterile laboratory where the cord blood of 17,000 customers is stored." But the office is located in the back, in a dirty alley. Some kind of scrap metal is lying around in the yard and there is a courier car delivering blood from maternity hospitals. - The room looks like an ordinary real estate office. Today, besides me, two married couples came. We are seated in easy chairs, sipped with tea and immediately handed over to daddy with copies of the contract at a discount that "valid only today." Consultant Olga Mitusova includes a presentation. The procedure is as follows: the midwife collects blood, the parents call the bank, a courier arrives from there and takes the bag that is waiting for him in admissions office maternity hospital. In the laboratory of the bank, a concentrate of stem cells will be isolated from the blood and frozen at a temperature of minus 196 degrees, at which the cells can be stored forever. According to the "consultant", during subsequent defrosting, the bank guarantees that 85-95% of the collected cells will remain alive. However, I did not find this guarantee anywhere in the contract.

“Will there be enough cells to treat the disease?”

- It depends on the volume of cord blood, on how the birth went ... If this oncological disease only enough for a single dose. Perhaps this is not enough for recovery.

But these words are drowned in an hour-long description of the prospects for the treatment of more than 80 diseases and stories of saving children with cancer, diabetes and cerebral palsy.

A man comes out to us, introduces himself as the head of the laboratory, and we head to the cryostorage. Two mothers are coughing, but they don’t give us masks or gowns. We walk along an old corridor with some kind of pipe and crumbling plaster and enter a room with rows of refrigerated containers. Refrigerators have a display with a temperature sensor, a pipe with liquid nitrogen crawls along the floor. Each container holds 1260 blood samples. The head of the laboratory opens the refrigerator, steam comes out from there. He puts on thick gloves, takes out an iron box with cord blood bags, pulls out one sample and proudly displays:

- Can be stored in bags - this is for a single injection, or in several test tubes. The client will grow old and decide to treat his stroke, then you can spend them in parts!

When we leave the cryo-storage, some builders in dirty clothes walk past us. But both couples sign a contract.

Bank owners have no moral principles

Doctor medical sciences Elena Skorobogatova has been the head of the department of bone marrow transplantation of the Russian Pediatrics for almost 20 years. clinical hospital. The department performs about 80 hematopoietic stem cell transplants per year, including from cord blood.

“Cord blood is only used from donors, not your own,” she says. - This is due to the fact that indications for transplantation are severe hereditary diseases of the immune system, leukemia. This is a genetic defect, and it is already present in cord blood.

I open the websites of banks, look at identical lists of diseases that are treated with umbilical cord blood. Almost everywhere the postscript is “hereditary”, that is, one’s own blood is not good. But there is no mention of this on the websites. Maybe cord blood helps at least brothers and sisters?

“Only if we're sure they don't have that genetic defect. But the probability that one of the brothers is a compatible donor is only 25%, disappoints Skorobogatova. — In addition, there are fewer stem cells in cord blood than in bone marrow, and first of all we are looking for a bone marrow donor.

“But in a brochure from one of the banks it says: “Cord blood cells are much less likely to cause complications and be rejected than cells from the bone marrow.”

- It's the opposite: the bone marrow takes root faster, already in the second or third week, and cord blood is more often rejected, and the risk of infection is much greater. This is due to the fact that the body of an adult has already encountered infections, and his bone marrow can provide fast recovery immunity.

- Bank consultants point out that it is very difficult to find a donor, and cord blood is at hand.

- We have access to international base- bone marrow donors, where there are 20.5 million samples, this is enough to find a donor for 85% of patients. And for those who can’t find it, it will be difficult to pick up cord blood. But now there are new transplant processing techniques that allow using stem cells from fathers and mothers who are only half compatible with the child. There is hope that soon the need for transplants will disappear: new drugs and medical technologies are being developed.

- So, cord blood, most likely, will not be useful to all "investors"?

- Yes, almost 100% - never. It can be used in cases of acquired aplastic anemia, poisoning with myelotoxic drugs, or if man will fall to an area with a high level of radiation. The probability of occurrence of these -states is extremely small.

Is it possible to cure diabetes and cerebral palsy with cord blood?

— From hematopoietic cells? In no case! For the treatment of diabetes, there is experience in transplantation of pancreatic islet cells. But cord blood contains only hematopoietic cells. The people who do business with stem cells have no moral principles. The main thing is to set the parent on fire, scare him and force him to lay out a round sum.

- In one of the banks, they told me a story about how parents saved the cord blood of a child, and he was born with cerebral palsy. And they also paid for these cells to be poured into him, after which he began to hold the spoon on his own.

He could start holding a spoon after rehab. At child's body amazing possibilities for restoring brain function. There is no evidence in world science that it was hematopoietic stem cells that helped someone. -To prove the effectiveness, it is necessary to conduct a randomized study: to compare the group that received the cells, and the group that did not receive.

If I were a charlatan

The director of "ХХХХ", Alexander Prikhodko, in a telephone conversation with "ХХХХ" did not deny that cells will not help the child himself in case of blood cancer and a number of hereditary diseases. But they can help a brother or sister, and "ХХХХ" had such a case. One. Out of 17 thousand customers. That is why "XXXX" calls itself "the only bank with a successful experience in transplantation."

— We do not cooperate with private banks. But it was the one the only case, - Elena Skorobogatova says to "ХХХХ". They froze the baby's cord blood to help his sick brother. However, the family could be helped free of charge: if there were indications, cord blood could be frozen in the stem cell bank of the Moscow Health Department. In addition, it is risky to take a sample from a commercial institution and transplant it without any other cellular support. Therefore, we waited for the donor to grow up, took his bone marrow and transplanted it along with cord blood.

Meanwhile, the director of "XXXX" continued to convince me that every parent should save blood - for the sake of prospects:

Oncohematology is just the tip of the iceberg. With the use of umbilical cord blood, diseases of the heart, liver, immune system are treated ...

But when I tried to find out how they are "treated", it turned out that the director himself is aware that the official results clinical trials conducted on randomized groups, no.

- Our website lists diseases in which hematopoietic (those that turn into blood cells. - "XXXX") umbilical cord blood stem cells have shown their effectiveness. But it does not say that this is a mass use.

So those were isolated cases.

- Yes! This does not mean that hematopoietic stem cells are registered as a drug for the treatment this disease. E-if I were a charlatan, I would say: yes, you know, great treatment!

The bone marrow takes root faster, already in the second or third week, and cord blood is more often rejected, and the risk of infection is much greater. This is due to the fact that the body of an adult has already encountered infections.

Indeed, there is nothing to complain about: nowhere, neither on the website, nor in the brochures of three Moscow banks, is there a guarantee that stem cells will cure some kind of sore. Streamlined language like "can help" is everywhere. The catch is that pregnant women perceive this as a guarantee of help.

Here are reviews from the largest forum for pregnant women http://ru-perinatal.livejournal.com/, where the next topic periodically appears “Girls, have you saved cord blood?”: “It is inexpensive to save a life”; “We were told in the courses like “if something happens to a child, you won’t forgive yourself for this” - it became scary ...”; “I will definitely keep the cells. Because my husband has diabetes, because they are actively trying to treat diabetes with stem cells, and there are even results, because there may be some other sore, and I want to lay straws on my child.”

What does another bank, XXXX, say about the benefits of cell storage?

— We have experience in the use of stem cells in pediatric cerebral palsy, - says its representative Lyudmila Bashkina.

- And how can cord blood help with cerebral palsy, if it contains only hematopoietic cells?

- Cord blood also contains mesenchymal stem cells. "XXXX" saves them too! They provide assistance.

I open the site and see that the license of Roszdravnadzor is held by "ХХХХ" only for the isolation of hematopoietic stem cells. And no one dares to say how many mesenchymal ones are in the umbilical cord blood.

- Mesenchymal cells, if necessary, can be cultured from human adipose tissue and bone marrow, this does not require umbilical cord blood! Elena Skorobogatova explains to me.

I continue the interrogation of Lyudmila Bashkina:

- If a child develops blood cancer, can his own saved cells help him?

- Yes! she answers confidently.

- And where in Russia was there an example of a child being injected with his own stem cells for the purpose of treating oncology?

- They already took away from us, however, not oncology, but to treat Fanconi's aplastic anemia, they prepared it from the youngest - the elder fell ill!

- I'm talking about my own cells and oncology.

“We are preparing to send stem cells abroad to treat a child with leukemia.

— But they carry the same genetic mutation!

- It's different, I want to tell you. Some mothers only introduce their own, because strangers can carry a different mutation! - the “consultant” got out, as if the mothers themselves regularly take and inject these cells.

The legitimacy of banks must be questioned

Advertising articles in the Russian media claim that in the West, the collection of cord blood in maternity hospitals is an ordinary service. They just keep silent about we are talking about free cord blood banks. In this case, the stem cells go to a compatible recipient and really turn out to be effective in blood cancer and hereditary diseases immune system.

Americans faced the marketing of private stem cell banks back in the 90s, while the banks had lobbyists in the government who did not allow tightening control over them. The Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics in 1999 (Pediatrics, No. 104. P.116-118) wrote: “Successful cord blood transplants have led commercial companies to encourage parents to save their children's cord blood. The marketing of these companies is a pressure on the emotions of parents. But there is no evidence that children may need their own cord blood in the future.” In addition, the magazine reported, successful transplants have only been performed on small children, because there are not enough cells from the umbilical cord for an adult patient. It spurred medical staff to unethical attempts to collect as much cord blood as possible during childbirth by clamping the cord early, which is dangerous for the child, as it deprives him of iron.

Now Russia is stepping on the same rake. Here is a quote from the XXXX website: “The chance to save the stem cells of a newborn child is given only once in a lifetime - during childbirth. Otherwise, both the umbilical cord and the placenta will be “disposed”, that is, they will be destroyed. The same fate will befall the unique umbilical cord blood that fills their vessels.” This is a lie: the “fate” of being thrown away will not befall the umbilical cord blood, because if it is not collected, it will get for free (including stem cells) to its intended purpose - into the child’s body.

“Maternity hospitals should not encourage the preservation of umbilical cord blood on commercial terms,” writes Leroy Edozien, an obstetrician-gynecologist and head of the research group for the study of reproductive health and childbearing, in XXXXX. “The time spent on cord blood collection is the time taken from the mother, the child and other patients… Collection, labeling and processing of cord blood is an additional burden on the staff.” Edozien asks the question: if the sample was contaminated or mislabeled, who is responsible in this case: the hospital, the midwife, or the bank? The scientist warns that when collecting blood, there is a high risk of bacteria from biological fluids accompanying childbirth.

In Russia, the quality of the collection is simply not monitored by anyone.

The World Association of Bone Marrow Donors published on its website a warning “On the possibility of autologous -use (use for oneself. - "XXXX") of umbilical cord blood", where with extensive - evidence base informs that it will not be possible to use one's own cord blood either today or in the future, and those who claim that heart attacks, diabetes and Parkinson's disease can be cured with hematopoietic cells are scammers.

Russian banks have licenses from Roszdravnadzor ("ХХХХ" checked their validity) to carry out medical care collection, transportation and storage of stem cells. We cannot call these banks fraudsters, just as it is impossible to call organizations licensed for the right to extract oxygen from the air, transport and store it, as fraudsters. The state cannot prohibit the storage of oxygen in case someone fears its shortage in the future.

How much do banks earn from the blood of babies? From the report of the Institute of Human Stem Cells, of which XXXX is a division, it follows that the proceeds from the sale of contracts for the storage of cord blood stem cells for the nine months of 2012 amounted to 172.3 million rubles, from January to November 2012 the company concluded 2864 contracts - a quarter more than last year. Other banks do not disclose financial statements, but according to indirect signs it can be seen that the growth rate of their business is also high.

“We can collect cord blood,” banners on the websites of Moscow maternity hospitals say. When "XXXX" tried to check with the staff State Center family planning and reproduction, why they, like other maternity hospitals, “sold out”, we were told: “What does “sold out” mean? This is a voluntary commercial service." Say, if you don't want it, don't buy it. Only here the financing of any maternity hospital depends on the number of women in labor. For many of them, the refusal to provide cord blood collection services is a reason to give birth in another institution. What is Cord Blood Preservation for Pregnancy? The dream is to save the child from diseases. Today this dream has become available even poor family: the initial payment for a blood loan fell to 15 thousand rubles.

Help "XXXX"

Who cashes in on young mothers

Top 10 Dubious Services

DNA analysis of cord blood for genetic diseases

RUB 16,500

The essence of the service Analysis of the umbilical cord blood of an already born child. Here it is offered private consultation genetics, which will tell you what dangers a baby “carries” in itself and what you should do to protect future generations.

Why the benefit is doubtful The likelihood that the child will have any genetic disease, if at birth he is declared healthy, is minimal. And if the disease manifests itself, it is diagnosed in the district clinic. As for the consultation of a geneticist, if there are indications for such, it can be obtained free of charge. But paid clinics convince that every responsible mother should visit this specialist.

Osteopath

The essence of the service A specialist from the field of alternative medicine, able to save a pregnant woman from all the movements of her hands side effects pregnancy, including toxicosis and the threat of miscarriage.

Why the benefit is doubtful Of course, good massage hasn't harmed anyone yet. But it is very difficult to test its effectiveness, often it is a placebo effect. And to pay an unknown uncle to “turn over” a child in the womb from breech presentation to normal, definitely risky. Advertising promises that a good osteopath also treats infertility, dispersing blood in the pelvic organs. The method of "acceleration" is not specified, but if the osteopath is handsome, the traditional one will do.

Clothing with protection against electromagnetic radiation

3500 rubles / piece

The essence of the service A pregnant woman is terribly afraid of harming her baby with a microwave and a computer. From this evil the embryo will save special clothing with "silver threads" on the belly.

Why the benefits are doubtful Harm to the fetus from home electromagnetic radiation has not been proven, but between themselves, mothers quote some “Japanese scientists” who discovered that the microwave kills vitality. How exactly the “silver threads” are located in the clothes and how they reflect the radiation cannot be verified, one thing is clear: such clothes are more expensive.

Natural Parenting Courses

RUB 16,000

The essence of the service Representatives of alternative medicine promise to teach you to give birth without pain (which, unfortunately, is physically impossible) and without medical interventions and even independently monitor the degree of cervical dilatation. For an additional fee you can get astrological forecast abilities of the unborn child and learn how to paint the tummy with ancient runes to the sounds of singing Tibetan bowls.

Why is the benefit questionable? official courses at maternity hospitals, they also teach to relieve pain, but only in scientifically based ways. Woman, completed courses“natural parenthood”, I am sure that any anesthesia and medical intervention is evil, and the result of such beliefs is often complicated childbirth.

Birth under contract

RUB 60,000-600,000

On average - 120 thousand rubles.

The essence of the service Now a woman can choose a maternity hospital in which she will give birth at public expense, and nothing prevents her from choosing a good one, and even one where she can give birth with her husband. But this is in theory, but in practice they can say that there are no places. But there will definitely be places if you officially pay 120 thousand to the maternity hospital - this is average price k-contract childbirth in Moscow.

Why the benefits are doubtful Neither the absence of rudeness, nor the absence of medical errors and lying in the corridor for such a price is not guaranteed: a woman gives birth in the same department as the "freebies". In fact, this is a fee for a separate postpartum ward and a personal doctor who, during normal childbirth, will only visit you a couple of times. For these two advantages, the price is exorbitantly high, and at least another 7-10 thousand is added to it for additional, often redundant examinations like “psychological consultation”, which the maternity hospital obliges to undergo only within its walls. Free test results from the district antenatal clinic are not suitable for contract births.

Birthing Services

RUB 40,000

The essence of the service The probability that during childbirth you will come across a polite midwife who will help you give birth without medical intervention is small. Therefore, the middle class is increasingly using the services of commercial centers of traditional obstetrics, which offer to take a personal assistant to the state maternity hospital with them - a grandmother of God's dandelion, who will blow on the wound and rub the perineum with oil.

Why the service is doubtful There is a risk of conflict between the personal midwife and the medical staff of the hospital, because the “doctor-midwife” couple is like a flying crew, and a person from a foreign institution violates subordination and has his own view on “ natural childbirth". The contradictions between them are a threat to the health of the woman in labor.

Supplements and vitamins for pregnant women

Regular fish oil Perinatal fish oil

50 / 500 rub.

Almond oil Oil for stretch marks for pregnant women (based on almond oil)

50 / 1200 rub.

The essence of the service A responsible mother will not stop at a course of vitamins prescribed by a gynecologist (by the way, they can be asked for free at the clinic), and sooner or later she will peck at the advertisements of dietary supplements manufacturers who claim that their pills or oils will protect against stretch marks during pregnancy and from breaks during childbirth.

Why the benefits are doubtful All vitamins should be prescribed according to the results of the tests, but doctors often recommend purchasing certain vitamins in a certain place “just in case”, and even give a discount. But the woman herself is looking for ways to reduce the fear of complications and begins to take inside and smear the outside with oils and extracts from tropical plants, the benefits of which are the same as those of a daily fruit dessert or domestic fish oil. But any dietary supplement with the word "perinatal" will cost a pregnant woman ten times more.

Confirmation that he is alive

3000-10,000 rubles

The essence of the service In the early stages of pregnancy, when neither the belly is visible, nor the movements of the child you feel, suspicious mothers are offered to purchase a fetal doppler - an apparatus with which you can listen to the fetal heartbeat as much as you like as psychotherapy. The gynecologist of the district clinic listens to the heart for free, but this happens once every three weeks. And your own fetal doppler can record the sounds of an infant's heart and transfer them to a computer. Another device for anxious parents is advertised as dowry for the baby. This is a breath monitor. The sensors of this device are located under the mattress of the newborn, and if within 20 seconds the monitor does not catch the breath, it gives a signal.

Why is the benefit questionable? early term it is difficult to find the location of the baby’s tiny heart on its own, so, unsuccessfully moving the sensor over the stomach, the hypochondriac mother will rush to the same doctor with a cry: “Is he alive?” The disadvantage of the breath monitor is the same: the description of the device says that "false alarms are possible, especially if the child crawls away from the sensor."