Yes, a bone marrow transplant can change your blood type. This happens because bone marrow is responsible for producing blood cells, including red blood cells that carry your blood type.
In a bone marrow transplant, the transplanted bone marrow contains stem cells from the donor. These stem cells generate blood cells based on the donor’s genetic blueprint, including their blood type. The recipient’s bone marrow is typically destroyed using chemotherapy or radiation before the transplant. If the donor has a different blood type than the recipient. This process eliminates the recipient’s blood-producing cells, including those that determine their original blood type.
Engraftment and Blood Type Transition: After the BMT transplant, the donor’s stem cells start producing blood cells in the recipient’s body. Over time, the recipient’s blood type may change to match the donor’s blood type. This process can take weeks to months, depending on factors like the compatibility of the donor and recipient and the success of the engraftment.
Mixed Blood Types: If the donor and recipient have the same blood type, no visible change occurs. In rare cases of mixed chimerism (partial engraftment), the recipient might have a mix of both their original and the donor’s blood cells temporarily.
During the transition period, healthcare providers carefully manage transfusions, as the patient might temporarily have both donor and recipient blood types. The recipient’s immune system also changes to align with the donor’s, as the bone marrow produces immune cells. This change underscores the profound impact of a bone marrow transplant on the recipient’s hematopoietic (blood-forming) system.
For more information visit our official site:- https://www.edhacare.com/treatments/organ-transplant/bone-marrow
.
