About Fanconi Anemia

Most people haven't heard of Fanconi Anema (FA) unless they know someone who has it. It is a rare, recessive, genetic immune system disorder that leads to bone marrow failure (aplastic anemia). In order for a child to have FA, both parents must carry a mutation in the same FA gene.

FA usually reveals itself in children before age 12. It is primarily considered a blood disease, but can affect all systems of the body, and people with FA often develop leukemia and other cancers.

Treatment

Currently, bone marrow transplantation is the only long-term cure for the blood defects in FA. However, bone marrow transplantation has many risks associated with it so patients who have successful bone marrow transplants and are cured of the blood problem associated with FA, still must have regular examinations to watch for signs of cancer.

Cord Blood and Transplants

Following a baby's birth, blood that is rich in stem cells remains in the umbilical cord. This is called cord blood. Bone marrow transplants using cord blood are becoming more and more common, significantly reducing the incidence and severity of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in transplant patients.

The first successful stem-cell transplant using cord blood was performed in Paris in 1988. A 5-year-old with Fanconi Anemia received stem cells from the cord blood of a newborn sibling. Since then, it is reported that cord blood cells from related and unrelated donors have been successfully transplanted in thousands of individuals worldwide.

Cord blood transplants occur more frequently in children due to the limited number of blood forming cells in cord blood. Small children need fewer cells than a grown adult. However, research is underway to find ways to increase the number of cells in a cord blood unit so more patients can benefit from such transplants.

To find out more about banking cord blood banking, visit Viacord (http://www.viacord.com/).