Cord blood stores with parents' fear

Umbilical cord blood: Dubious profiteering with parents' fear?

06/08/2012

For some years, private umbilical cord blood banks have advertised in magazines and on the Internet for parents who are to invest in the future health of their children by storing their blood. Experts criticize the offer of the private blood banks, because with the fear of the parents business would be done. The medical benefit was not yet clarified.

Cord blood stem cells can be donated to public blood banks
In stem cell research, scientists are trying to find out how they can treat and cure diseases with the precious substance from the umbilical cord blood. So far, stem cells are used only in diseases of the blood and immune systems in clinically recognized procedures. Nevertheless, numerous private umbilical cord blood banks advertise in magazines and online portals sometimes with prominent faces to new customers. It costs therefore up to some 1000 euros to freeze the stem cells of a newborn. Concerned parents want to make sure with the umbilical cord blood collection that their child - if it gets seriously ill in the course of his life - could be cured with the frozen stem cells. Professionals criticize the business with the fear of parents. However, apart from their own child, stem cells can also help other people. So it is possible to donate the umbilical cord blood to a public blood bank.

„One has to differentiate between the provision for the own child, with which umbilical cord blood is frozen for a consideration. Then there is the altruistic approach of providing the blood to a bank so that other people can be helped with the blood stem cells, for example in blood disorders“, explains Professor Gerhard Ehninger, Managing Director of the German Society for Hematology and Oncology. In addition, it is possible to use the stem cell donation for a sick sibling. The prerequisite for this, however, is that the HLA properties on the surface of the blood cells are identical by chance.

So far no medical reasons for the storage of umbilical cord blood
„There is no accepted medical reason to remove and freeze these cells. It is alleged that children have already been helped with it“, reported the doctor from Dresden. „But these were all treatments in the context of experimental medicine, this has nothing to do with a standard care.“ Nevertheless, the demand seems to be great. „We receive many inquiries from expectant parents and grandparents about umbilical cord blood,“ explains Ira Herrmann from the Competence Network Stem Cell Research NRW. „In the past, an account or passbook might have been created for a child, but today it is being considered to have umbilical cord blood stored privately, especially because it is a manageable financial investment.“

So far, however, there are only a few fields of use for stem cells. „You have to give people pure wine. There is currently only one area in the world where stem cells are routinely used in clinically recognized and tested procedures, and these are diseases of the blood and immune systems“, says Herrmann. For these procedures, both stem cells from the bone marrow and umbilical cord blood would be used. Perspectively, stem cell research is certainly important, „but no reputable stem cell researcher will tell you exactly when and when diseases such as diabetes or neurodegenerative diseases can be treated as standard with stem cell based therapies.“

Nevertheless, there are numerous private providers for the freezing of umbilical cord blood. Supposedly, many families have taken advantage of the offer, the prices vary greatly. Suppliers also provide information on maternity clinics in which an umbilical cord blood collection can be performed. In addition, the topic of insurance in corporate insolvency is discussed. For example, a large vendor talks about how the retrieval box is sent home before the birth and how it should look like.

Despite umbilical cord blood collection, there is no security
In 2005, midwives already criticized the private storage of umbilical cord blood. They argued that one „Business with parents' fear“ be made. „The attitude is the same“, emphasizes Edith Wolber, spokeswoman for the German Midwives Association.
„We do not necessarily have anything against umbilical cord blood storage, but against the privatization of this idea.“ Because that is nothing more than profiteering. „The parents are suggested by private providers a security that we do not have“, criticizes her. „As a giant expectancy is fueled, which would be medically possible once with the cells, if the own child becomes ill.“

There are also technical questions about umbilical cord blood sampling and stem cell use open. So it is not clear whether the stem cells are still usable after decades of storage in the refrigerator, Herrmann points out. „Then you also have to know that many diseases have a genetic background or at least can not be ruled out.“ In leukemia therefore often no own cells could be used.

Ehninger also refers to a clear position on the subject: „Certainly the private umbilical cord blood storage helps those who store it - because the cashier is ringing at them.“ It is different with the umbilical cord blood donation for research purposes or other humans. Public blood banks also use Wolber and Herrmann. Some private providers now also have a combination in the program, so the stem cells can also help other needy patients.

Stem cell research is only possible to a limited extent in Germany
Hematopoietic stem cells are referred to as adult stem cells. They have been used to treat patients for over 40 years. Its main area of ​​application is the regeneration of the organism after chemotherapy for leukemia or to compensate for cell damage caused by other diseases. The adult stem cells are removed from the bone marrow to the cancer patient or a suitable donor prior to treatment. After completing chemotherapy, they will be injected again. The hematopoietic stem cells then help with the (re) buildup of the red and white blood cells.

Embryonic stem cells, which occur only in the early embryo, are pluripotent in contrast to adult ones. They are able to develop into every cell type of body. Since its discovery 14 years ago, much research has been done on its potential applications. In various studies, the differentiation of embryonic stem cells into various tissue types has been successful. However, the research activities so far mainly related to laboratory or animal studies. Clinical studies on the use of human embryonic stem cells are rare, although a number of possible uses have been discussed after the discovery. In Germany, it is inadmissible under the Embryo Protection Act to produce, clone or destroy human embryos for research, including blastocysts as a source of embryonic stem cells. (Ag)

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Picture: Souza