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What are umbilical cord stem cells?

Umbilical cord stem cells are powerful, adaptable cells found in the blood of a newborn’s umbilical cord. Stem cells are the body’s building blocks that can specialize into different cell types, from blood and immune cells to muscle and nerve cells. This versatility allows them to repair and regenerate tissue in the human body, making them a vital resource in modern medicine. 

Umbilical cord blood is particularly rich in hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells:

• Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) form blood cells and are essential for blood and immune system health. 
• Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) repair tissues like bone, cartilage, and muscle.

How does umbilical cord stem cell therapy work?

Umbilical cord stem cell therapy is a medical treatment that uses stem cells from umbilical cord blood to repair or replace damaged cells in the body.

🟢 Blood and immune cell restoration. Hematopoietic cells from umbilical cord blood can rebuild blood and immune cells. That’s why umbilical cord blood transplantation effectively treats blood disorders like leukemia and immune deficiencies.

🟢 Tissue regeneration. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in umbilical cord blood can become bone, cartilage, or muscle cells. These cells support tissue repair in conditions involving bone and joint damage, injuries, or degenerative diseases.

🟢 Reduction of inflammation. MSCs release anti-inflammatory proteins and growth factors (cytokines) that target inflamed tissue. This process actively reduces excessive inflammation, often a source of chronic pain and tissue damage.

What are the special benefits of umbilical cord stem cells?

Umbilical cord blood stem cell therapy offers several distinct advantages over other popular stem cell sources like bone marrow:

🌟 Easy collection and fast access. Cord blood is collected painlessly at birth and stored in a stem cell bank, so it’s readily available for "off-the-shelf" use. In contrast, stem cell collection from bone marrow requires anesthesia and hospitalization for the donor. Along with a time-consuming matching process, the whole preparation can take from weeks to months.

🌟 Reduced costs. Since cord blood collection is simple and requires no extended procedures, it costs less than more time- and resource-consuming bone marrow stem cells.

🌟 Lower risk of rejection. Cord blood stem cells are like the "universal donors" of the stem cell world—they don’t need a perfect match with the recipient. Since umbilical cord blood cells are very young, they haven’t fully developed the markers that the immune system recognizes and can reject if they don’t match closely. In fact, research shows they’re twice as likely to be accepted by the body compared to bone marrow stem cells.

🌟 Lower risk of infection. Umbilical cord blood is typically free from common viruses like Epstein-Barr or cytomegalovirus. After collection, it is screened for infectious agents, and contaminated cord blood units are discarded, so the chances of transmitting infections to the patient tend to zero.

🌟 Free from environmental damage. Cord blood stem cells come straight from birth, so they haven’t been exposed to toxins or environmental risks that can damage adult stem cells. This makes them a healthier and safer choice for therapy.

🌟 Higher stem cell count. Umbilical cord blood is packed with stem cells—up to 10 times more than an equal amount of adult bone marrow. To put this in perspective, it’s like getting the healing potential of 10 bone marrow transplants from a single cord blood collection.

🌟 Better long-term regeneration. Cord blood stem cells are especially good at producing new, healthy blood and immune cells over the long term. This means patients have more resilient blood and immune systems with umbilical stem cell transplants than with bone marrow.

👩🏻‍⚕️ Regenerative medicine specialist Dr. Isabella Bernaschina explains the advantages of umbilical cord stem cells over stem cells taken from a patient’s body (autologous):

⚡ Watch Bookimed’s exclusive interview with Dr. Bernaschina here.

What conditions can umbilical cord stem cell therapy treat?

Few therapies have the versatility of cord blood stem cells. They are widely used in hematopoietic stem cell transplants to treat blood and immune system disorders. Besides, cord blood stem cells are a powerful tool in regenerative medicine, which harnesses their natural ability for tissue repair and wound healing.

Here are the most prominent applications of umbilical stem cells at the moment:

• Blood disorders. Umbilical cord blood transplantation can treat conditions like leukemia, lymphoma, and sickle cell anemia by replacing damaged blood cells with healthy ones.
• Autoimmune disorders. Cord blood stem cells can help regulate the immune response and quell inflammation in autoimmune conditions like diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and multiple sclerosis (MS).
• Neurological and developmental conditions. For conditions like autism and cerebral palsy, umbilical cord stem cells may help reduce inflammation in the brain and support neural repair and connectivity.
• Degenerative diseases. Umbilical cord stem cell therapy may help slow degeneration for conditions like Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s.
• Tissue injuries. Umbilical cord stem cells show promise for treating injuries to the brain, spinal cord, and heart. In cases of back pain, joint injuries, and osteoarthritis, stem cells prompt cartilage and disc regeneration and reduce inflammation.
• Metabolic disorders. Replaces missing or malfunctioning cells and enzymes in inherited metabolic disorders, such as Hurler syndrome, Krabbe disease, and Tay-Sachs disease.

Where can I get umbilical cord stem cell therapy near me?

Several countries around the world offer approved, well-regulated stem cell therapies. This puts them at an advantage compared to the US, where most stem cell applications have yet to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Your choice might depend on your current location:

✈️ If you're in North America, consider Mexico or Colombia. Clinics here offer stem cell therapies approved by the relevant authorities—COFEPRIS and INVIMA. Patients can conveniently access Mexico and Colombia from the U.S. and Canada. These countries target their treatments for international patients and offer competitive prices, ranging from $3,500 to $15,000.

✈️ If you're in Europe, consider Turkey. Turkey’s healthcare facilities are among the most advanced in the region, with JCI-accredited hospitals and highly specialized doctors. Treatment costs are at the low end—between $2,000 and $15,000.

✈️ If you're in the Middle East, consider Israel. Israel is a global leader in regenerative medicine. Its scientists were the first to create beating heart cells and human embryo models with stem cells. They are also behind the brand-new CRISPR gene-editing technology, which promises to make stem cell treatments even more tailored and safe for patients. Israel offers high success rates and a strong focus on innovation, with costs ranging from $6,500 to $35,000.

✈️ If you're in Asia or Australia, consider Thailand. With nearly 30 years of experience with stem cell therapies, Thai clinics have internationally trained specialists and cater to medical tourists with extensive support, comfortable facilities, and all-inclusive packages. Thailand is especially well-known for its anti-aging and rejuvenating treatments. Costs can range from $3,000 to $15,000.

According to Bookimed’s ranking, here’s a selection of top clinics worldwide for umbilical cord stem cell therapy:

Where can I read patient reviews and testimonials about stem cell therapy?

You can find patient reviews and testimonials about stem cell therapy on the Bookimed website. Bookimed provides real feedback from patients who have undergone stem cell treatments at partner clinics worldwide.

To give you a glimpse, here are some reviews from Bookimed’s satisfied patients:

What is the success rate of umbilical cord stem cell therapy?

The success rate of umbilical cord stem cell therapy depends on the condition, so it’s challenging to give a one-size-fits-all answer. According to regenerative medicine expert Dr. Isabella Bernaschina, the success rate for treatments using umbilical cord stem cells ranges between 85% and 95%.

How long does it take to see results from umbilical cord stem cell therapy?

Although regeneration depends on the individual patient and their condition, the average time to see the stem cell therapy results is around 2 months. After this period, the doctor decides with the patients if the effects are sufficient or if they need to repeat the treatment. 

👩🏻‍⚕️ Hear from Dr. Bernaschina herself:

What are the sources of umbilical cord stem cells?

Umbilical cord stem cells can come from:

• Umbilical cord blood. Umbilical cord blood stem cells are collected from the blood in a newborn’s umbilical cord immediately after birth. This is a rich source of hematopoietic (blood-forming) stem cells.
• Wharton’s jelly. This gelatinous substance in the umbilical cord acts as a protective cushion for blood vessels during pregnancy. Wharton’s jelly is naturally rich in MSCs, unlike cord blood, where MSCs are sparse.

How are umbilical cord stem cells obtained and screened? Are they safe to use?

🍼 Collection process

Stem cells are taken from the umbilical cords of healthy, full-term newborns after a planned, safe delivery. This process is non-invasive and poses no risk to the mother or infant, as it takes place after the cord is cut.

🔬 Safety screening 

• Detailed screening begins with collecting data on the mother’s health during pregnancy. If there are any infections or risk factors—such as group B streptococcus or herpes—umbilical cord blood will not be stored or used to extract stem cells.
• The mother’s blood is also tested for infectious diseases like hepatitis, HIV, and syphilis, adding another layer of safety.
• After collection, stem cells go through a rigorous screening process in licensed laboratories. They are checked for infectious diseases, genetic abnormalities, or contaminants. Any samples that do not meet safety standards are discarded.

❄️ Storage

The cells are frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen, which can keep them viable for decades. Stem cells stored in this way remain effective even after 18 years.

What are the risks and complications of umbilical cord stem cell therapy?

Overall, umbilical cord stem cell therapy is considered low-risk due to its natural advantages and stringent screening processes. However, like any medical treatment, it carries some potential risks and complications.

1. Low risk of rejection

Umbilical cord stem cells are less likely to cause immune reactions or rejection than other cell sources. However, there is a small chance of an immune response, which can be tackled with close monitoring and medical intervention.

2. Infection risk

Stem cell therapy involves injections, which always carry a minor risk of infection at the injection site. Strict sterile techniques minimize this risk, and patients are monitored closely for signs of infection post-treatment.

3. Allergic reactions

In rare cases, patients may experience allergic reactions to components used in cell processing or delivery. Although allergic reactions are typically mild, patients should discuss any known allergies with their medical team to avoid complications.

4. Risk of contamination

Extensive screening and processing minimize the risk. This is why you should choose the clinic that can prove it has strict protocols in place. It should use only samples that pass rigorous quality control tests.

🛡️ Entrusting a reputable clinic with your health and discussing your health history with your doctor is essential to minimize risks. Bookimed can help you choose from a network of vetted clinics to ensure you have the safest possible experience with stem cell therapy.

Are umbilical cord blood stem cells the same as embryonic stem cells?

No, they’re different. 

• Umbilical cord blood stem cells are collected from the umbilical cord and placenta after a healthy, full-term birth. They can develop into blood or tissue cells.
• Embryonic stem cells derived from early-stage embryos can develop into any cell type in the body. Because they come from embryos, their use raises more complex ethical considerations. However, we should note that these are usually embryos left over from IVF treatments that would otherwise be discarded.

Are there ethical concerns with umbilical cord stem cells?

No, umbilical cord stem cells are collected after birth, with full parental consent and no harm to the mother or baby. This non-invasive process is widely accepted and avoids the ethical debates that sometimes arise with embryonic cells.

Resources

1. Mayo Clinic. (2024). Stem cells: What they are and what they do. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/bone-marrow-transplant/in-depth/stem-cells/art-20048117
2. WebMD. (2023). Umbilical Cord Blood Banking: Pros & Cons, Costs, Basics. https://www.webmd.com/baby/should-you-bank-your-babys-cord-blood
3. Duke Health. (2024). The Value of Saving Umbilical Cord Blood. https://www.dukehealth.org/blog/value-of-saving-umbilical-cord-blood
4. Life. (2023). Fresh Umbilical Cord Blood—A Source of Multipotent Stem Cells, Collection, Banking, Cryopreservation, and Ethical Concerns. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10533013/
5. Frontiers in Medicine. (2016). Is There Any Reason to Prefer Cord Blood Instead of Adult Donors for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplants? https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4707249/