Banking obstetric–related tissues and cells: what every maternity unit must know

Regan, Fiona A.M.; Bewley, S.; Warwick, Ruth

doi:10.1016/j.ogrm.2008.01.005

« Previous Next »Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine
Volume 18, Issue 3 , Pages 76-79, March 2008

Banking obstetric–related tissues and cells: what every maternity unit must know

Fiona A M Regan FRCP FRCPath is a Consultant Haematologist and Medical Director for the NHS Cord Blood Bank, London, UK. Conflicts of interest: author works for the UK NHS Cord Bank

S Bewley FRCOG is a Consultant in Obstetrics and Maternal–Fetal Medicine at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. Conflicts of interest: author was Chair of the Ethics Committee of the RCOG from 2004 to 2007, and member of the RCOG Working Party on Umbilical Stem Cell Collection in 2006

Ruth Warwick FRCP FRCPath is a Consultant Specialist for Tissue Services at NHS Blood and Transplant, London, UK. Conflicts of interest: author is CEO and trustee of Cord Blood Charity from 1997 to 2007, and was the Medical Director of the London CB Bank (now known as NHS Cord Blood Bank) from 1995 to 2004

Abstract

Cord blood (CB) is rich in haemopoietic stem cells, and can be used instead of bone marrow (BM) for transplantation of patients with leukaemia, immunodeficiency or metabolic diseases. Private banking of CB to treat various degenerative diseases is not evidence based, but regenerative medicine deserves ongoing review of progress. Autologous CB for treatment of BM disease is very unusual. If hospitals permit private collection of CB, it should be taken by a trained third party. Mesenchymal stem cells, present in very small numbers in CB and in larger numbers in cord matrix, may have potential use in regenerative medicine. Ethical issues relating to consent, testing and ownership of CB have largely been resolved, but timing of cord clamping and private versus public banking of CB is controversial.

Keywords: bone marrow transplantation, cord blood, ethics, umbilical cord