Umbilical cord stem cells key to curing diseases

Most hospitals discard cord blood after a baby's birth, despite the fact that the blood contains stem cells that can be used in transplants for as many as 80 serious medical problems. Those include the most prevalent types of leukemia, metabolic disorders like Tay-Sachs disease, blood-related conditions such as sickle cell anemia and severe anemia problems.

"People literally are dying on the transplant list who could be cured with this," said Dr. Brian Mason, the St. John obstetrician/gynecologist who approached the Storm family of Sterling Heights 10 minutes before the birth to ask them to contribute Peter's cord blood to a public registry.

Now, major changes are under way, in Michigan and nationally, that will make cord blood donations to public banks for potential transplant use much more likely.

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Posted September 20, 2005 8:50 AM