Center for Sport, Health and Wellbeing
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Stem cell typing

FACTS

When: to be announced

Where: Amphitheater RPTU Kaiserslautern

Costs: None

Requirements: Age between 16 (consent of a legal guardian) and 40 years; for those over 40, an individual assessment is required

CONTACT

Theresa Dombrowski (Kaiserslautern)

Mail:theresa.dombrowski(at)rptu.de

Tel: (0631) 205-3444

Ida Paulssen (Kaiserslautern)

Mail:paulssen(at)rptu.de

Tel: (0631) 205-5774

Sophia Storck (Landau)

Mail:sophia.storck(at)rptu.de

Tel: (06341) 280-37114

Image and sound recordings

Note

Become a lifesaver and get typed! We are bringing the Stefan Morsch Foundation, the first German stem cell donor center, to campus in July. You will have the opportunity to find out all about the topic and can register as a stem cell donor on site. In an emergency, you can save the life of a person suffering from leukemia by donating stem cells. In Germany alone, around 3,500 patients are diagnosed with leukemia every year and are dependent on a stem cell transplant. If YOU get typed, you increase the chance that a person affected by leukemia will find a suitable donor.

FAQs

Why donate stem cells?

Many people with leukemia (blood cancer) and other blood diseases need a stem cell transplant. However, only around 25 percent of those affected find a suitable donor in their family. They are therefore dependent on voluntary registrations - possibly people like you! For immunological reasons, an exact genetic "match" must be found in order to avoid rejection reactions. Especially people with diverse or less frequently represented genetic and ethnic backgrounds often have lower chances of finding suitable donors, as they are underrepresented in the databases.

Why is it difficult to find a suitable donor?

Whether a stem cell donation is possible depends on the so-called HLA characteristics. These HLA characteristics (= human leukocyte antigens) are found on the surface of white blood cells and help the immune system to distinguish between the patient's own tissue and foreign tissue. For a transplant to be successful, all ten HLA characteristics must match - five from the mother and five from the father. With over 20,000 known characteristics worldwide, it is difficult to find a "perfect match". An additional problem is that people with rarer genetic characteristics, which are more common in people with international or diverse origins, are underrepresented in German donor databases. This makes it difficult for many patients to find a suitable match.

How does stem cell typing work?

The HLA characteristics are determined using a blood or saliva sample. The data is stored anonymously in the central donor database. Typing does not oblige the donor to donate.

How is stem cell donation carried out?

There are two common methods of stem cell donation.

  1. Peripheral stem cell donation (80% of cases)

The donor is administered a drug over several days to stimulate the formation of stem cells in the bone marrow and ensure that they enter the bloodstream. The stem cells are then filtered directly from the blood using a special process known as apheresis. Short-term, flu-like side effects often occur, but permanent damage is not to be expected.

  1. Bone marrow donation (20% of cases)

In this method, bone marrow blood is taken from the iliac crest under general anesthesia. The stem cells are then isolated from the bone marrow blood in the laboratory. The bone marrow regenerates completely within a few weeks. Pain is usually limited to the puncture sites and the risk of complications is very low.

Who can become a stem cell donor?

In principle, any healthy person between the ages of 18 and 55 who weighs at least 50 kg can be typed. There are various ways to register as a potential donor: